HarperCollins Christian Publishing announces launch of Harper Catholic
HarperCollins Christian Publishing announced the launch of a new imprint, Harper Catholic, on Aug. 10, 2026. The imprint will focus on Catholic books beyond Bibles, including spirituality, theology, devotionals, memoirs, and cultural works. Associate publisher Kristi McDonald, formerly of Ave Maria Press, will lead Harper Catholic and highlighted the growing Catholic audience in the U.S. and worldwide. Harper Catholic aims to become a publishing home for established and emerging Catholic authors, offering resources to deepen faith and support parish life.
about 2 months ago
HarperCollins Christian Publishing (HCCP) announced the creation of a new Catholic imprint, Harper Catholic, aimed at expanding its portfolio beyond Bibles to a broad range of faith‑focused titles. The imprint will be led by associate publisher Kristi McDonald, who brings more than 15 years of experience in Catholic publishing, including a long tenure at Ave Maria Press. Harper Catholic seeks to serve Catholic readers, authors, booksellers, parishes and other institutions by offering accessible, intellectually solid works that address contemporary spiritual needs and the growing interest in Catholicism in the United States and worldwide. The launch follows the success of HCCP’s earlier Catholic imprint, Catholic Bible Press, and the imprint is now open to manuscript proposals, with its first acquisitions expected in the coming months. 1 2
Harper Catholic was officially announced on August 10, 2026 and is positioned as a dedicated imprint for Catholic audiences. The imprint’s mission emphasizes “sharing the truth and beauty of the Catholic faith with the world through powerful writing and authentic, trustworthy voices.” 1
Kristi McDonald will serve as associate publisher. Her background includes 14 years at Ave Maria Press and a total of over 15 years in Catholic publishing, equipping her to guide the imprint’s development. 1 2
Harper Catholic plans to publish a wide spectrum of titles, including spiritual classics, theology, devotionals, memoirs, cultural‑engagement works, and books by leading contemporary Catholic voices. The goal is to provide resources for Catholics at every stage of their spiritual journey, from new converts to long‑time practitioners. 1 2
The imprint’s launch follows the rapid growth of HCCP’s Catholic Bible Press, which has been successful for six years with editions of the New Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition, and the New American Bible, Revised Edition. McDonald notes that the Catholic Church in the United States is “growing and changing,” with increasing numbers of converts and renewed interest among existing members, creating a “tremendous opportunity” for dedicated Catholic publishing. 1 2
Harper Catholic is actively soliciting proposals from authors and literary agents. The imprint will announce its first acquisitions and publishing schedule in the months ahead, signaling a long‑term commitment to expanding Catholic literature. 1 2*
Investigate how Catholic publishing expands parish life and faith formation
Catholic publishing can expand parish life by extending evangelization beyond the church building, deepening doctrinal formation, equipping families and small groups, and connecting parish activity with the wider mission of the Church. Its effectiveness, however, depends on three conditions: doctrinal reliability, integration with sacramental and communal life, and active participation by clergy and laity.
Catholic publishing is not merely the production of religious books. It includes the preparation, sale, and distribution of written works, and it is understood as a genuine apostolate—that is, a form of Christian mission. The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith teaches that those involved in publishing have a responsibility to promote “sound doctrine and good morals” and to make positive efforts to distribute works that contribute to the human and Christian welfare of readers.
This gives publishing a twofold purpose:
The point is not simply to increase the amount of religious material available. Catholic publishing should help people encounter Christ, understand the faith, live morally, participate more consciously in the sacraments, and witness to the Gospel in society.
Pope Leo XIII made a similar observation concerning Catholic newspapers. He noted that people often form their opinions and moral outlook through what they read, and therefore urged the publication of material in which “truth” and sound reason could replace frivolity and moral confusion. Although this text concerns newspapers in the nineteenth century, its principle applies more broadly today: what a parish reads helps shape what it believes, values, and practices.
