Best Catholic Book Publishers in 2026: Submission Rules, Costs, Royalties and How to Apply

The best Catholic book publishers in 2026 are Ignatius Press for authors seeking a traditional contract, and Writers of the West for authors who want to pay for professional publishing services and keep 100% of their rights and royalties. Ave Maria Press, Our Sunday Visitor, Sophia Institute Press and Pauline Books & Media are strong traditional alternatives. Traditional houses cost nothing if they accept your book, but they accept only a small share of what they receive, many never reply to declined authors, and most turn away memoir, poetry or fiction.

Writing a book about the faith is an act of witness, and the publisher you choose decides how far that witness travels. Writers of the West has helped more than 2,500 authors publish (see our portfolio), and the question we hear most from Catholic writers is a simple one: who will actually read my manuscript, and what happens if they say no? This guide answers both, using each publisher’s own published rules.

Which Catholic publisher fits your goals?

The right Catholic publisher depends on what matters most to you: speed, money, rights, reach or the kind of book you are writing. Find your goal below and start with the publishers listed beside it.

Your goal	Publishers that fit it
Get published as fast as possible	Writers of the West (about one month once the manuscript is final), Sophia Institute Press (decision within a month), Ave Maria Press (first reply in 3 to 4 weeks)
Receive an advance	Pauline Books & Media, the only house here that states it pays one
Know the royalty rate before you submit	En Route Books and Media (10% of retail), Writers of the West (author keeps 100%)
Keep full ownership of your rights	Writers of the West
Pay nothing at any stage	Ignatius Press, Ave Maria Press, OSV, Sophia, Pauline, Paulist Press, Liguori, Liturgical Press, Franciscan Media (if your book is accepted)
Spread professional costs over time	Writers of the West (0% interest installments)
Submit without an agent	Ignatius Press, Pauline Books & Media, Sophia, Liturgical Press, Franciscan Media
Pitch several publishers at once	Pauline Books & Media (if disclosed); avoid OSV and Liguori, which refuse simultaneous submissions
Hear back even if declined	Liturgical Press (acknowledges every proposal within 6 weeks), Liguori (follow up after 12 weeks)
Get help writing your story	Writers of the West (Christian ghostwriting)
Publish a memoir or conversion story	En Route Books and Media, Writers of the West
Publish poetry	En Route Books and Media, Writers of the West
Publish a children’s or teen book	Pauline Books & Media, OSV Kids, Paulist Press, Angelico Press
Reach Catholic schools and parishes	Loyola Press, OSV, Liguori, Liturgical Press
Reach scholars, clergy and ministry leaders	Liturgical Press, Paulist Press, Angelico Press, Emmaus Road
Carry a recognized Catholic imprint	Any traditional house on this list, especially award leaders Ave Maria Press, Liturgical Press, OSV and Pauline
Sell copies yourself at talks and events	En Route Books and Media (40% author discount, first 10 copies free)

How we evaluated these Catholic publishers

We ranked each publisher by reading its own submission guidelines and website in October 2026, then checking independent proof of its work, not third-party “top publisher” lists. Every publisher was judged on the same seven points:

• Manuscript acceptance: Does it take unsolicited work, and which genres does it refuse?
• Real cost to the author: Money, time, required editing, and any copies you must buy.
• Royalties and rights: Are the terms published, and who owns the finished book?
• Production and distribution: Editing, design, formats and where the book is sold.
• What happens if you are declined: Feedback, a reply, or silence.
• Access: A working email, form or address, and a stated response time.
• Proof of quality: Its published portfolio and notable authors, wins in the 2025 and 2026 Catholic Media Association (CMA) and Association of Catholic Publishers (ACP) book awards, and independent client reviews where they exist.

Where a publisher does not publish its royalty rates or its process, we say so.

Quick verdict: the 15 best Catholic book publishers

Ignatius Press ranks first among traditional Catholic publishers, and Writers of the West ranks first for Catholic authors who want guaranteed publication and full ownership.

