Whether it’s a feature about a mission trip to Tanzania or a photo of Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney trading “elbow bumps” with a group of children, readers of The Beacon have long recognized — and enjoyed — the staff’s skill in telling compelling stories about local Catholics living their faith.
Over the past 57 years, The Beacon’s colleagues in the Catholic and secular press have also recognized the paper’s well-crafted, faith-based journalism. In print, the staff notched countless honors, mainly N.J. state and national awards — and many first places. The awards raised the paper’s visibility and stellar reputation far beyond the Paterson Diocese.
The diocese’s recently launched news and information site, beaconnj.org, pledges to build on that legacy of journalistic excellence.
“It is especially gratifying to be recognized by your peers,” Richard Sokerka, the Beacon’s now-retired editor and general manager, wrote in one his many stories about the newspaper receiving awards over the years. “Our goal is to tell the story of the priests, religious, and laity in the Diocese of Paterson living their faith daily.” Sokerka won a CMA first place in 2023 — one of many awards during his career — for his column “The importance of parental involvement in education.”
The Catholic Media Association (CMA) of the United States and Canada (the former Catholic Press Association) gave the Beacon most of its awards.
The staff also collected awards from many other organizations, such as the N.J. Chapter of the Society of Profes-sional Journalists (NJSPJ), the National Society of the Propagation of the Faith, National Right to Life, Priests for Life, and the National Knights of Columbus.
The Beacon has won various awards in news, features, column and headline writing, page and graphic design, photography, and general excellence.
Almost from the start, The Beacon began receiving recognition. In 1970, the late Tom Lynch, a former photographer, notched first place for his creation, “Operation vacation.” Bishop Lawrence B. Casey, the paper’s co-founder, won top awards for his “By the Way” column in the 1970s.
A frequent award winner, Joe Gigli, The Beacon’s current photographer, grabbed a CMA first place in 2021 with the photo “Elbow Bumps.” It depicts Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney on July 1, 2020, exchanging elbow bumps with children outside the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson after he was ordained and installed as the diocese’s eighth bishop.
The Beacon won best front page from the CMA in 2020. Sokerka selected the front page content and photos for the three pages entered in the competition, and Marc Stumbo, the production editor, designed the pages.
In 2006, the late Maura Rossi, a former Beacon reporter and columnist, won a CMA first place for her story “Dying with Dignity.” She profiled Julia Quinlan, who reflected on the landmark state “right to die” case involving her daughter, Karen Ann. Judges said Rossi “created a compelling and impressive account.”
In 2010, Bishop Arthur J. Serratelli won first place for his column writing. Judges said the bishop’s “clear and concise” articles “examine very current issues, and he clearly states the Church’s stance on them.”
In 2008, the National Propagation of the Faith, which raises money for missions, awarded Cecile San Agustin (now Pagliarulo), former Beacon reporter and current diocesan digital media specialist, first place for her story “Out of Africa.” The frequent Beacon awardee wrote about a young Passaic parishioners’ mission experience in Tanzania, Africa.
Another frequent award winner, Michael Wojcik, news editor, in 2006 won the National Right to Life’s Excellence in Journalism Award, given to one newspaper in the country to recognize outstanding journalism on Respect for Life issues. He was recognized for a story about Dawn Parkot, whose mother was told her child would be born with disabilities and she should be aborted. Her mother had Dawn, who, despite her disabilities, earned college degrees and toured the state speaking for disabled people.
The Propagation of the Faith gave the late Msgr. John Demkovich, former diocesan mission director, many awards. He notched top honors in 2007 for his column, “Married after 21 Years in Prison: A Story of Immense Courage.” The piece tells the story of two Chinese people, each imprisoned because of their Christian faith, who met and married after more than 20 years in confinement.
“[Msgr. Demkovich’s] faith-filled writings have dazzled judges from the first year these awards were presented,” the judges said.
