NEWS RELEASE
“Servant of God” Nicholas Black Elk featured in new biography
COLLEGEVILLE, MINNESOTA (December 15, 2020)—Liturgical Press is pleased to announce the publication of Nicholas Black Elk: Medicine Man, Catechist, Saint—the twenty-fifth volume in its People of God series of popular biographies of Catholic Christian witnesses. Award-winning author Jon M. Sweeney recounts the life and spiritual paths of Black Elk, the legendary Oglala Lakota leader whose cause for canonization is now underway at the Vatican.
Servant of God Nicholas Black Elk (1863—1950) is popularly celebrated for his fascinating spiritual life. How could one deeply spiritual man, serve as both a traditional Oglala Lakota medicine man and a Roman Catholic catechist and mystic? How did these two spiritual and cultural identities enrich his life? According to Damian Costello, author of Black Elk: Colonialism and Lakota Catholicism, and vice-postulator of the cause of canonization for Nicholas Black Elk, "Sweeney harnesses his gifts as a storyteller and puts Nicholas Black Elk where he belongs: with the greatest saints and mystics of the Christian tradition.”
Jon M. Sweeney is an independent scholar and one of religion’s most respected writers. His many books include James Martin, SJ: In the Company of Jesus, in the “People of God” series; The Pope Who Quit, which was optioned by HBO; and The Pope’s Cat, a popular fiction series for children. He edited A Course in Christian Mysticism by Thomas Merton, published by Liturgical Press. Sweeney writes regularly for America in the US, and The Tablet in the UK. He is the publisher at Paraclete Press in Massachusetts, and lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with his wife and daughters.
About the People of God series:
People of God is a series of inspiring biographies for the general reader. Each volume offers a compelling and honest narrative of the life of an important twentieth or twenty-first century Catholic. Some living and some now deceased, each of these women and men has known challenges and weaknesses familiar to most of us but responded to them in ways that call us to our own forms of heroism. Each offers a credible and concrete witness of faith, hope, and love to people of our own day.
To see which volumes are currently available, and who is contributing to this engaging series, see the complete list below or visit https://litpress.org/people-of-god
Volumes in the series:
John XXIII: The Medicine of Mercyby Massimo Faggioli
Oscar Romero: Love Must Win Out by Kevin Clarke
Thomas Merton: Faithful Visionary by Michael W. Higgins
Francis: Bishop of Rome, Second Edition by Michael Collins
Jean Vanier: Logician of the Heart by Michael W. Higgins – Out of Print
Georges and Pauline Vanier: Mercy within Mercy by Mary Frances Coady – Out of Print
Flannery O’Connor: Fiction Fired by Faith by Angela O’Donnell
Martin Sheen: Pilgrim on the Way by Rose Pacatte, FSP
Dorothy Day: Love in Action by Patrick Jordan
Luis Antonio Tagle: Leading by Listening by Cindy Wooden
Joseph Bernardin: Seeking Common Ground by Steven P. Millies
Corita Kent: Gentle Revolutionary of the Heart by Rose Pacatte, FSP
Daniel Rudd: Calling a Church to Justice by Gary B. Agee
Helen Prejean: Death Row’s Nun by Joyce Duriga
Paul VI: Pilgrim Pope by Michael Collins
Thea Bowman: Faithful and Free by Maurice J. Nutt, CSsR
Shahbaz Bhatti: Martyr of the Suffering Church by John L. Allen, Jr.
Rutilio Grande: A Table for All by Rhina Guidos
Elizabeth Johnson: Questing for God by Heidi Schlumpf
Augustus Tolton: The Church Is the True Liberator by Joyce Duriga
Paul Farmer: Servant to the Poor by Jennie Weiss Block
Rosemary Nyirumbe: Sewing Hope in Uganda by María Ruiz Scaperlanda
James Martin, SJ: In the Company of Jesus by Jon M. Sweeney
Theodore Hesburgh, CSC: Bridge Builder by Edward P. Hahnenberg
Nicholas Black Elk: Medicine Man, Catechist, Saint by Jon M. Sweeney
About Liturgical Press:
Located at Saint John’s Abbey in Collegeville, Minnesota, Liturgical Press began publishing for the Church in 1926. Our staff is committed to providing religious and spiritual resources of the highest relevance and quality to Catholic parishes and individuals and to the academic community. Our imprints and publications include Liturgical Press Books, Liturgical Press Academic, Cistercian Publications, The Saint John’s Bible, Little Rock Scripture Study, and Give Us This Day.