1. Ignatius Press: Best traditional Catholic publisher for faithful theology, apologetics, spirituality and Catholic fiction.
2. Writers of the West: Best assisted self-publishing company for Catholic authors who want editing, design, wide distribution and 100% of their rights and royalties.
3. Ave Maria Press: Best for Catholic nonfiction proposals from authors with an existing audience, with a 3 to 4 week first reply.
4. Our Sunday Visitor (OSV): Best for devotionals, liturgical year books and overtly Catholic children’s books.
5. Sophia Institute Press: Best for short, accessible spiritual nonfiction for everyday Catholics.
6. Pauline Books & Media: Best for Catholic children’s and teen books, with a stated advance and royalty.
7. Paulist Press: Best for Scripture, theology, pastoral ministry and children’s titles.
8. Liguori Publications: Best for prayer, Christian living, faith formation and pamphlets.
9. Loyola Press: Best known for Jesuit spirituality and parochial school materials, but it posts no submission guidelines.
10. Liturgical Press: Best for liturgy, Scripture, monastic life and pastoral-professional readers.
11. Franciscan Media: Best for adult spiritual nonfiction rooted in the Franciscan charism.
12. TAN Books: Best for traditional Catholic titles, but closed to most unsolicited work.
13. Emmaus Road Publishing: Best for Bible-centered books from the St. Paul Center, though it posts no guidelines.
14. Angelico Press: Best for intellectual, literary and biographical Catholic works.
15. En Route Books and Media: Best small Catholic press for poetry, memoir and niche titles, with a published 10% royalty.

Catholic publishers compared: cost, odds and what happens if you are declined

Traditional Catholic publishers charge nothing if they accept your book, but acceptance is selective, waits run from one month to six months, and most give no feedback when they decline. The table shows the real trade-off for each publisher.

Publisher	Model	What it costs you	Who it accepts	If you are declined	Wait for an answer
Ignatius Press	Traditional	Nothing if accepted	Open to unsolicited work	No feedback	Up to 6 months
Writers of the West	Assisted self-publishing	Package fee from $699, 0% interest installments	Any author with a manuscript or idea	Not applicable, author decides	Consultation before you pay
Ave Maria Press	Traditional	Nothing if accepted	Proposals only, no fiction, children’s, poetry or conversion stories	No detailed evaluation	3 to 4 weeks, review can take months
Our Sunday Visitor	Traditional	Nothing if accepted	Query letter first, no fiction or poetry	Not stated	8 to 10 weeks
Sophia Institute Press	Traditional	Nothing if accepted	Nonfiction under 300 pages	No reply at all	1 month, then assume no
Pauline Books & Media	Traditional	No fees, pays an advance	No memoir, adult fiction or poetry	No feedback	8 to 10 weeks
Paulist Press	Traditional	Nothing if accepted	Proposals, no dissertations	Materials not returned	6 to 8 weeks
Liguori Publications	Traditional	Nothing if accepted	No fiction, poetry, biography or autobiography	Follow up yourself after 12 weeks	8 to 12 weeks
Loyola Press	Traditional	Not published	No public submission process	Not stated	Not stated
Liturgical Press	Traditional	Nothing if accepted	Liturgy, Scripture, theology, prayer, monastic life	Not stated	Acknowledged within 6 weeks
Franciscan Media	Traditional	Nothing if accepted	Adult nonfiction, no previously self-published books	Not stated	6 to 8 weeks
TAN Books	Traditional	Nothing if accepted	Unable to accept the majority of submissions	No reply, move on after 2 months	Not stated
Emmaus Road	Traditional	Not published	No guidelines posted	Not stated	Not stated
Angelico Press	Independent	Not published	Manuscript, proposal and CV by email	Not stated	Not stated
En Route Books and Media	Small press, print on demand	Professional editing before you submit, plus a plan for copies you will buy	Complete, edited manuscripts	Acceptance not guaranteed	About 6 months to publication

Proof of quality: portfolios, awards and reviews

The strongest independent proof of a Catholic publisher’s quality is its record in the two main Catholic book awards and the authors it has published. Ave Maria Press, Liturgical Press, OSV and Pauline Books & Media won the most recognition in 2025 and 2026, while Ignatius Press stands on its catalog of major Catholic authors.

