Last week in Phoenix, Arizona, The Merry Beggars was honored to receive two prestigious Gabriel Awards at the Catholic Media Association’s annual ceremony—winning Best Podcast for The Saints: Adventures of Faith and Courage and Best Series for Josephine Bakhita.
These national media awards, considered among the most distinguished in Catholic broadcasting, recognize “outstanding artistic achievement in a television or radio program or series that entertains and enriches with a true vision of humanity and true vision of life.” The wins represent not only a milestone for The Merry Beggars but also a significant achievement for Relevant Radio as a whole.
The reception brought together some of the most respected names in Catholic and secular media, including representatives from PBS, CBS, CBC, EWTN, Hallow, and Word on Fire. Among them, The Merry Beggars stood out for their distinctive approach to audio storytelling—fusing historical authenticity with imaginative dramatization.
The Saints: Adventures of Faith and Courage, which took home the award for Best Podcast, has become a flagship show for The Merry Beggars, captivating listeners with dramatized stories of heroic saints from around the world. Meanwhile, Josephine Bakhita, awarded Best Series, tells the powerful and harrowing story of a young girl kidnapped into slavery who ultimately finds her freedom and becomes a saint. It has been praised for its emotional depth, theological insight, and cinematic sound design.
Joseph Marsh, Associate Producer, and Peter Atkinson, Founder and Executive Producer, accepted the awards in Phoenix on behalf of the team. “It’s a tremendous honor to accept these awards on behalf of our entire team at The Merry Beggars and Relevant Radio,” Atkinson said. “Our writers, actors, directors, sound designers, and entire team pour their hearts into bringing these stories to life. It’s deeply encouraging to see their work recognized on a national stage.”
The Gabriel Awards were established in 1965 to honor media productions that affirm human dignity and serve the public with authenticity, compassion, and excellence. They continue to stand as a gold standard in both Catholic and mainstream media for stories that uplift and inspire.
Reflecting on the journey, Atkinson added, “Winning these Gabriel Awards is a reminder of why we do this: to inspire and encourage people with the true stories of our faith. Our faith has countless stories of heroic courage and heart-breaking sacrifices – the stuff of Hollywood. But we don’t know their stories. When audiences can encounter these men and women, it changes their lives.”