For more information, please contact:
Michelle Verkuilen, associate publisher of parish market
mverkuilen@litpress.org ⸱ (320) 363-2227
NEWS RELEASE
Liturgical Press receives 30 awards from Catholic Press Association
COLLEGEVILLE, MINNESOTA (July 2020)—On behalf of its authors, Liturgical Press is honored to receive 26 book awards, including nine first place awards, from the Catholic Press Association (CPA). These winning titles recognize the best in Catholic publishing and are available directly from Liturgical Press. Visit litpress.org or call 800-858-5450.
Liturgical Press authors received the following awards:
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First place, theology--Theological and Philosophical Studies : The Vision of Vatican II by Ormond Rush
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First place, Liturgy—Soft Cover: Compassionate Christ, Compassionate People: Liturgical Foundations of Christian Spirituality by Bob Hurd
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First place, Pastoral Ministry—Parish Life: In the Mystery’s Shadow by Susan Swetnam
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First place, Pastoral Ministry—Catechetical: Reading, Praying, Living Pope Francis’s Rejoice and Be Glad by Daniel P. Horan
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First place, Church Professional: From Hero to Servant to Mysticby Scott P. Detisch
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First place, Books About Prayer: The Our Father by Gerhard Lohfink
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First place, Ecumenism or Interfaith Relations: Eating Together, Becoming Oneby Thomas O’Loughlin
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First place, Pope Francis: Easter Vigil Homilies edited by Jorge Mario Bergoglio/Pope Francis
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First place, Memoir: Overdue edited by Valerie Schultz
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Second place, theology—History of Theology, Church Fathers and Mothers: The Doctor of Mercy by Michael Papazian
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Second place, Liturgy—Soft Cover: Awesome Glory by Jeremy Driscoll
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Second place, Collections of Prayers: Psalms and Other Songs from a Pierced Heart by Patricia Stevenson, RSJ
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Second place, Best New Religious Book Series: Thea Bowman by Maurice J. Nutt
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Second place, English Translation Edition: Is This All There Is? By Gerhard Lohfink
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Third place, Liturgy—Soft Cover: Living Liturgy: Spirituality, Celebration, and Catechesis for Sundays and Solemnities: Year A (2020) by Brian Schmisek, Diana Macalintal, and Katy Beedle Rice
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Third place, Pope Francis: Discovering Pope Francis edited by Brian Y. Lee and Thomas L Knoebel
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Third place, Best New Religious Book Series Mark by Warren Carter
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Honorable Mention, Scripture—Popular Studies: The Kingdom of God, the Essential Message of Jesus by Frank J. Matera
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Honorable Mention, Pastoral Ministry—Catechetical: Divine Blessingby Timothy P. O’Malley
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Honorable Mention, Church Professional: Models of Priestly Formationedited by Declan Marmion, Michael Mullaney, and Salvador Ryan
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Honorable Mention, Gender Issues—Inclusion in the Church: 2 Corinthiansby Antoinette Clark Wire
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Honorable Mention, Catholic Social Teaching: The Ten Green Commandments of Laudato Siby Joshtrom Kureethadam
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Honorable Mention, Faith and Science: Full of Your Gloryby Teresa Berger
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Honorable Mention, Poetry: Twenty Poems to Pray by Gary M. Bouchard
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Honorable Mention, Healing & Self Help: In the Mystery’s Shadow by Susan Swetnam
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Honorable Mention, Future Church: A Pilgrim People by Gerald W. Schlabach
In addition to the book awards, Liturgical Press designer Monica Bokinskie was recognized with four awards in the catalog categories:
For more information please contact:
Tara Durheim, associate publisher of academic and monastic markets
tdurheim026@litpress.org
(320) 363-2139
Michelle Verkuilen, associate publisher of parish market
mverkuilen@litpress.org
(320) 363-2227
Cathy Donovan, associate publisher of Give Us This Day
codonovan@litpress.org
(320) 363-3655
NEWS RELEASE
Liturgical Press authors earn eight awards at the 2020 Association of Catholic Publishers Awards
COLLEGEVILLE, MINNESOTA (May 2020)—Liturgical Press is honored to be the publisher of eight award-winning books—the most of any publisher this year—in the Association of Catholic Publishers (ACP) 2020 Excellence in Publishing Awards which recognizes the best in Catholic publishing. These winning titles are available directly from Liturgical Press and great booksellers. Visit litpress.org or call 800-858-5450.