Publisher	Portfolio proof	Recent award recognition (2025 to 2026)	Client reviews
Ignatius Press	Primary English-language publisher of Pope Benedict XVI; also Hans Urs von Balthasar, Peter Kreeft, Michael O’Brien and the Ignatius Bible	Not among 2025 or 2026 CMA or ACP winners	Not applicable, authors do not pay
Writers of the West	90+ titles shown with retailer links, including Christian, memoir and poetry books	Not applicable, services company	BBB A+, accredited since April 2026; Trustpilot 3.5 of 5 (23 reviews); GoodFirms 4.9 of 5 (6 reviews)
Ave Maria Press	Catholic nonfiction for parishes, schools and general readers	Led the 2025 ACP awards with 10 wins; 2026 ACP first place for Witness: A Guided Lent Journal	Not applicable
Our Sunday Visitor	Books, periodicals and parish resources since 1912	CMA first place for My Son Carlo (2025) and Incredible Catholic America (2026)	Not applicable
Sophia Institute Press	Spiritual nonfiction and children’s titles	2025 CMA honorable mention for Mother Cabrini: A Heart for the World	Not applicable
Pauline Books & Media	Children’s, teen and adult Catholic titles	God Made Me Good took first place in both the 2026 ACP and CMA awards	Not applicable
Paulist Press	Catholic books since 1865	2025 CMA third place for A Consistent Ethic of Life; 2026 ACP award for Ashes to Flames	Not applicable
Liguori Publications	Books, pamphlets and Liguorian magazine	2026 ACP second place for Saintly Bites for Children	Not applicable
Loyola Press	Jesuit publisher since 1912	2026 CMA first place for The True Gifts of Christmas; 2026 ACP award for The Spiritual Path	Not applicable
Liturgical Press	Liturgy, Scripture and monastic titles	5 ACP awards in 2026; 2026 CMA first place for Lay Eucharistic Preaching in a Synodal Catholic Church	Not applicable
Franciscan Media	Serving readers since 1893; St. Anthony Messenger reaches 50,000 homes a month	Not among 2025 or 2026 CMA or ACP winners	Not applicable
TAN Books	Traditional Catholic classics and the Douay-Rheims Bible	2025 CMA second place (illustrations) for My Name is Philomena: A Saint’s Story	Not applicable
Emmaus Road	Publishing arm of the St. Paul Center	2025 CMA third place for Forming Families, Forming Saints; five 2026 CMA placements	Not applicable
Angelico Press	Theology, philosophy, literature and classics	2025 CMA honorable mention for Jason M. Baxter’s The Divine Comedy: Inferno	Not applicable
En Route Books and Media	Small press with a wide Catholic list	Four 2026 CMA placements, including second place for The Host of Gethsemane	Not applicable

Sources: 2025 CMA Book Awards, 2026 CMA Book Awards, 2026 ACP Awards, Ave Maria Press on its 2025 ACP wins, Ignatius Press, Wikipedia, Writers of the West on BBB, Trustpilot, GoodFirms.

Client reviews matter most when an author pays for a service, which is why we report them for Writers of the West. Traditional publishers do not charge authors, so their public reviews come from book buyers rather than authors and say little about the author experience. Awards are entered by publishers, so a house that is missing from the lists may simply not have entered.

What “free” traditional publishing really costs a Catholic author

A traditional Catholic publisher costs no money, but it costs time, rights and control, and it is never guaranteed. Before you send anything, weigh these costs that the guidelines themselves reveal:

• Most submissions are declined. TAN Books says plainly that it is “unable to accept the majority of manuscripts and manuscript proposals.” (TAN Books)
• Silence is common. Sophia Institute Press does not reply to declined authors, and TAN asks you to move on after two months without word. Ignatius Press and Pauline Books & Media give no feedback on rejections.
• One answer at a time. OSV and Liguori refuse simultaneous submissions, so a one-month wait at one house plus a three-month wait at the next adds up quickly.
• Your audience counts. Ave Maria Press asks for your website, social links and follower or visitor counts with every proposal. (Ave Maria Press)
• Polished work up front. Pauline asks for at least 6,000 words of polished sample chapters, and En Route requires a manuscript that is already professionally edited. Many authors hire a Christian book editor before submitting for this reason.
• Rights leave your hands. In a traditional contract, the publisher controls publication rights for the term of the agreement. Emmaus Academic, the St. Paul Center’s scholarly imprint, states that accepted authors assign copyright to it. (Emmaus Academic)

None of this makes traditional publishing a poor choice. It means the right choice depends on your genre, your timeline and how much control you want to keep.

The three ways Catholic books get published

Catholic books reach readers through traditional publishers, assisted self-publishing companies, or small print-on-demand presses, and each one handles money and rights differently.

Traditional Catholic publishers pay for editing, design and printing, then pay the author a royalty. Pauline Books & Media also states that it pays an advance. The publisher chooses which books to accept, sets the schedule and holds the publishing rights for the contract term.

Assisted self-publishing companies such as Writers of the West charge for professional services and deliver a finished book that the author owns. The author keeps the rights and collects royalties directly, and publication does not depend on an acquisitions committee.

Small print-on-demand Catholic presses such as En Route Books and Media pay a royalty and charge no publishing fee, but they print only when copies are ordered and expect the author to do much of the selling.

The 15 best Catholic book publishers for authors in 2026

These are the 15 Catholic publishers we recommend, in ranked order, with each one’s submission rules, real costs and direct contact details.

