Catholic Outlook has won Best Content – Ecumenical & Interfaith at the 2025 Australasian Catholic Press Association (ACPA) awards, which were held in Canberra in early September. The win underscored the publication’s commitment to fostering interfaith dialogue and sharing stories that transcend beyond faiths and borders.
The article “Cardinal Fitzgerald on why interreligious dialogue is important now more than ever”, written by Deputy Editor Antony Lawes, showcased the May 2024 public lecture of Cardinal Michael Fitzgerald M.Afr OBE. Cardinal Fitzgerald was formerly head of the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, now called the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue. His lecture was co-presented by the Columban Centre for Christian-Muslim Relations and the Diocese of Parramatta.
Cardinal Fitzgerald and Fr Patrick McInerney in conversation after the lecture. Image: Diocese of Parramatta
At the Awards gala, the judges labelled the article as a “standout winner” in highlighting the Church’s commitment to interfaith dialogue.
“The piece is topical, engaging with pressing realities such as discrimination, violence and global unrest, while also being highly accessible for readers unfamiliar with interreligious theology,” the judges said.
“Its style combines intellectual clarity with lived witness, demonstrating how dialogue enriches not only mutual understanding but also personal faith.
“By including voices from Muslim and Christian participants in attendance, the article embodies the very spirit of encounter it advocates,” they went on to say.
“This contribution excels because it frames interfaith dialogue not as an abstract concept but as an essential Christian duty for peace and justice today.”
Development of interreligious dialogue focus of lecture
During his lecture, Cardinal Fitzgerald had looked at the developments inspired by Vatican II’s Nostra Aetate, a document now almost 60 years old that ushered in a new era in Christian relations with people of other religions.
Cardinal Michael Fitzgerald is one of the Catholic Church’s foremost experts on interreligious dialogue. Image: Diocese of Parramatta
In his speech, he had outlined four types of religious dialogue that were developed and incorporated into Vatican documents in the quest for a more peaceful and harmonious world – life, action, discourse and religious experience.
“It would be correct to say that this deeper aim of dialogue is conversion, not in the sense of a change of religious allegiance, but rather in the Biblical sense of the humble and penitent return of the heart to God, and a more complete submission to God’s will,” Cardinal Fitzgerald had explained.
“We dialogue to be better human beings and we recognise that humanity in other people, even if they belong to different religions.”
Awards recognition of excellence in Catholic media
It wasn’t the first time the Diocese of Parramatta has been fortunate to be a recipient of the annual ACPA Awards. The Diocese has previously won awards, including for ‘Most Improved Publication – Print’, ‘Best News Content’ and ‘Best Headline’.
On this occasion, more than 50 Catholic media and communications professionals gathered to recognise and celebrates excellence in Catholic magazines, newspapers and digital publications across Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific across a variety of categories.
This year, the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference’s daily e-newsletter CathNews received the top award for Best Catholic Publication. The Archdiocese of Perth’s The Record Magazine won Best Layout and Design (Print) with its digital offering, the eRecord, winning Besty Layout and Design (Online).
The ACPA Awards capped off the 2025 ACPA Conference, a three-day conference for communication professionals in Australian Catholic media. This year’s conference theme was, ‘Messengers of Hope: Communicating the truth, goodness and beauty of our faith.’
Delegates from the 2025 ACPA Conference with Archbishop Christopher Prowse of Canberra-Goulburn following their conference Mass. Image: Jamie O’Brien/ACPA/Supplied
Outgoing ACPA President Jamie O’Brien from the Archdiocese of Perth said that in an age marked by noise, misinformation, and division, hope is not a luxury – it is a necessity.
“I congratulate all the winners and runners-up and thank all ACPA members who came together for this special occasion, to learn and grow with each other in faith.”
You can rewatch Cardinal Fitzgerald’s 2024 public lecture on our Diocesan YouTube channel.
