Father John Catoir Award
The Father John Catoir Social Media Evangelization Award recognizes the positive impact of a social media campaign to make Jesus known and loved.
Honoring social media that helps make Jesus known and loved
The Father John Catoir Social Media Evangelization Award honors an individual or organization whose social media work helps make Jesus known and loved. The winner is announced July 16 at the Catholic Media Conference.
The entry form opens January 6, 2027.
About Father John Catoir
Father John Catoir spent decades sharing the Gospel through Catholic media. He led The Christophers from 1978 to 1994, served as president of what was then the Catholic Press Association and received its St. Francis de Sales Award. In 1995 he founded St. Jude Media Ministry, and in his later years he turned to Facebook and Twitter, posting more than 20,000 messages of hope and joy.
Father Catoir helped establish this award to recognize social media as a tool of evangelization. It was first presented in 2017. He died on April 7, 2022, at age 90.
Eligibility
Individuals or organizations
The award may go to an individual or to an organization, such as a diocese or a publication's staff.
CMA members
Entrants must be current members of the Catholic Media Association. You may enter your own work or, with permission, the work of your organization.
Work from 2026
The campaign must have begun or been implemented during 2026. Your results may include engagement that continues into 2027.
Live on social media
The work must be implemented and viewable on a social media platform. Blogs are not eligible.
What Your Entry Must Include
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Goals and vision
The intended goals, objectives and vision for the project.
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Where to see it
The campaign URL, or the URLs where judges can review the project.
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Proof of results
A description of the campaign's effectiveness, with evidence of engagement such as shares, new followers, views and comments.
How Entries Are Judged
Judges evaluate each campaign on two levels.
Impact
How well the campaign achieved its desired outcomes, as shown by the response and reactions of the people who received the message.
Craft
The quality of production and the style of writing used to deliver the message.
The Award
The winner receives a certificate and a $400 cash award to underwrite the cost of technology for developing or continuing their evangelization efforts.
Key Dates and Selection
Entries for 2026 campaigns go to a panel of judges, and the winner is announced at the Catholic Media Conference.
- Step 1: Entry periodJanuary 6 to March 6, 2027Submit through the CMA website.
- Step 2: JudgingPanel of three judgesProfessional communicators with knowledge of social media review every entry.
- Step 3: Winner announcedJuly 16, 2027Catholic Media Conference, The Skirvin Hilton, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Recent Recipients
- 2026Fanny Gomez-DiazSocial Media Manager for the Franciscan Friars Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe
- 2025Nicole JonesThe Roman Catholic Diocese of Baton Rouge, for the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage
- 2024Staff of the Catholic CourierFor the "Mass Matters" social media campaign
- 2023Archdiocese of DetroitFor the I AM HERE campaign
- 2022Archdiocese of DetroitFor the Unleash the Gospel campaign
- 2021Catholic Health AssociationFor the Love Thy Neighbor campaign
- 2020Diocese of ArlingtonFor the #JustOneYes campaign
- 2019Archdiocese of Los AngelesFor the Marian Memorial campaign
- 2018Diocese of SyracuseFor Year of the Family
The Father John Catoir Award is one of four individual honors the Catholic Media Association presents each year, alongside its annual awards programs.
Explore all CMA awards and honors