1. Ignatius Press

Ignatius Press was founded in San Francisco in 1978 by Father Joseph Fessio, SJ, and its catalog spans theology, the Church Fathers, papal writings, spirituality, biography and fiction. (Ignatius Press about) It invites manuscript submissions all year.

How to submit: Mail a double-spaced, single-sided, page-numbered hard copy with a cover letter to Acquisitions. Electronic files are optional and welcome at acquisitions@ignatius.com. For a proposal, send a summary, a detailed chapter-by-chapter overview and two complete sample chapters. Expect up to six months for a reply and no feedback if declined. (Ignatius Press guidelines)

Pros

• Accepts unsolicited manuscripts and proposals year round
• Strong reputation with Catholic readers
• No cost to the author if accepted

Cons

• Up to six months of waiting
• No feedback on rejections
• Royalty and advance terms are not published

Verification & reputation: Ignatius Press is the primary English-language publisher of Pope Benedict XVI and also publishes Hans Urs von Balthasar, Peter Kreeft and Michael O’Brien, along with the Ignatius Bible. (Wikipedia)

Best for: Orthodox theology, apologetics, spirituality and Catholic fiction.

Contact: Acquisitions, Ignatius Press, 1348 10th Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94122 | acquisitions@ignatius.com

2. Writers of the West

Writers of the West is an assisted self-publishing and publishing services company based in Houston, with offices in Los Angeles and New York. It began in 2004 as a traditional publisher and moved online in 2020 to focus on self-publishing and ghostwriting. Authors pay for services and keep full ownership: the company states that clients “retain 100% ownership of your manuscript, publishing rights, intellectual property, royalties, and copyright.” (Writers of the West)

For Catholic writers, the difference is access. Several Catholic houses on this list decline memoir, conversion stories, poetry or children’s books. Writers of the West works with memoir, biography, poetry, fiction, children’s, self-help and Christian books, and offers Christian ghostwriting for authors with a testimony to share who need help writing it.

Services and costs: Proofreading starts at $300, line editing at $650 and developmental editing at $1,000. Publishing packages run from $699 (paperback on Amazon) to $5,999 (all formats, including audiobook, on 50+ platforms with paid advertising, influencer marketing and digital billboards). The $2,199 Gold package adds distribution to U.S. and Canadian libraries and bookstores, Library of Congress registration, Walmart and Target listings, a video trailer and a press release. Every package can be paid in installments, starting with a deposit of about 30% at 0% interest. (Writers of the West pricing)

Production and distribution: Publishing takes about one month once the manuscript is final, and ghostwritten books typically take two to four months to draft. A dedicated project manager oversees editing, cover design and formatting, then release on retailers including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, Kobo, Walmart, Target, Waterstones and Indigo. The author sets the retail price and keeps all royalty income.

Pros

• Publication does not depend on an acquisitions decision
• Published in about a month once the manuscript is final
• Accepts memoir, conversion stories and poetry
• Author keeps 100% of rights and royalties
• Interest-free installment plans on every package
• One project manager from manuscript to marketing
• U.S. and international retail distribution

Cons

• The author pays for publishing instead of receiving an advance
• Not a Catholic imprint, so authors who want a nihil obstat or imprimatur request it through their diocese

Verification & reputation: Writers of the West is BBB accredited with an A+ rating (BBB). Its portfolio shows more than 90 published titles with links to Amazon, Blackwell’s and other retailers, including Christian books such as Grieving Wisely and A Requiem for Yeshua and the poetry collection A River That Never Ends. Client reviews are mixed: 4.9 of 5 on GoodFirms from 6 reviews and 3.5 of 5 on Trustpilot from 23 reviews, where complaints focus on refunds and communication and the company has replied publicly.

Best for: Catholic authors with a finished manuscript, a ministry audience, or a genre traditional Catholic houses decline, who want professional quality and full ownership.

Contact: 700 Smith St, Houston, TX 77002 | +1 832 278 2879 | customerservices@writersofthewest.net

3. Ave Maria Press

Ave Maria Press publishes for Catholics and Catholic institutions, and its titles often reach a wider Christian readership. It promises one of the fastest first replies of any publisher on this list.

