Ascension and The Catholic Initiative are partnering with Fr. Mike Schmitz on a new podcast launching with guests like Acts XXIX Executive Director Fr. John Riccardo and retired legendary Notre Dame football head coach Lou Holtz.

Fr. Mike Schmitz is the most successful religious podcaster of all time: his Ascension podcast The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)™ hit #1 on Apple during its 2021 launch and remains the #1 global podcast in religion today. 

Fr. Mike’s newest podcast project, Called (with Fr. Mike Schmitz), has once again put Catholicism at the top of the Apple podcasting charts. As of this writing, Called is the #1 Religion & Spirituality podcast on Apple, and #60 in All Categories. [Editor's note: Called peaked at #34 in All Categories on September 9.]

“This podcast is giving flesh to the fact that every one of us is ‘called’ to be the hands and feet of Jesus,” explains Fr. Mike. “On this podcast, I’m not the one talking—I’m listening. I get to listen to people who have lived out the corporal and spiritual works of mercy and are living their faith in ways that make an impact.”

The interview-style video podcast is produced in collaboration with Ascension and The Catholic Initiative. Fr. Mike will host conversations with those who have answered God’s call to serve others in various settings—from teachers and entrepreneurs to parents and community leaders.The first episode of Called is now available to watch for free on the Ascension Presents YouTube channel, in the Ascension App and on all major podcast platforms.

This partnership unites Ascension’s trusted voice in Catholic media and The Catholic Initiative’s missionary work of renewing Catholic parishes, schools, and communities. Together, they bring the Gospel to life through both digital evangelization and on-the-ground renewal, ensuring that Called (with Fr. Mike Schmitz) inspires listeners to embrace their vocation and challenge them to see service not as an obligation, but as an invitation.

“Christ’s 'call' in Matthew 25 can feel daunting, but we can live it out daily, and in very practical ways,” says Kevin Doyle, President of The Catholic Initiative. “That’s why I’m so thrilled that Fr. Mike Schmitz—one of the most relatable, approachable voices in the Church today—is joining us to share stories of faith in action. I believe listeners will not only be moved by these amazing stories, but will also walk away with tangible ways to live their faith and impact the communities around them, one person at a time.”

"It is Ascension's honor to collaborate with The Catholic Initiative and Fr. Mike Schmitz to bring these thought-provoking, inspiring conversations to believers around the world," comments Ascension President and CEO, Jonathan Strate. "To see Fr. Mike shoot to the top of the podcast charts once again is a sign that people are hungry for the Catholic truths Fr. Mike shares in such a heartfelt way."

The debut episode of Called features Fr. John Riccardo as a guest. Fr. John is a Catholic priest known nationally for his ministry Acts XXIX, which focuses on priestly and Church renewal. Episode 2, releasing later this week, will feature legendary Notre Dame football coach Lou Holtz, who will reflect on the challenges and opportunities of forming young people in today’s culture. Later episodes will continue to bring powerful stories of ordinary people living extraordinary lives of service.

“This is the test, this is what every one of us will be graded on at the end of our lives: ‘love alone,’” urges Fr. Mike in the podcast announcement video, quoting St. John of the Cross. “This podcast is meant to inspire us, to give us a new vision of what this could look like in your life and my life.”

Watch episode 1 of Called (with Fr. Mike Schmitz) on Ascension Presents today.

About Ascension

Ascension is a leading Catholic media company with nearly two decades of experience in digital evangelization and content production. Home to bestselling Catholic resources and top-ranked podcasts including The Bible in a Year and The Catechism in a Year, Ascension has been collaborating with Father Mike Schmitz for over ten years across numerous high-impact projects. Through their multimedia platform, publishing house, and educational programs, Ascension reaches millions of people worldwide, making Catholic teaching accessible, engaging, and transformative. Their mission is to inspire and equip Catholics to live their faith with confidence and joy, meeting people wherever they are in their spiritual journey.

 

About The Catholic Initiative

The Catholic Initiative, established by The Pulte Family Charitable Foundation, is an innovative, Vatican-approved funding model created to restore and endow vibrant Catholic churches, schools, and parishes for generations to come. The model is the first of its kind in the world in faith-based fundraising and shifts ownership of church buildings and campuses to a newly created nonprofit organization created solely for this purpose, with the Catholic Initiative assuming responsibility for renovating and maintaining the property going forward, while the parishes or schools retain exclusive and permanent rights to use the property, without risk of vital funds being redirected to other purposes. The model also creates a dedicated endowment to guarantee a reliable, steady income stream to support churches, schools, and parishes long into the future. Find out more at www.thecatholicinitiative.org.

About Fr. Mike Schmitz

Father Mike Schmitz is a Catholic priest of the Diocese of Duluth and one of the most trusted voices in Catholic media today. Host of the #1 religion podcast The Bible in a Year, Father Mike has guided millions of listeners through Scripture with his approachable teaching style and genuine passion for helping people encounter Jesus. He serves as chaplain at the University of Minnesota Duluth, where he has ministered to college students for over 15 years. Through his work with Ascension, including The Catechism in a Year and Ascension Presents, Father Mike continues to make Catholic teaching accessible to audiences worldwide. His message is simple: faith isn’t just something we believe—it’s something we live.

Media Contact  

For author interviews or other media inquiries, please contact Ascension at (484) 876-1400 or Newsroom@AscensionPress.com.