ROCKFORD—Bishop David Malloy took two of three places in the Catholic Media Association’s communications division for Best Diocesan Pastoral Message — Audio or Video.

 

He received a second place for a video message about COVID-19 that was filmed outside the Diocesan Administration Center. He also received a third place for his daily “Top o’ the Morning” television message.

 

The honors were announced during the Catholic Media Conference, presented online June 8-10 from Baltimore.

 

El Observador, the official Spanish newspaper of the diocese earned several honors.

 

Margarita Mendoza, editor, took a first place in the Religious Life category for her column Servir para vivir (Live to Serve) titled “Momento de tomar decisiones” (“Moment to Make Decisions).

 

She also received a first place in the Best Multiple Picture Package — Feature category for her photo feature about how parishes were safely reopening for Masses in the midst of the pandemic. The story and some of the photos also appeared in The Observer.

 

El Observador took second place honors for Best Coverage on V Encuentro for a series of articles Mendoza wrote for both Spanish and English papers.

 

The paper took a third place in the Story and Photo Package for “Monseñores más coloridos” (“Monsignors Brighten Up”), one of the stories in the religious garb series that also ran in The Observer. Honors went to writer and photographer Amanda Hudson and designer Sharon Boehlefeld.

 

Additionally, El Observador received both third place for “Para ser mejor persona hay que cambia de religion?” (“Do You Need to Change Religion to Be a Better Person?”), and honorable mention for “Es verdad que existe el purgatorio?” (“Is it True that Purgatory Exists?”) for Best Essay Reflecting on Faith Formation, also written by Mendoza. 

 

The paper also earned an honorable mention for Best Coverage — Pandemic.

 

The Observer took a third place for Most Effective Use of Small Space for an ad (What’s in Your Mailbox?) designed by Boehlefeld.

 

Editor Penny Wiegert took a third place for “What Will We Learn?” in the Best Regular Column — Pandemic category.

 

In the book division, the Office of Communication and Publications took third place for the Diocese of Rockford 2020-21 Official Directory, Diocese of Rockford Communications.

 

It also received second place honors in Self Published Books for The Observer Lent Foods Cookbook, written by the staff and edited by Boehlefeld.