How to submit: Email one document to submissions@mail.avemariapress.com with a working title and subtitle, a one-paragraph description, notes on why the book is unique, an annotated table of contents, a writing sample (introduction or chapter one), a short bio, and your website, social links and audience numbers. There is no submission fee. It does not accept adult or teen fiction, children’s books, poetry, or accounts of personal conversion or private revelation. Expect a reply in three to four weeks, though full review can take several months. (Ave Maria Press guidelines)

Pros

• Fast initial response
• Clear, detailed proposal checklist
• No submission fee

Cons

• Declines fiction, children’s books, poetry and conversion stories
• Asks for audience numbers, which favors authors with a platform
• No published royalty terms

Verification & reputation: Ave Maria Press led the 2025 Association of Catholic Publishers awards with 10 wins, and in 2026 took first place for Witness: A Guided Lent Journal for Prayer and Meditation. (Ave Maria Press, ACP 2026)

Best for: Catholic nonfiction for parishes, schools and general readers from authors with an existing audience.

Contact: submissions@mail.avemariapress.com

4. Our Sunday Visitor (OSV)

Our Sunday Visitor was founded in 1912 in Huntington, Indiana, and describes itself as “one of the largest Catholic publishers in the world.” (OSV about) Its book division asks for a query letter first.

How to submit: Send a query through OSV’s Submittable portal. It covers spiritual growth and devotionals, prayer books, Scripture, family faith, Advent, Lent and the liturgical year, history and biography, faith and culture, evangelization, and parish ministry. It does not publish fiction or poetry and does not accept simultaneous submissions. Children’s books go to OSV Kids, which takes board books, picture books, short chapter books, middle grade and tween titles that are overtly Catholic. Expect a reply in 8 to 10 weeks. (OSV Submittable)

Pros

• Wide range of nonfiction categories
• Clear word counts for each children’s age group
• Children’s authors do not need to supply an illustrator

Cons

• No simultaneous submissions
• No adult fiction or poetry
• Royalty terms not published

Verification & reputation: OSV won first place in the Catholic Media Association awards for My Son Carlo in 2025 and Incredible Catholic America in 2026. (CMA 2025, CMA 2026)

Best for: Devotionals, liturgical-season books and Catholic children’s books.

Contact: osv.submittable.com | 200 Noll Plaza, Huntington, IN

5. Sophia Institute Press

Sophia Institute Press, in Manchester, New Hampshire, publishes nonfiction on spirituality, theology and philosophy written for “the average educated Catholic.”

How to submit: Email a complete manuscript, or a sample chapter and table of contents, to submissions@sophiainstitute.com with a proposal showing how your book meets each of Sophia’s ten criteria, which include “doing good for souls,” brevity and accessibility. Books should run under 300 pages. Only electronic submissions are reviewed. If you have not heard back within a month, Sophia has passed. (Sophia Institute Press guidelines)

Pros

• Quick decision either way
• Ten published criteria show exactly what it wants
• Accepts full manuscripts or proposals

Cons

• Nonfiction prose only, no short stories or poetry
• No reply if declined
• Royalty terms not published

Verification & reputation: Sophia received a 2025 CMA honorable mention for the children’s book Mother Cabrini: A Heart for the World. (CMA 2025)

Best for: Short, readable spiritual nonfiction for ordinary Catholics.

Contact: submissions@sophiainstitute.com | (800) 888-9344 | PO Box 5284, Manchester, NH 03108

6. Pauline Books & Media

Pauline Books & Media is the publishing work of the Daughters of St. Paul, who arrived in the United States in 1932 and are based in Boston. (Pauline publishing) It is the only traditional house on this list that states in writing that it pays an advance and royalties and charges no fees.

How to submit: Email your cover letter, proposal and sample chapters as Word files to editorial@paulinemedia.com. No agent is needed, and simultaneous submissions are accepted if disclosed. For kids and teens it takes picture books, chapter books, middle grade, YA, graphic novels, saints’ lives, Bible stories and fiction that engages the faith. For adults it takes spirituality, faith formation, evangelization, prayer, family life, theology of the body and the saints. It does not take adult fiction, poetry, personal memoir, academic texts or private revelations, and it rejects books generated wholly or partly by AI. Expect a reply in 8 to 10 weeks. (Pauline 2026 guidelines)

Pros

• States that it pays an advance and royalties, with no fees
• Strong home for Catholic children’s and teen books, including fiction
• Accepts simultaneous submissions

Cons

• No personal memoir or adult fiction
• At least 6,000 words of polished sample chapters for adult proposals
• No feedback on declined work

Verification & reputation: Pauline’s picture book God Made Me Good took first place in both the 2026 ACP and 2026 CMA awards. (ACP 2026, CMA 2026)

Best for: Catholic children’s and YA books, and adult spirituality.

