The cover of Presence: A Journal of Catholic Poetry features Caldwell student’s artwork

The 2023 edition of Presence: A Journal of Catholic Poetry is now in print, and this year’s cover features the work of Caldwell University studio arts major Benjamin Fernandez.  The piece that Fernandez photographed is called “Awaken”.  

“I am so pleased to be able to feature cover art this year by a Caldwell student. As a junior, Ben has produced exceptional work that is certainly of professional quality, both in concept and craft,” said Mary Ann. B. Miller, professor of English and founding Editor-in-Chief of Presence.

This year’s featured translation section contains a series of poems by six Ukrainian poets, four of which are contemporary poets writing in the throes of the Russian attacks on their country.

Fernandez said he was honored to share his artwork on the cover of Presence to accompany the poets whose work is featured in the journal. “I hope to shed light on the continued plight of the Ukrainian people, and the strength and resilience of their human spirit, in the hope that they can survive, overcome and triumph over their adversity and struggle.”

Presence: A Journal of Catholic Poetry is an independent, international, print venue for publication of poetry written by authors whose work is informed by the Catholic faith.  Each annual issue contains new poems and translations, interviews, book reviews and essays.

Caldwell students are engaged in the work of the Journal every fall semester by taking the Journal Editing class with Miller. They read submissions to the annual publication and write book reviews of some of the individual collections of poems being reviewed by professional reviewers in that year’s issue.