Singaporean author Desmond Francis Xavier Kon Zhicheng-Mingdé received eight awards at the 2025 Catholic Media Association (CMA) Book Awards, with six wins for his poetry collection Heart Fiat and two shared honors for an anthology co-edited with longtime collaborator Eric Tinsay Valles.
The CMA Book Awards, held annually during the Catholic Media Conference—in Phoenix, Arizona this year from June 24 to 27—recognized “outstanding works that resonate with Catholic values, promote faith, and inspire reflection and understanding,” according to the Association’s website.
Kon’s Heart Fiat, published in 2024 and dedicated to Pope Francis, garnered top distinctions across multiple categories: two First Place awards for “Church Life: Pastoral Ministry Catechetical” and “Special Collections: Backlist Beauty”; two Second Place citations for “Church Life: Pilgrimages/Catholic Travel” and “International Publication: Poetry”; one Third Place for “Special Collections: Poetry”; and an Honorable Mention in “Education: Faith Formation.”
“I will forever treasure being present at the Papal Mass at the National Stadium last September,” Kon said. “There hadn’t been a Papal Mass in Singapore since 1986 when St. Pope John Paul II came, the first time a pope had ever visited us. That Pope Francis departed this year just left the world with a deep, profound sadness. It makes this poetry collection even more significant and meaningful for me.”
Judges praised Heart Fiat for its spiritual depth and literary merit. One citation described it as “an engaging text that permits readers to really enter into the mystery of particular images and occasions.” Another noted it as a “wonderful set of poems that penetrates the soul… captivating, encouraging and inspiring.”
Additional reviews highlighted the personal and theological depth of the work. “A touching and profound poetry that springs up from the heart of a man grateful to God,” one statement read. “In every experience, in every moment of life, even in situations of suffering and confusion, the author sees the light of the Holy Trinity saving him.”
Heart Fiat is published by Poetry Festival Singapore and Wipf and Stock Resource Publications (USA). The full list of 2025 CMA Book Awards winners is available via the Association’s website.
Kon also earned two more First Place honors as co-editor, alongside Eric Tinsay Valles, for The Jesuit: Finding God in All Things—a poetry anthology which topped the “International Publication: Poetry” and “International Publication: General Theological Subject Matter” categories.
Judges described the collection as “a beautifully curated collection of poems that reflect the richness of the Ignatian spiritual tradition” and “a moving and accessible work that embodies a theology of presence and grace.” Another citation called it “a brilliantly conceived collection of poetry that celebrates the marvels of God.”
“The project was borne out of a shared belief in the power of poetry to illuminate, challenge, and stir the soul,” said Valles. “May this recognition encourage more collective acts of verse, where voices converge and rise above in a chorus.”
The CMA noted that its book awards “spotlight various genres, from theology and spirituality to historical accounts, children’s literature, and more, appreciating the diversity and richness within Catholic writing.” Past recipients include Pope Francis, Dorothy Day, Bishop Robert Barron, and Scott Hahn.
Kon, reflecting on the recognition, shared that he prayed fervently in the lead-up to the awards. “I would have been happy to even place at all, really. That Heart Fiat went many times better is beyond astonishing and spectacular. It really is nothing short of the miraculous,” he said.
He also expressed his devotion through practices inspired by Pope Francis, such as placing written prayer requests under a sleeping St. Joseph statue. “Lord, nothing except you,” Kon added, quoting St. Thomas Aquinas, echoing his dedication to offer all glory to God.
In addition to the CMA honors, Heart Fiat has also received multiple international literary awards, including the Illumination Christian Book Gold Award, National Indie Excellence Award, Nautilus Silver Book Award, and Independent Publisher Silver Book Award.
Looking ahead, Kon revealed he is working on a new poetry collection. “They’re all coming from that deep Catholic place that is powering up all my poetry these days,” he said. The forthcoming collection will feature themes related to Divine Mercy and saints including St. Faustina, St. Augustine, and St. Teresa of Calcutta—along with a poem about Pope Leo XIV.
Desmond Kon is the author of 19 books and teaches creative writing at Nanyang Technological University. His collaborator, Eric Tinsay Valles, is a director of Poetry Festival (Singapore) and an award-winning author of multiple poetry collections.
The Catholic Media Association, founded in 1911, represents Catholic publishers and media professionals and supports the Church’s mission of evangelization through media.