Contact: editorial@paulinemedia.com | 50 St. Paul’s Avenue, Boston, MA 02130

7. Paulist Press

Paulist Press, in Mahwah, New Jersey, has published Catholic books since 1865, with lists in spirituality, Scripture and theology, liturgy, pastoral ministry, ethics, history, world religions and children’s books. (Paulist Press)

How to submit: Email submissions@paulistpress.com with the subject line “Book Proposal,” or mail your proposal to the editorial department. Include a cover letter (title, subject, audience, comparable titles), a sample chapter and table of contents, word count, expected completion date and your CV. Children’s proposals also need the age range, a promotion plan and sample pages. It does not publish dissertations and does not return materials. Allow 6 to 8 weeks. (Paulist Press guidelines)

Pros

• Broad subject range, including children’s books
• Clear proposal requirements
• Accepts email or mail

Cons

• No full manuscripts unless requested
• No dissertations
• Royalty terms not published

Verification & reputation: Paulist placed third in the 2025 CMA awards for A Consistent Ethic of Life: Navigating Catholic Engagement with U.S. Politics and won a 2026 ACP award for Ashes to Flames: A Lenten Pilgrimage. (CMA 2025, ACP 2026)

Best for: Theology, Scripture, pastoral resources and children’s books.

Contact: submissions@paulistpress.com | Paulist Press, Attn: Editorial Dept., 997 MacArthur Blvd., Mahwah, NJ 07430

8. Liguori Publications

Liguori Publications in Liguori, Missouri, publishes books, pamphlets and digital products consistent with the Catholic faith and the Redemptorist mission.

How to submit: Email manuscript_submission@liguori.org with your cover letter in the body of the email and Word or Google Docs attachments. Its proposal is the most market-focused on this list: you must name your primary and secondary audiences and compare your book with competing titles by title, author and ISBN. It does not accept fiction, poetry, biography, autobiography, private revelations, illustrated books or simultaneous submissions. Expect 8 to 12 weeks, then follow up by email. (Liguori guidelines)

Pros

• Publishes pamphlets as well as books
• Detailed guidelines that teach good proposal writing
• Clear follow-up rule after 12 weeks

Cons

• No memoir, biography or fiction
• No simultaneous submissions
• Royalty terms not published

Verification & reputation: Liguori, which also publishes Liguorian magazine, took second place in the 2026 ACP awards for Saintly Bites for Children. (ACP 2026)

Best for: Prayer, Christian living and short faith formation resources.

Contact: manuscript_submission@liguori.org | Liguori Publications, 200 Liguori Drive, Liguori, MO 63057-9999

9. Loyola Press

Loyola Press is a nonprofit apostolate of the Midwest Province of the Society of Jesus, founded in Chicago in 1912, and it publishes parochial school materials and trade books for adults and children. (Loyola Press, Wikipedia) We could not find submission guidelines on its website in October 2026.

How to approach it: Email or call the company before sending anything and ask whether it is accepting proposals and how to submit. (Loyola Press contact)

Pros

• Strong reach into Catholic schools and parishes
• Respected name in Jesuit spirituality

Cons

• No public submission process
• No published royalty terms

Verification & reputation: Loyola Press won first place in the 2026 CMA awards for The True Gifts of Christmas and a 2026 ACP award for The Spiritual Path. (CMA 2026, ACP 2026)

Best for: Established authors in Jesuit spirituality or catechesis, ideally with an agent or referral.

Contact: customerservice@loyolapress.com | 800-621-1008 | 8770 W Bryn Mawr Ave, Suite 1125, Chicago, IL 60631

10. Liturgical Press

Liturgical Press wants projects “focused on liturgy, Scripture, theology, prayer, spirituality, or monastic life” for pastoral and professional readers. Cistercian Publications has its own form.

How to submit: Use the online Project Proposal Form with a 100-word summary, word count, author bio and a manuscript or sample pages (10MB limit). Authors must confirm they are the sole author, which the form says covers any use of AI. Every proposal is acknowledged within six weeks. (Liturgical Press proposal form)

Pros

• Simple online form
• Every proposal acknowledged within six weeks
• Detailed style guide available

Cons

• Narrow, professional audience
• Royalty terms not published

Verification & reputation: Liturgical Press earned five 2026 ACP awards and a 2026 CMA first place for Lay Eucharistic Preaching in a Synodal Catholic Church. (ACP 2026, CMA 2026)

Best for: Liturgy, Bible commentary, monastic spirituality and parish leaders.

