by Todd Habiger
todd.habiger@theleaven.org
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — Amid the slot machines and high rollers here, The Leaven cashed out of the 2026 Catholic Media Association with 11 awards.
“This year’s awards judged the work of The Leaven staff from the spring of 2025 — the spring of five special issues because of all the major transitions in both the local and the global church. The most challenging and time-consuming of all, though, was the welcome issue for Archbishop McKnight. So, I am delighted we won in that category,” said Leaven managing editor Anita McSorley.
The Leaven’s special triple issue welcoming Archbishop Shawn McKnight to the archdiocese took second place in Best Special Supplement on a Bishop’s Transition. The issue featured 48 pages focusing on the past, present and future of Archbishop McKnight as he took over the reins of the archdiocese.
Like many of the paper’s efforts, this triple issue was made possible only by the contributions of not only the staff, but the paper’s freelancers, as well. Jill Ragar Esfeld, Jeanne Gorman, Marc and Julie Anderson, Amy Reinhardt, Jan Dixon and Therese Horvat all devoted countless hours to finding and then telling the stories of the new shepherd. Jay Soldner, Kathryn White and Karen Bonar brought each story to life through their impressive photographic skills. Together, it made for a winner.
Leaven senior reporter Moira Cullings took home four awards — three second places and one honorable mention — for her articles “Dignity in Dementia” and “Mercy in Focus.”
“Dignity in Dementia” dealt with the difficult subject of recognizing and caring for those with dementia with compassion and mercy. Cullings interviewed one of the Sisters, Servants of Mary, along with Catholic Community Health and Dooley Center caregivers and staff, to explore the challenges families face and how to deal with those challenges.
“The sources for that article shared some pretty amazing insight into dementia and offered a deeper understanding of what’s going on inside the brain of someone affected by it,” said Cullings. “I was really moved by the stories they shared and hoped the article would be helpful and comforting for readers who have a loved one with dementia.”
“Mercy in Focus” told the story of family photographer Fallon O’Connor and her journey in following and photographing the Sisters of the Poor of Jesus Christ as they minister to the homeless in Kansas City.
The judges praised Cullings for her ability to bring readers into the story.
“This piece really stands out because of its strong personal story,” they wrote. “It pulls the reader in with a relatable and unexpected transformation. What makes it work is how it shows the mission through real-life experience, making it feel genuine and easy to connect with.”
“I also want to especially congratulate senior reporter Moira Cullings for her wins. In both stories, she revealed the beauty of ministry to two very challenging populations — patients with dementia and those living on the street. Through her careful and sensitive reporting, she peeled back for the reader that which often obscures them and revealed to us all the beautiful humanity of both,” McSorley said.
Photographer Jay Soldner took home first place in best multiple picture package for his photo essay “When the Saints go marching in.”
The essay came about from an Instagram photo contest that The Leaven ran. St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Overland Park won the contest and had Soldner at the school for the final day of homecoming week.
The judges found the piece exciting and engaging.
“This is a great collection of photos — they show energy, colors, activities, angles and emotions. The pictures convey the story pretty fully, without the need for narrative. This is the sort of photo spread that attracts attention and makes the reader want to know more about what it pictured,” they wrote.
In sports journalism, John Sorce took home a third place award for his piece on high school swimmer Jack Punswick, a state champion swimmer his junior year, and his battle with cancer and return to the pool his senior year.
The judges found the story to be a powerful feature full of emotion, faith and perseverance.
“It’s no secret to our readers that I’ve been doing this a very long time, and have read a lot of moving stories over the years,” McSorley said. “But I knew when John’s story made me tear up toward the end that this was a special story about a very special young man. Now we know it was written by a special reporter as well.”
In other awards, freelancers Marc and Julie Anderson won two honorable mentions for their story “The Battles We Don’t See,” about veterans dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder. Jill Ragar Esfeld won an honorable mention for her article “Jack of All Trades” about Good Shepherd, Shawnee, parishioner Jack Carson and his volunteer efforts. And Jay Soldner won an honorable mention for his photo “Incense,” which showed Archbishop Emeritus Joseph F. Naumann processing around the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., before the annual March for Life.