Liturgical Press books received awards in the following categories:
- First place, inspirational: Overdue: A Dewey Decimal System of Grace by Valerie Shultz
- First place, resources for liturgy: Compassionate Christ, Compassionate People: Liturgical Foundations of Christian Spirituality by Bob Hurd
- First place, scripture: Mark from the Wisdom Commentary series by Warren Carter
- First place, spirituality: A Course in Desert Spirituality: Fifteen Sessions with the Famous Trappist Monk by Thomas Merton, edited by Jon M. Sweeney
- First place, theology: The Truth Will Make You Free: The New Evangelization for a Secular Age by Robert F. Leavitt, SS
- Second place, general interest: How We Love: A Formation for the Celibate Life by John Mark Falkenhain, OSB
- Third place, theology: Discovering Pope Francis: The Roots of Jorge Mario Bergoglio’s Thinking edited by Brian Y. Lee and Thomas L. Knoebel
- Third place, biography: Thea Bowman: Faithful and Free by Maurice J. Nutt, CSsR
First-place winners are automatically entered in a special round of judging for the “Resource of the Year” which will be announced in late June by the Association of Catholic Publishers.
For more information please contact:
Tara Durheim, associate publisher of academic and monastic markets
tdurheim026@litpress.org
(320) 363-2139
Michelle Verkuilen, associate publisher of parish market
mverkuilen@litpress.org
(320) 363-2227
Cathy Donovan, associate publisher of Give Us This Day
codonovan@litpress.org
(320) 363-3655
About Liturgical Press:
Located at Saint John’s Abbey in Collegeville, Minnesota, Liturgical Press began publishing for the Church in 1926. Our staff is committed to providing religious and spiritual resources of the highest relevance and quality to Catholic parishes and individuals and to the academic community. Our imprints and publications include Liturgical Press Books, Liturgical Press Academic, Cistercian Publications, The Saint John’s Bible, Little Rock Scripture Study, and Give Us This Day.
NEWS RELEASE
The Mark volume from Wisdom Commentary Series
Wins Reference Book of the Year
COLLEGEVILLE, MINNESOTA (April 2020)—We are proud to announce that the Academy of Parish Clergy has awarded Mark in the Wisdom Commentary series the 2020 Reference Book of the Year.
The Academy of Parish Clergy is an international organization of clergy serving in faith communities of all sizes and settings.
The author of Mark, Warren Carter, the LaDonna Kramer Meinders Professor of New Testament at Phillips Theological Seminary in Tulsa, Oklahoma, will be honored along with the Top Five Reference Books on May 5 at 7 p.m. CDT via Zoom (https://zoom.us/j/816909757). A recording of the award ceremony will be available to watch following the live presentation.
The Wisdom Commentary series is the first scholarly collaboration to offer detailed feminist interpretation of every book of the Bible. The sixty-volume collection makes the best of current feminist biblical scholarship available in an accessible format to aid preachers and teachers in their advancement toward God’s vision of dignity, equality, and justice for all.
This winning title and the other volumes from the Wisdom Commentary series are available from your favorite bookstore or directly from Liturgical Press. Visit litpress.org or call 800-858-5450.
To learn more about the Academy of Parish Clergy visit www.apclergy.org.
For more information, please contact:
Tara Durheim, associate publisher of academic and monastic markets
tdurheim026@litpress.org
(320) 363-2139
About the Wisdom Commentary series:
Launched in 2015, the Wisdom Commentary series is the first scholarly collaboration to offer detailed feminist interpretation of every book of the Bible. The sixty-volume collection is led by general editor Barbara E. Reid, OP, in consultation with Athalya Brenner-Idan and Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza, and a team of editors making the best of current feminist biblical scholarship available in an accessible format to aid preachers and teachers in their advancement toward God’s vision of dignity, equality, and justice for all. The aim of this commentary is to provide feminist interpretation of every section of the Bible, in serious, scholarly engagement with the whole text from a feminist perspective. A central concern is how the text is heard and understood by men and women today. At the same time, this commentary aims to be faithful to the ancient text. To see which volumes are currently available, and who is contributing to this ground-breaking series, visit wisdomcommentary.org.
