Joseph Karl Publishing's Blog: Joseph Karl Publishing Submits Its Work For Consideration To The Catholic Press Association's 2012 Catholic Press and Book Awards

Friday, February 3, 2012

Joseph Karl Publishing Submits Its Work For Consideration To The Catholic Press Association's 2012 Catholic Press and Book Awards

The next generation of Catholic publishers continues its work to inspire, promote ongoing faith formation

throughout the lifespan and around the world, encourage forgiveness and healing, defend human dignity, and guide precious, immortal souls to Christ. God is at work in you!

From one of its nominations for Individual Excellence/Photography, describing the genesis and development of its Catholic and pro-life photo collection:

The images, taken for Joseph Karl Publishing, were initially meant to be paired with the text of blog postings, but their significance, purpose, and reach extended considerably and almost immediately.

Through 2011, the images were posted on various social media sites including Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. The images resonated with people in a very special way, one by one. Soon, there were enough pictures to post in albums on Facebook and iCatholic. The pictures were also published on Joseph Karl Publishing’s website, have appeared on book covers (including God Moments II: Recognizing the Fruits of the Holy Spirit, nominated in several categories of the 2012 Catholic Book Awards), and the postings and albums were expanded to Google +, three blogs, Joseph Karl Publishing on Facebook, True Love Leads To Life on Facebook, Apostolate Films on Facebook, and other blogs upon request. Some of the images, such as those used as blog headers, were changed to suit the time of year or various holy days.

Many people have shared the images with others around the world, or have asked for permission to use the pictures for various purposes. One man asked if he could use a picture taken during Eucharistic Adoration to promote Adoration at his parish. A young man asked to share several images with people in his country, Indonesia, one of which was taken during the Consecration at a Tridentine Mass. He explained that not many Tridentine Masses are celebrated there and he wanted to share its beauty and immeasurable worth with others who do not have the opportunity to participate in them. Another delightful young man will be making his final vows as a Capuchin in June, and asked if he could put one of the images, of Jesus on the Cross reaching down to St. Francis, on a prayer card he was creating.

Sometimes the images lead people on social networking sites to write requesting more information about the Catholic faith, or lead to exchanges beginning with questions such as "Does God really love me?" or "Do I matter?" One man in the RCIA program was so captivated by the images from Holy Mass and Adoration, he had to experience the Mass at the parish where they were taken.

Most of the images were taken, with permission, during Holy Mass or Eucharistic Exposition and Adoration at Ss. Cyril & Methodius Slovak Catholic Church in Sterling Heights, Michigan. Others were taken at various parishes, a hospital, medical center, a cemetery, and in neighborhoods. The images have been organized into categories, including, "God Is So In Love With You", “Thank Heaven for Altar Boys” , “Discover or Rediscover the One, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic, & Pro-Life Church”, “The Real Presence”, “Corpus Christi”, “Advent/Christmas”, and “Love Never Ends.”

The unique images have encouraged readers/viewers to see the majesty of Catholicism through a different lens, in a way they had perhaps never considered. The pictures serve to guide souls into greater Divine intimacy and leave them with at least a glimpse of their immeasurable value in the eyes of God. The images also celebrate the extraordinary beauty of the One, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic, and Pro-Life Church at a time of great need for them, and at a time when they are in very short supply.

At one point in 2011, borders and captions were added to the published pictures to let viewers through time and place know important information about them, to evangelize and inspire, or for purposes of instruction. The pictures have become a vital tool that Joseph Karl Publishing uses to fulfill its mission to inspire, promote ongoing faith formation throughout the lifespan and around the world, defend human dignity, encourage forgiveness and healing, and guide precious, immortal souls to Christ.

The images have also been used to create slideshows and short videos through Joseph Karl Publishing's film division, Apostolate Films; one of those videos, “His Love Is Indescribable” (nominated for a 2012 press award), was shown during the International Conference on Eucharistic Adoration in Rome in June 2011.

Pro-life images were also added in 2011 when Joseph Karl Publishing launched the global and unprecedented pro-life movement True Love Leads To Life. The images from the pro-life collection aim to defend human dignity by educating, encouraging people to rethink abortion, and visually displaying the love God has for mankind. Those images have appeared on pro-choice, pro-life, and abortion provider sites and social networks all over the world.

The images in Joseph Karl Publishing's collection are expressions of God's immeasurable and unfathomable love for every single one of us, while the Holy Spirit is responsible for all that has been and continues to be accomplished through them.

In early 2012, the best of the images will be available for purchase through Joseph Karl Publishing for use by individuals, families, teachers, Catechists, groups, and organizations, in homes, the workplace, schools, businesses, parishes, group homes, hospitals, prisons, libraries, organizations, and groups. May they further inspire, promote ongoing faith formation throughout the lifespan and around the world, defend human dignity, encourage forgiveness and healing, and guide precious, immortal souls to Christ.