Twenty-Third Publications

What Twenty-Third Publications does

Twenty-Third Publications is a Catholic publishing house founded in 1966 and headquartered in Waterford, Connecticut, operating as a division of Bayard, Inc., a diversified Catholic media conglomerate. The company produces books, booklets, devotionals, seasonal devotionals, sacramental preparation materials, and digital e-resources for Catholic parishes, catechists, religious educators, priests, families, and individual Catholics across all stages of faith development. Flagship product lines include the Threshold Bible Study series (a six-week, 30-lesson Scripture study program that has won Association of Catholic Publishers awards for 13 consecutive years), the Growing Faith catechetical program (co-produced with Pflaum Publishing), the Divine Renovation parish renewal program by Father James Mallon, sacramental preparation series such as We Prepare for Reconciliation and We Share in the Eucharist, and annual Living with Christ Sunday Missals.

The company operates a traditional publishing model with no proprietary technology platform, distributing through a direct e-commerce storefront at twentythirdpublications.com, toll-free phone ordering (1-800-321-0411), B2B/institutional sales to parishes and dioceses with tax-exempt options, and bookstore distribution. Fulfillment is supported by a warehouse/distribution center in Fenton, Missouri (under parent Bayard, Inc.). Revenue is generated primarily through one-time physical and digital product sales, supplemented by a recurring subscription/periodical stream tied to annual Sunday Missal editions for liturgical years. Pricing is volume-based, with tiered bulk discounts across all product categories (e.g., Advent booklets priced as low as $0.99 per unit at 1,000+ copies). Geographic scope is primarily U.S.-focused, though the e-commerce site accepts global orders.

Twenty-Third Publications is staffed by 1-10 employees, reflecting its lean operating posture within the larger Bayard, Inc. portfolio. The company does not disclose revenue figures, funding rounds, or ownership percentages. No patents, proprietary technology platforms, AI/ML systems, or app products are associated with the business. Strategic direction over 2024-2026 has emphasized editorial refresh of flagship programs, expansion of Spanish-language offerings, new product alignment with Pope Leo XIV's pontificate, and continued accumulation of industry recognition through the Association of Catholic Publishers and Catholic Media Association award programs.

Name

Twenty-Third Publications

Legal name

Twenty-Third Publications

Website

https://twentythirdpublications.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1966

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Twenty-Third Publications is a Catholic publishing house (founded 1966, Waterford, CT) and division of Bayard, Inc., producing faith formation books, devotionals, sacramental preparation materials, and Scripture study programs for U.S. Catholic parishes, catechists, priests, and Catholic families.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Publishing

NAICS

Book Publishers (513130)

SIC

Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)

akta.pro primary industry

Religious Education & Catechetical Publishing (Sunday School, Catechism, Study Guides) (MPAJAHAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sermon, Homiletics & Ministry Resource Publishing (Preaching Aids, Pastoral Resources) (MPAJAHAD), Worship & Liturgy Publishing (Liturgical Texts, Missals, Service Books, Hymnals) (MPAJAHAE), Devotional & Prayer Publishing (Devotionals, Prayer Books, Meditation Guides) (MPAJAHAB)

Keywords

• Catholic publishing
• Faith formation resources
• Religious education materials
• Sacramental preparation
• Catechetical programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Waterford

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Product Sales - Physical Books and Booklets: Sale of printed Catholic catechetical materials, books, booklets, devotionals, and parish programs through direct e-commerce and phone orders. Volume discounts available for bulk purchases by parishes and institutions.
2. Digital/e-Resources: Sale of downloadable digital resources including e-books, e-guides, and digital parish resources with sharable licensing options for parish and school use.
3. Subscription/Periodicals: Living with Christ Sunday Missal products sold annually for liturgical years (e.g., 2025-2026, 2026-2027 editions), creating recurring annual purchase cycles for parishes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Twenty-Third Publications publishes Catholic catechetical and faith formation materials including the Threshold Bible Study series, Growing Faith catechetical program, Divine Renovation parish renewal program, sacramental preparation booklets, seasonal Advent and Lenten devotionals, Sunday missals, Stations of the Cross booklets, marriage and baptism preparation programs, and downloadable digital e-resources. Products bear ecclesiastical Imprimatur and are sold via direct e-commerce, phone orders, bookstore distribution, and direct parish/institutional sales with volume-based pricing.