Contact: submissions@litpress.org | 800-858-5450

11. Franciscan Media

Franciscan Media publishes spiritual nonfiction for adults in the spirit of St. Francis, and proposals tied to the Franciscan charism receive special consideration.

How to submit: Complete the Product Proposal Form and email it, with an outline and a sample chapter of about 2,000 words, to proposal@franciscanmedia.org. Email is the only accepted method. It does not consider fiction, children’s books, poetry or previously self-published books. Allow 6 to 8 weeks. (Franciscan Media guidelines)

Pros

• Short sample required
• Clear mission fit
• Stated 6 to 8 week window

Cons

• Will not consider books you have already self-published
• Adult nonfiction only
• Royalty terms not published

Verification & reputation: Franciscan Media has served readers since 1893, and its St. Anthony Messenger magazine reaches 50,000 homes a month. It did not appear among the 2025 or 2026 CMA or ACP winners. (Franciscan Media)

Best for: Franciscan spirituality and adult spiritual growth.

Contact: proposal@franciscanmedia.org

12. TAN Books

TAN Books was founded in 1967 to keep traditional Catholic books in print, was acquired by Saint Benedict Press in 2008, and is based near Charlotte, North Carolina. (TAN Books about)

How to submit: TAN states that it is “unable to accept the majority of manuscripts and manuscript proposals.” Submissions go through an online form on its guidelines page. If you hear nothing in two months, TAN encourages you to submit elsewhere. (TAN Books guidelines)

Pros

• Loyal traditional Catholic readership
• Simple online form

Cons

• Closed to most unsolicited work
• No required materials or royalty terms published

Verification & reputation: TAN placed second in the 2025 CMA illustration category for My Name is Philomena: A Saint’s Story. (CMA 2025)

Best for: Traditional Catholic devotion and classic-style titles, as a long shot.

Contact: tanbooks.com/submissions-guidelines

13. Emmaus Road Publishing

Emmaus Road Publishing is the publishing arm of the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology, which Scott Hahn, Kimberly Hahn and Mike Aquilina founded in Steubenville, Ohio, in 2001. (St. Paul Center about, Emmaus Road joins the St. Paul Center)

How to submit: The St. Paul Center lists submissions@stpaulcenter.com for manuscripts and proposals, but we could not find posted guidelines for Emmaus Road. Email first and ask what to send. Its scholarly imprint, Emmaus Academic, does not accept simultaneous submissions and requires authors to assign copyright on acceptance. (St. Paul Center contact, Emmaus Academic)

Pros

• Well-known Scripture ministry behind it
• Simple email contact

Cons

• No posted submission guidelines
• Academic imprint takes the copyright
• Royalty terms not published

Verification & reputation: Emmaus Road placed third in the 2025 CMA awards for Forming Families, Forming Saints and earned five placements in 2026, including second place for Return to the Heart. (CMA 2025, CMA 2026)

Best for: Bible-centered books for Catholic readers.

Contact: submissions@stpaulcenter.com | 740-264-9535 | 1380 University Blvd., Steubenville, OH 43952

14. Angelico Press

Angelico Press in Brooklyn publishes new and out-of-print works in apologetics, theology, philosophy, political thought, spirituality, history, art, biography and literature, as well as children’s books and Catholic classics. (Angelico Press about)

How to submit: Email your manuscript, a proposal and your CV. No separate submissions address is listed, so use the general inbox.

Pros

• Open to literature, biography and children’s books
• Strong intellectual and literary list

Cons

• No published process, timeline or royalty terms

Verification & reputation: Angelico received a 2025 CMA honorable mention in the English translation edition category for Jason M. Baxter’s The Divine Comedy: Inferno. (CMA 2025)

Best for: Scholarly, literary and biographical Catholic writing.

Contact: info@angelicopress.com | (718) 383-2195 | 169 Monitor Street, Brooklyn, NY 11222

15. En Route Books and Media

En Route Books and Media is a St. Louis print-on-demand Catholic press founded in 2014 by Ronda Chervin and Sebastian Mahfood. It is the only Catholic publisher on this list that publishes its royalty rate: 10% of retail sales.

How to submit: Email a complete, professionally edited Word manuscript to contactus@enroutebooksandmedia.com. Your cover page must include a personal sales plan stating how many copies you will buy. Authors receive their first 10 copies free with the initial order, then a 40% author discount, and must do at least one WCAT Radio interview. Authors who hire a cover artist pay that cost. Publication takes about six months. (En Route Books and Media)

Pros

• Published 10% royalty
• Accepts poetry, literature, memoir and children’s books
• No publishing fee

Cons

• You pay for professional editing before submitting
• Expects a commitment to buy copies
• Print on demand limits bookstore shelf placement

Verification & reputation: En Route earned four 2026 CMA placements, including second place for The Host of Gethsemane and second place in the memoir category for Finding Flannery. (CMA 2026)

Best for: Poetry, memoir and niche Catholic titles from authors who sell at talks and parish events.