Liturgical Press Statement Regarding Jean Vanier
We at Liturgical Press, like so many of you, are appalled by the recent news of Jean Vanier’s having sexually abused a number of women. We abhor the abuse Vanier inflicted. We stand with the women who named him and with the members of L'Arche throughout the world.
We are committed to the values of treating each person with dignity and respect. Please pray with us for the healing of survivors, their families, and L’Arche communities around the world.
Liturgical Press will no longer publish or distribute books featuring the life or writing of Jean Vanier.
For more information, please see
the statement from L’Arche International.
NEWS RELEASE
Liturgical Press receives 30 book awards from Catholic Press Association
COLLEGEVILLE, MINNESOTA (June 2019)—On behalf of its authors, Liturgical Press is honored to receive 30 book awards from the Catholic Press Association (CPA), including seven first place awards. This was the most of any Catholic publisher this year, and Liturgical Press’s most CPA awards in a given year. The winners were announced at the 2019 Catholic Media Conference held in St. Petersburg, Florida, which recognizes the best in Catholic publishing and journalism. All the winning titles are available directly from Liturgical Press. Visit litpress.org or call 800-858-5450.
Liturgical Press received book awards in the following categories:
First place award winners:
Second place award winners:
Third place award winners:
Honorable mention award winners:
In addition to the book awards, our designers were recognized in the category for best trade/seasonal catalog as follows:
- Second place, Fall 2018 Parish catalog by Tara Wiese
- Third place, Fall 2018 Academic catalog by Monica Bokinskie
For more information please contact:
Michelle Verkuilen, associate publisher of parish market
mverkuilen@litpress.org
(320) 363-2227
Tara Durheim, associate publisher of academic and monastic markets
tdurheim026@litpress.org
(320) 363-2139
Cathy Donovan, associate publisher of Give Us This Day
cdonovan@litpress.org
(320) 363-3655
NEWS RELEASE
June 2019
Liturgical Press to Acquire Little Rock Scripture Study
The Diocese of Little Rock, Arkansas, announces the sale of its groundbreaking and renowned Little Rock Scripture Study (LRSS) to longtime partner Liturgical Press. Little Rock Scripture Study and Liturgical Press have promoted biblical literacy in a partnership dating back more than thirty years. The change in ownership is effective at the end of June, coincident with the retirement of Cackie (Catherine) Upchurch, longtime director of LRSS.
Bishop Anthony Taylor said changes in the Church and in publishing prompted him to evaluate how best to support the LRSS ministry. “Our primary concern is to do what is best for the apostolate,” he said. “This extraordinary diocesan ministry grew out of a hunger for the Word of God among Catholics in Little Rock who wanted to emulate their Protestant neighbors’ deep knowledge and love of Scripture. It quickly grew to become a mainstay for Catholics in the United States and beyond. This change in ownership enables Liturgical Press to respond quickly to the needs of Catholic parishes and individuals.”
Liturgical Press director, Peter Dwyer, said the Press is honored to take on the continuation of LRSS. “Little Rock Scripture Study has been a very fruitful program of education and inspiration for Catholics. We are grateful to have been a partner to the diocese for so many years and hope to continue this Spirit-filled work for many more years.”
Amy Ekeh of Milford, Connecticut, will serve as the director of Little Rock Scripture Study as it moves forward. Amy has been an important part of the LRSS staff since the start of 2018. Lilly Hess, longtime associate director, will continue to work with the video productions and will be a continuing resource in the Diocese of Little Rock.
For more information, contact:
Peter Dwyer, Liturgical Press (320-363-2533)

Cackie Upchurch, Little Rock (501-664-6102)

NEWS RELEASE
Wisdom Commentary Volume Published by Liturgical Press Wins Book of the Year at 2019 Association of Catholic Publishers Awards
COLLEGEVILLE, MINNESOTA (June 2019)—Liturgical Press is honored to be publisher of the book of the year award recipient, the Proverbs volume from the Wisdom Commentary series by Alice Ogden Bellis, from Association of Catholic Publishers (ACP) 2019 Excellence in Publishing Awards which recognizes the best in Catholic publishing.