Product overview

Twenty-Third Publications is a Catholic publishing company and division of Bayard, Inc., offering a comprehensive portfolio of religious education and faith formation resources. The company operates as a traditional publisher with multiple product lines including the award-winning Threshold Bible Study series (a 6-week, 30-lesson Scripture study program), the Growing Faith catechetical program (12-booklet series produced with Pflaum Publishing), the Divine Renovation parish renewal program, and sacramental preparation materials including the We Prepare for Reconciliation and We Share in the Eucharist programs. Core offerings include seasonal devotionals (Advent and Lenten page-a-day booklets in English and Spanish), Living with Christ Sunday Missals, Stations of the Cross booklets, and the How to Talk with Teens/Children about... booklet series. The company also offers digital e-resources, group reading guides for parish use, and specialized ministry resources for RCIA, catechist formation, bereavement, and Spanish-language catechesis. Products target Catholic parishes, catechists, priests, DREs, families, and individual Catholics across all stages of faith development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Threshold Bible Study: A dynamic, informative, and inspiring six-week, 30-lesson, theme-based Scripture study series
• Growing Faith
• Divine Renovation

Products and services

• Threshold Bible Study A six-week, 30-lesson theme-based Scripture study series designed for both personal and group study, featuring commentary, reflection questions, and guided prayers. Has won Association of Catholic Publishers awards for 13 consecutive years. Volume pricing available from $9.95 to $12.95 per copy with a full 48-title set priced at $420.65.
• Growing Faith A systematic Catholic faith formation program consisting of 12 individual booklets covering core Catholic teachings. Produced in partnership with Pflaum Publishing, designed for parish use with easy facilitation. Volume pricing from $2.95 down to $1.95 per booklet; set pricing from $24.95 to $16.95.
• Divine Renovation Parish renewal program by Father James Mallon providing practical approaches to inject new life into Catholic parishes through evangelization and mission. Includes the main book, guidebook, and group reading guide.
• We Prepare for Reconciliation / We Share in the Eucharist Two-part sacramental preparation programs for children preparing for First Reconciliation and First Eucharist. Includes child's books with family guides and leader's guides.
• Living with Christ Sunday Missal Annual Sunday missal with daily readings, Order of Mass, prayers and reflections. Available in versions for adults and young Catholics. Bundles available for parishes (Bundle of 10: $69.50; Bundle of 50: $297.50; Bundle of 100: $495.00).
• Advent and Lenten Page-a-Day Booklets Seasonal devotional booklets with daily reflections, practices, and prayers for the Advent and Lenten seasons. Available in English and Spanish, with special editions for children. Volume pricing from $2.99 down to $0.99 per copy.
• Stations of the Cross Booklets Booklet series for praying the Stations of the Cross, including variations for children, teenagers, seniors, those with disabilities, and Mary's Way of the Cross. Mix-and-match volume pricing.
• How to Talk with Teens about... Booklets Series of booklets helping adults discuss challenging topics with teenagers including faith, God, prayer, health, relationships, and social justice through a Catholic lens. Volume pricing from $2.95 down to $1.49 per copy.
• How to Talk to Children about... Booklets Series of booklets helping parents, teachers, and catechists discuss faith topics with children including God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, the Mass, and making good choices.
• A Decision to Love Marriage preparation program including couple's book, leader's guide, and wedding liturgy planner. Updated for the new Order of Matrimony with communication guidance for engaged couples.
• God's Own Child Baptism preparation program coaching parents on the meaning of faith and how to pass it on to their child. Works for newcomers, returning Catholics, and regular parishioners.
• RCIA Resources Materials for the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults including study guides on faith development, Catholic doctrine, sacramental formation, and spirituality.
• Bereavement and Grief Resources Support materials for grief ministry including guides for parish grief ministry, meditations for those left behind by suicide, and grief activity workbooks for children.
• Spanish Language Resources Catechetical and pastoral materials in Spanish including Advent devotionals, Vatican II resources, and sacramental preparation materials for Spanish-speaking Catholic communities.
• Catechist e-Resources Digital downloadable resources for catechists including the Growing Faith Leader's Guide, The Catechist's Formation Workbook, and various sharable e-resources for parishes and schools with sharable licensing.
• Parish e-Resources Digital resources for parish use including study guides, reflection questions, prayers for meetings, and sharable materials for parish and school use.
• Group Reading Guides Study guides for small groups and parish reading programs written by theologians and catechetical leaders. Useful for adult faith formation and RCIA.
• Catechist Formation Materials Resources for catechist development including formation workbooks, handbooks, planning guides, and bilingual liturgical calendars for catechetical programs.
• Sacrament Preparation Booklets Booklets for celebrating sacraments including First Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation. Includes planning guides for coordinators and parish staff.