The parish is not only a place where people attend Mass. It is a community called to announce the Gospel, teach the faith, celebrate the Eucharist, and serve the world. A study of parish ministry emphasizes that the parish must be “strongly missionary” if it is to live according to its identity as a community of believers sent on mission.
Publishing supports this missionary identity in several ways.
A parish bulletin, local Catholic newspaper, introductory booklet, or accessible book can reach:
Printed and digital resources can therefore function as a threshold ministry. They offer an initial point of contact for people who may not yet be ready for a personal conversation, a catechetical program, or regular sacramental participation.
This is particularly important in a society marked by religious pluralism, relativism, indifference, and forms of Christianity detached from Christ and his Church. The Congregation for the Clergy states that contemporary evangelization requires the rediscovery of Jesus Christ, the incarnate Word and Savior of humanity. It also insists that pastoral methods may be adapted to different circumstances, but doctrine itself cannot be altered. Publishing provides one means of making this unchanging content available in forms suited to different audiences.
Sunday Mass remains the center and summit of parish life. It gathers the community into Christ and gives the parish its identity and unity. Catholic publishing should not compete with the Eucharist or replace participation in the liturgy. Its proper role is to help people prepare for Mass, understand it, and carry its grace and demands into daily life.
For example, a parish publication might include:
In this way, publishing can help establish a rhythm extending from hearing the Word and receiving the Eucharist to living the Gospel throughout the week.
The Pontifical Council for Culture identifies Bible study and parish reading programs as effective means of formation. It also stresses the right of baptized persons to receive true doctrinal education and their corresponding duty to continue studying the faith and handing it on to future generations.
Publishing expands this formation by providing a stable content base for parish activities.
Books, study guides, pamphlets, and digital resources can support:
A parish may use a published resource not simply as a textbook but as a framework for dialogue. Participants can read a short section beforehand, discuss it in small groups, and then relate it to Scripture, prayer, and parish life.
The supplied sources also illustrate the range of possible publishing formats. One catalogued work combines a catechetical volume on the Eucharist with a teaching workbook for preparation for First Communion, while another presents contemporary questions through “dialogical catechesis.” These examples show how publishing can serve both structured sacramental preparation and engagement with current cultural questions.
The Pontifical Council for Culture recommends formation adapted to particular groups, including children, students, young adults, pensioners, and community leaders. It also highlights biblical, moral, and social teaching as areas that help people discern social realities in the light of the Gospel.
A parish publishing strategy should therefore avoid assuming that one resource can serve everyone. Different audiences require different language, examples, levels of theological depth, and formats.
For instance:
Such differentiation expands parish life because it enables more people to find a meaningful path into the community’s common faith.
Publishing is especially important because parish formation cannot occur only in classrooms or during homilies. The faith must be lived and transmitted in homes. The Pontifical Council for Culture speaks of the duty to continue studying the faith and to hand it on from one generation to the next.
Parishes can use publications to support the home through:
This approach helps parents move from being passive recipients of parish services to becoming active participants in evangelization. It also gives families a shared vocabulary for discussing God, sin, grace, forgiveness, vocation, suffering, and eternal life.
Publishing is particularly effective here because a book or booklet can be revisited. Unlike a single announcement or lecture, it remains available for repeated reading, discussion, and prayer.
The life of a parish depends on many forms of lay cooperation. A theological and pastoral study of the parish emphasizes that catechesis, missionary activity, discernment, dialogue with cultures, and other pastoral tasks cannot be carried out or coordinated by the pastor alone.
Catholic publishing can support this shared responsibility by forming:
A parish might establish a small reading group for volunteers, using one carefully selected work during a pastoral year. Each meeting could include theological reflection, discussion of local needs, and a concrete pastoral application. In this way, publishing becomes not only a means of distributing information but also a means of forming missionary disciples.
