ACP Announces 2026 Hall of Fame Inductee, Outstanding Service Award Winner
BALTIMORE, MD — “The Association of Catholic Publishers (ACP) is very proud to announce its latest Hall of Fame inductee, Joseph Paprocki from Loyola Press, and the 2026 recipient of the Outstanding Service Award, Mary Henion from Ave Maria Press,” noted Wade Wisler, ACP president.
Both will be honored at the 2026 ACP annual meeting during a special evening reception on May 28 in Chicago, IL.
Through their dedicated commitment to Catholic publishing, both Paprocki and Henion represent the best of Catholic publishing and ministry having been characterized as being “the definition of service” in their particular areas. Through his publications, presentations, and work with Loyola Press, Paprocki has fed and transformed hundreds of parishes and thousands upon thousands of parish leaders, parents, and children as they seek to know Jesus and live holy and purposeful lives with and for others through the Catholic faith. As the longest tenured employee at Ave Maria Press, Henion is respected and lauded for her encyclopedic knowledge of and experience in Catholic publishing across the publishing house—sales, marketing, accounting—as well as her grace and patience.
Joseph Paprocki, DMin, is a master catechist, speaker, and bestselling author with more than 45 years of experience in pastoral ministry. Paprocki served for 23 years as the National Consultant for Faith Formation at Loyola Press and has presented in more than 200 dioceses internationally. He is the author of over 25 books for Loyola Press that have sold more than a half-million copies, including The Catechist’s Toolbox, A Well-Built Faith, and the recently published The Catechist’s Toolbox 2.0. Paprocki’s ability to distill complex theological concepts for everyday Catholics has made him one of the most trusted voices in catechetical formation. His work has extended far beyond traditional publishing through his long-running blog, The Catechist’s Journey, his parish consulting and volunteer work, and innovative web series such as Pop-Up Catechesis. Paprocki earned his master’s degree from the Institute for Pastoral Studies at Loyola University Chicago and his Doctor of Ministry from the University of St. Mary of the Lake. He and his wife, Joanne, have two grown children and four grandchildren.
Mary Henion celebrates an extraordinary 50-year career with Ave Maria Press, embodying unparalleled dedication, faithfulness, and service to Catholic publishing. She began in 1976, as a co-op student from her local high school and has since become the company’s longest-tenured employee and a cornerstone of its operations. Henion has served through the leadership of five publishers and has been a stabilizing force through decades of technological and industry change—from typewriters and manual order entry to digital publishing and the rise of Amazon and e-commerce. As Senior Sales Coordinator, she continues to support multiple departments, including processing Amazon orders and returns, handling customer inquiries, and maintaining deep knowledge of the company’s catalog, authors, and customers. Staff praised Henion’s exceptional speed, accuracy, and work ethic, which set a standard across the organization. Beyond her work, Henion has demonstrated a life of service to her parish, her children’s schools, and her community, including longtime volunteer work and caring for animals at a local shelter.
The Association of Catholic Publishers (ACP) is a membership organization of Catholic publishers, those who provide services to Catholic publishers, and individuals who work with Catholic publishers. The ACP provides opportunities for members to further the Catholic publishing industry, promote Catholic publishing and reading, and engage those they interact with including retailers, pastoral leaders, individual customers, and staff.