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Pflaum PublishingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Growing Faith series was produced in partnership with Pflaum Publishing. Pflaum Publishing is also listed as one of Bayard's family of brands alongside Creative Communications for the Parish, Good News Planners, Living with Christ, Catechist, Catholic Digest, and Living Faith.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Our Sunday Visitor: Our Sunday Visitor is one of the largest US Catholic publishers, producing missals, catechetical materials, Bibles, and parish resources — directly comparable to Twenty-Third Publications' parish-facing Catholic publishing portfolio.
• Loyola Press: Loyola Press is a Jesuit-sponsored Catholic publisher offering faith formation curricula, sacraments prep, Scripture studies, and prayer books, competing head-on with Twenty-Third in parish catechetical programs and books.
• Ave Maria Press: Ave Maria Press, operated by the Congregation of Holy Cross, publishes Catholic books, Scripture studies, prayer resources, and parish renewal materials — overlapping directly with Twenty-Third's Threshold Bible Study and pastoral program offerings.
• Paulist Press: Paulist Press publishes Catholic theology, spirituality, liturgy, and parish resources and is a peer Catholic publisher with comparable trade and pastoral titles in the same market.
• Pflaum Publishing: Pflaum Publishing produces Catholic catechetical resources including the Gospel Weeklies and is a co-development partner with Twenty-Third on Growing Faith; it serves identical parish and school customers with comparable products.
• Franciscan Media: Franciscan Media (formerly St. Anthony Messenger Press) publishes Catholic books, ministry resources, and periodicals targeting parishes and Catholic households — comparable to Twenty-Third's trade and pastoral publishing mix.
• Word Among Us Press: Word Among Us Press publishes Catholic devotional magazines, Bible studies, and missals distributed primarily through parishes — directly comparable to Twenty-Third's devotional, missal, and Scripture study products.

Emerging players

• Ascension Press: Ascension Press produces Catholic Bible studies, sacramental prep programs, and the Ascension Presents media platform — directly comparable to Threshold Bible Study and sacramental preparation products but with a stronger digital-first distribution model.
• Catholic Answers: Catholic Answers operates a large apologetics publishing program and digital Catholic media platform, providing catechetical, evangelization, and faith defense content that increasingly competes with traditional Catholic publishers for parish and household budgets.

Broad incumbents

• Bayard, Inc. Bayard, Inc. is the diversified Catholic media parent of Twenty-Third Publications and itself operates multiple Catholic publishing brands; relevant as the broader incumbent that owns and partially overlaps with Twenty-Third's product set.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/TwentyThirdPublications

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Twenty-Third Publications