A parish can be active without being deeply formed. Ralph Martin warns of the danger of doctrinal uncertainty and catechetical weakness, arguing that when the eternal consequences of belief and moral action are no longer clearly presented, Catholic faith can deteriorate into a vague theism with little definite moral content.
This concern identifies an important contribution of Catholic publishing: it can restore continuity, precision, and depth to parish formation.
A parish reading culture might include:
The objective should not be intellectual accumulation for its own sake. Reading must lead to prayer, conversion, participation in the sacraments, works of mercy, and evangelization. The older tradition of parish missions offers a useful analogy: systematic preaching and instruction were intended to enlighten people, prepare them for the worthy reception of the sacraments, and renew daily Christian life. Catholic publications can help provide the preparatory and continuing instruction that makes such renewal possible.
Catholic publishing also prevents the parish from becoming isolated or inward-looking. Publications sponsored by dioceses, religious institutes, Catholic associations, and other ecclesial bodies have a particular responsibility because of their relationship with Church authority. Their work is to be carried out in harmony with Church doctrine, in communion with the bishops, and according to ecclesiastical law.
Through books, newspapers, magazines, and formation resources, parishioners can encounter:
This wider horizon strengthens Catholic identity. A parish remains locally rooted while recognizing that it belongs to a diocese and to the universal Church.
Religious publishing houses have a related role. Their publishing activity is to be regarded as apostolic work, pursued by the Church’s mandate, in communion with the Church, faithful to the institute’s charism, and obedient to the diocesan bishop. Their distinctive spiritual traditions can enrich parish life when presented faithfully and integrated appropriately into diocesan pastoral planning.
Catholic publishing can strengthen faith formation only when its content is trustworthy. The 1992 instruction states that Catholic publishers are not to issue works lacking the required ecclesiastical permission. It also assigns local Ordinaries responsibility for ensuring that publications sponsored by Catholic institutions conform to Church teaching and genuinely serve the good of souls.
The same instruction says that bishops should prevent the sale or display in churches of publications on religion or morals that lack the required permission or approval. This is not a rejection of legitimate theological discussion. Rather, it recognizes that materials publicly associated with the parish can easily be perceived as representing Catholic teaching.
Parishes should therefore distinguish between:
Approval, an imprimatur, or ecclesiastical sponsorship does not remove the need for prudent reading and good catechetical judgment. The supplied critical discussion notes that some materials may still present deficiencies despite official approval. Consequently, parish leaders should evaluate resources for doctrinal completeness, pastoral suitability, theological balance, clarity, and fidelity to the Church’s Magisterium.
A parish seeking to use publishing strategically could develop four coordinated streams:
A bulletin, newsletter, or digital publication should do more than announce events. It can connect parish activities to the Gospel, explain the liturgical season, highlight works of mercy, and direct readers toward deeper formation.
Each sacramental program should include appropriate reading and home materials for candidates, parents, and sponsors. The resources should explain both the doctrine and the practical spiritual consequences of receiving the sacrament.
Book circles, Bible studies, and discussion groups can create relationships around the Word of God. The Pontifical Council for Culture specifically identifies Bible study and parish reading as effective means of enabling formation and growth in faith.
Parishioners can distribute accessible Catholic literature in hospitals, schools, prisons, neighborhood initiatives, and evangelization events, always respecting local norms and the dignity of those receiving it.
Catholic publishing expands parish life when it serves the parish’s central mission: to gather people into Christ, form them in the truth, unite them to the Eucharist, and send them into the world as witnesses. It reaches people beyond the church building, supports lifelong catechesis, forms families and volunteers, encourages Bible study and conversation, and links local parish life with the universal Church.
Its success should not be measured primarily by the number of books sold or bulletins distributed. The decisive question is whether publishing produces deeper faith, more conscious sacramental participation, stronger Christian homes, clearer moral judgment, and more missionary parishioners. Publishing becomes genuinely ecclesial when the written word leads people toward the living Word, Jesus Christ, and toward fuller communion with his Church.