Contact: contactus@enroutebooksandmedia.com

Do you need an imprimatur or nihil obstat for a Catholic book?

Most Catholic books do not require an imprimatur, but some categories do under the Code of Canon Law. Catechisms and catechetical writings need the approval of the local ordinary (canon 827 §1). Prayer books for the faithful need the local ordinary’s permission (canon 826 §3). Books on religion or morals cannot be sold or distributed in churches without approval (canon 827 §4). For other books on Scripture, theology, Church history, religion or morals, review is recommended rather than required (canon 827 §3). The bishop who grants approval may be the author’s own or the bishop of the place where the book is published (canon 824 §1). (Code of Canon Law, canons 822 to 833)

Traditional Catholic publishers usually arrange this for you. If you self-publish, you can request a nihil obstat and imprimatur through your own diocese.

What to check before you sign a Catholic publishing contract

Before you sign, confirm exactly which rights you are giving up, how royalties are calculated, and how you get your rights back. Ask about each of these:

• Rights granted: Print, ebook, audio, translation and film, and for how long.
• Royalty basis: Whether the royalty is figured on list price or on net receipts, since net royalties pay less.
• Advance: Whether there is one, and whether it is deducted from future royalties.
• Reversion: When rights return to you if the book goes out of print.
• Option clause: Whether the publisher gets first refusal on your next book.
• Author copies: Your discount, and whether you must buy any.
• Copyright: Whether copyright stays in your name.
• Service contracts: If you pay a company, whether the contract lists every deliverable, confirms you keep all rights and royalties, and explains refunds.

Have an attorney or literary agent review any contract before you sign.

Frequently asked questions about Catholic book publishers

These answers draw on each publisher’s own published guidelines as of October 2026.

Do Catholic publishers accept unsolicited manuscripts?

Yes, many Catholic publishers accept unsolicited submissions, including Ignatius Press, Sophia Institute Press, Pauline Books & Media, Liturgical Press, Franciscan Media and Angelico Press. Ave Maria Press and Paulist Press want proposals rather than full manuscripts, OSV wants a query letter first, TAN Books is closed to most unsolicited work, and Loyola Press and Emmaus Road post no guidelines.

Do Catholic publishers pay royalties?

Traditional Catholic publishers pay royalties, but almost none publish their rates. Pauline Books & Media states that it pays an advance and royalties, and En Route Books and Media publishes a 10% royalty on retail sales. With assisted self-publishing through Writers of the West, the author keeps 100% of royalties.

Will a Catholic publisher publish my memoir or conversion story?

Most large Catholic publishers will not. Ave Maria Press excludes personal conversion accounts, Pauline Books & Media excludes personal memoir, and Liguori excludes autobiography. Your realistic options are assisted self-publishing or a small press such as En Route Books and Media. The same is true for poetry, which Ave Maria, OSV, Pauline, Liguori, Franciscan Media and Sophia all decline.

How long do Catholic publishers take to respond?

Catholic publishers take between one month and six months to respond. Sophia Institute Press and Ave Maria Press are the fastest, at about a month, Ignatius Press can take up to six months, and some publishers never reply to declined authors.

Can I submit to several Catholic publishers at once?

Only to some. Pauline Books & Media accepts simultaneous submissions if you disclose them, while OSV, Liguori and Emmaus Academic do not. Check each publisher’s rule before you send.

How much does it cost to self-publish a Catholic book?

Self-publishing a Catholic book with professional help usually costs from a few hundred dollars for proofreading to several thousand for full editing, design, distribution and marketing. Writers of the West publishing packages range from $699 to $5,999, payable in 0% interest installments.

How to choose the right Catholic publisher for your book

Choose a traditional Catholic publisher if your book fits its list and you can wait, and choose assisted self-publishing if your book is ready, your readers are waiting, or your genre is one the Catholic houses decline. A theologian, a mother writing saints’ stories for her children, and a man telling how God brought him home will each find a different door. Pray over the decision, read each publisher’s guidelines closely, and send exactly what it asks for. If your book is ready now, professional self-publishing support lets you bring it to your readers without giving up the rights to your work.

Every submission detail in this guide was checked against each publisher’s own website in October 2026. Guidelines change often, so confirm before you send.