ATLANTIC CITY—The Diocese of Rockford brought home three awards for journalism excellence from the annual Catholic Media Conference held in Atlantic City June 16-19. The awards were announced at a banquet June 19.
Once again, the Official Diocesan Directory won a Catholic Media Book Award in the category for best diocesan or parish directory. Judges awarded the publication a third place award, saying, “The 2025-2026 Official Directory of the Diocese of Rockford is recognized as a well-organized and reliable resource, presenting essential diocesan information in a clear and accessible format that supports both administrative use and the broader needs of the Catholic community.”
El Observador, the diocese’s Spanish publication, received a second place award in the category of best reporting on cultural heritage for Margarita Mendoza’s story on the Q’eqchi’ community (in Spanish, Quekchí): “Quekchí comunidad de fe.” The article was also published in English in The Observer’s Nov. 28, 2025, issue.
Judges wrote, “The article on the Q’eqchi’ was great and important. It is a community that is not often covered. Highlighting the initiative of the community was excellent, as well as the support from Father Ayala.”
El Observador was also awarded an honorable mention for Mendoza’s story on exorcism — “El exorcismo demuestra que Dios es todopoderoso y nos ama” — which was also published in English in The Observer (Dec. 12, 2025).
The Office of Communication and Publications competes each year in the Catholic Media Awards which includes thousands of entries from the United States and Canada of Catholic books, magazines, newsletters, newspapers, photographs and social media. The competition includes All-Member and Communication Awards along with awards for Spanish-language and collegiate awards.
