ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — Northwest Catholic magazine and the Archdiocese of Seattle communications department earned multiple honors at the 2026 Catholic Media Awards, including recognition of Helen McClenahan, the archdiocese’s chief communications officer, as Communications Director of the Year.

The award is one of the top individual excellence awards given each year by the Catholic Media Association.

“I was very surprised because there are so many superb communication directors across the country,” McClenahan said. “I feel so honored and humbled to be recognized this way.”

McClenahan, a member of St. John the Evangelist Parish in Seattle, has worked at the archdiocese since 2019. Award judges praised the “extraordinary range of communications initiatives” she managed in 2025, including the archdiocese’s new branding, the 175th anniversary celebration and messaging around the bishops’ challenge to a state law that would have forced priests to break the seal of confession.

The judges also noted McClenahan’s work with the Partners in the Gospel initiative, which required “countless meetings, extensive informational materials, and engagement with concerned parishioners.”

On top of these major campaigns, McClenahan continued to lead her team and manage the day-to-day duties of her role, including supporting Northwest Catholic magazine, publishing the annual impact report and overseeing external communications.

“Her exceptional leadership and dedication deserve well-earned recognition,” the judges wrote.

“I am grateful for the tremendous, mission-driven team I am blessed to lead,” McClenahan said. “Together, we support our bishops, parishes, schools and Catholics with evangelization and tools and resources to help everyone grow deeper in their faith.”

In addition to the recognition for McClenahan, the Archdiocese of Seattle communications team and Northwest Catholic staff earned 10 awards for work completed in 2025. Winners were announced June 19 at the Catholic Media Conference in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

“Writing, design, social media, advertising — all parts of our work received praise,” said Northwest Catholic editor Kate DeWeese. “I get to see the talent in our team every day, so I appreciate when others celebrate it, too.”

Among the first-place recipients was Northwest Catholic’s April/May 2025 issue honoring the archdiocese’s 175th anniversary, recognized as Best Special Issue in the magazine category.

The judges praised its “clear commemorative purpose, strong editorial discipline, and a smart structure that turns a 175-year anniversary into a readable, varied package on outreach, women of faith, diversity, schools, and leadership.”

“The 175th anniversary issue was a complete team effort, and I am glad the judges saw the love and thoughtfulness poured into it,” DeWeese said. “It’s a delight to have that hard work honored.”

Also earning a first-place award was an advertising campaign promoting Northwest Catholic’s online presence. The project was spearheaded by advertising sales manager Keri Hake and designed by Joan Patterson.

Judges lauded the series of four ads as “clean and simple, with a cohesive and coordinated creative approach.”

See the complete list of local winners below.

COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR

Helen McClenahan

Judges’ comments: “Helen McClenahan successfully managed an extraordinary range of communications initiatives in 2025. She launched a unified diocesan brand identity, coordinated communications for the diocese’s 175th anniversary celebration, and supported messaging surrounding a major legal challenge to state law. Most significantly, she developed and executed communications for a massive diocesan planning initiative consolidating 174 parishes, missions and entities into 60 parish families, requiring countless meetings, extensive informational materials, and engagement with concerned parishioners. In addition to these major efforts, she continued overseeing production of the diocesan magazine, annual report, and internal communications. Her exceptional leadership and dedication deserve well-earned recognition.


FIRST PLACE

Best Special Issue

Archdiocese of Seattle’s 175th anniversary
Northwest Catholic team
Judges’ comments: “This entry has a clear commemorative purpose, strong editorial discipline, and a smart structure that turns a 175-year anniversary into a readable, varied package on outreach, women of faith, diversity, schools, and leadership. The editor’s note makes clear that real archival digging and historical shaping went into it, and the result feels both celebratory and substantive.”

Best Advertising Campaign

Northwest Catholic campaign
Keri Hake, Joan Patterson and Northwest Catholic team
Judges’ comments: The campaign is clean and simple, with a cohesive and coordinated creative approach. Its consistency across elements makes it easy to follow while still feeling thoughtfully designed and engaging.


SECOND PLACE

Best Original Poetry
“Christmas for a Weary Heart”
Mauricio I. Pérez
Judges’ comments: “The use of rhyme is refreshing and highly effective, giving the piece rhythm, momentum, and emotional strength. The parallel between the Holy Family’s experience and the struggles of ordinary human life is thoughtfully developed, making the literary structure especially fitting. Strong imagery, meaningful analogies, and vivid descriptions of suffering and perseverance demonstrate careful craftsmanship and technical skill. The concluding lines are particularly memorable, expressing hope and redemption with clarity and poetic force.”

Best Special Supplement or Special Issue with Advertising Emphasis
Archdiocese of Seattle’s 175th anniversary
Keri Hake, Creative Studio, Northwest Catholic team
Judges’ comments: “The content is strong and clearly communicated, supported by clean, well-organized visuals. The overall presentation feels polished and easy to navigate, helping the message come through effectively.”

Best Use of Video on Social Media – News Organization
Fully Vested with Father Kyle Rink
Selena Abounader, Kate Oest-Larsen, Father Kyle Rink
Judges’ comments: “This video is simple, practical, and informative. This was a good use of the social media platform. It was not overthought (which is a good thing) and worked well.”


THIRD PLACE

Bishop’s Column in a Diocesan Magazine/Newspaper — Spanish
Bishop Eusebio Elizondo
Northwest Catholic
Judges’ comment: “The pieces convey a meaningful and worthwhile message, though their style leans more toward homiletic reflection than traditional journalistic writing.”

Best Use of Video on Social Media – Diocesan Communications
A Day in the Life of a Seminarian
Selena Abounader and Deacon Simon Stehr
Judges’ comment: “This firsthand, personal perspective of his daily life was engaging. It felt organic and natural.”


HONORABLE MENTION

Best Reporting on Catholic Education
“Life is Better with Options”
Andrew Foster, writer; Ellen Bollard, designer

Best House Ad – Print
Northwest Catholic Survey — We want to hear from YOU!
Keri Hake and Joan Patterson

Best Video – Explainer: Diocesan and National News Organizations
Reflecting Christ’s Radical Love
Archdiocese of Seattle communications team 

Click here to see all winners in the 2026 Catholic Media Awards.