About Catholic Book Publishing

Catholic Book Publishing Corp. is proud of its unique history and long-standing commitment to the publication of timely and timeless Catholic resources. Orphaned through a tragic car accident and with only a fifth grade education, John V. Cavalero founded Catholic Book Publishing Co. on 12th Street in New York City in 1911. Vowing to keep the family together, John, the oldest of six children, took full ownership after buying out his partner’s widow, and gladly welcomed brothers George and Louis into the business following World War I. Under their direction and hard work, Catholic Book Publishing prospered in the printing and binding industry, working primarily with religious orders. In 1937 the company relocated to two floors of a nine-story facility on West 17th Street, eventually expanding to be the building’s sole occupant. Coinciding with the new location, the company printed its first Missals for Sunday worship and continued to add family members, including John’s sons Howard in 1939 and John, Jr. in 1942. Work on the Douay-Rheims Bible began in 1945, culminating in the publishing of the first Catholic Bible printed in the United States in 1949. Howard Cavalero, a graduate of the University of Notre Dame, was instrumental in developing and launching the St. Joseph Sunday Missal in 1950 and soon thereafter the Daily Missal. On its way to becoming the premier Catholic publisher with over 300 employees, the company added children’s books to its growing list of prayer booksRead their story