“It is a great delight to have Alice Ogden Bellis' work on Proverbs receive this well-deserved recognition,” said Barbara E. Reid, OP, general editor of the Wisdom Commentary series and professor of New Testament studies at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. “As a leading feminist biblical scholar for many decades, we are so honored to have her among the distinguished authors for Wisdom Commentary series. Her groundbreaking reading of Proverbs opens new possibilities for understanding and appropriating them in a complex world in which inequities persist.”
Bellis is an ordained minister and professor of Hebrew Bible at Howard University School of Divinity in Washington, D.C.
The Wisdom Commentary series is the first scholarly collaboration to offer detailed feminist interpretation of every book of the Bible. The fifty-eight-volume collection makes the best of current feminist biblical scholarship available in an accessible format to aid preachers and teachers in their advancement toward God’s vision of dignity, equality, and justice for all.
This winning title and the other volumes from the Wisdom Commentary series are available from your favorite bookstore or directly from Liturgical Press. Visit litpress.org or call 800-858-5450.
For more information, please contact:
Tara Durheim, associate publisher of academic and monastic markets
tdurheim026@litpress.org
(320) 363-2139
About the Wisdom Commentary series:
Launched in 2015, the Wisdom Commentary series is the first scholarly collaboration to offer detailed feminist interpretation of every book of the Bible. The fifty-eight-volume collection is led by general editor Barbara E. Reid, OP, in consultation with Athalya Brenner-Idan and Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza, and a team of editors making the best of current feminist biblical scholarship available in an accessible format to aid preachers and teachers in their advancement toward God’s vision of dignity, equality, and justice for all. The aim of this commentary is to provide feminist interpretation of every section of the Bible, in serious, scholarly engagement with the whole text from a feminist perspective. A central concern is how the text is heard and understood by men and women today. At the same time, this commentary aims to be faithful to the ancient text. To see which volumes are currently available, and who is contributing to this ground-breaking series, visit wisdomcommentary.org
NEWS RELEASE
Liturgical Press earns seven awards at the 2019
Association of Catholic Publishers Awards
COLLEGEVILLE, MINNESOTA (June 2019)—Liturgical Press is honored to be the publisher of seven award winners in the Association of Catholic Publishers (ACP) 2019 Excellence in Publishing Awards which recognizes the best in Catholic publishing. These winning titles are available directly from Liturgical Press. Visit litpress.org or call 800-858-5450.
Liturgical Press received book awards in the following categories:
- First place, resources for liturgy: God’s Good Earth: Praise and Prayer for Creation by Anne and Jeffery Rowthorn
- First place, theology: Stumbling in Holiness: Sin and Sanctity in the Church, by Brian P. Flanagan
- Second place, theology: Is This All There Is?: On Resurrection and Eternal Life By Gerhard Lohfink, Translated by Linda M. Maloney
- First place, Spanish: Misal Romano: Tercera edición: Edición para el Altar, by the USCCB
- First place, Scripture: Proverbs from the Wisdom Commentary series, by Alice Ogden Bellis
- Third place, spirituality: Surrender to Christ for Mission: French Spiritual Traditions, edited by Philip Sheldrake
- First place, prayer: To Dare the Our Father: A Transformative Spiritual Practice, by John Shea
For more information please contact:
Michelle Verkuilen, associate publisher of parish market
mverkuilen@litpress.org
(320) 363-2227
Tara Durheim, associate publisher of academic and monastic markets
tdurheim026@litpress.org
(320) 363-2139
NEWS RELEASE
Shannon Chisholm joins Liturgical Press as Publisher for Parish Resources

COLLEGEVILLE, MINNESOTA (June 2019)— Peter Dwyer, director of Liturgical Press, Collegeville, Minnesota, is pleased to announce Shannon Chisholm as its new Publisher for Parish Resources. Shannon is in the final stages of completing her doctorate in religious education at Fordham University, after earning an MA in Theology at Notre Dame. She has worked in publishing for William H. Sadlier, Inc., as well as Bayard and Loyola Press. Her work experience also includes parish ministry positions in Massachusetts and Florida.
For more information please contact: Michelle Verkuilen, associate publisher of parish market 320-363-2227
mverkuilen@litpress.org
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