Coming January 1, 2023 – Get the reading plan below!
The Catechism in a Year
(with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
In response to countless requests, Ascension is launching The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz) on January 1, 2023!
With this podcast, Catholics will:
- Read the entire Catechism of the Catholic Church in 365 days
- Understand the essentials of the Catholic Faith and why they matter
- See how Church teaching is rooted in Sacred Scripture
- Absorb over 2,000 years of Sacred Tradition
- Encounter God’s plan of sheer goodness
- Transform their relationship with the Church that Christ founded.
If you have ever wanted to understand what it means to be Catholic and allow those truths to shape your life—this podcast is for you!
We can’t wait to start this incredible journey with you!
Keep up-to-date on all things Catechism in a Year (CIY) by joining our Facebook group here.
Support The Catechism in a Year Podcast
Ascension is committed to creating media that helps Catholics grow in their faith. Catechism in a Year promises to do just that — that’s why, no matter what, we’re making it.
This podcast is free and always will be.
But, we have limited resources.
With funding from generous supporters like you, we can do even more than simply create the podcast.
Your support helps us:
- Offset the cost of production (see below)
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Cover the cost of ongoing hosting fees
- What are hosting fees? Hosting fees are the fees that our podcast hosting platform charges us every month to keep our episodes on your favorite podcast apps - this fee is based on the number of people who download and listen to each episode, so the more people who listen on a daily basis, the higher our hosting costs!
- Run a national ad campaign to reach as many people as possible
- Create and moderate a Facebook group to foster connections amongst the global listening community (join here!)
- Create YouTube videos with transcripts to better serve the listening impaired and non-native English speakers
- Research and develop future free media projects
- And more!
What goes into each episode of Catechism in a Year?
In addition to our normal production process, Catechism in a Year will undergo expert theological review.
As such, each and every episode will go through an extensive process that looks something like this:
That’s a lot of steps for 365+ daily episodes!
Although not tax-deductible, the financial support we receive goes towards the creation of podcasts and videos that help Catholics grow in their faith. If you’d like to learn more about what we do with gifting, click here.
What version of the Catechism of the Catholic Church will Fr. Mike read?
Fr. Mike Schmitz will be reading from the second edition with the revision to paragraph 2267 by Pope Francis. This is the exact same text that will be used in the Ascension version of the Catechism of the Catholic Church which features a new guide to unlock the treasures of the Faith. This version of the Catechism is available for preorder here.
Meet the Host
Fr. Mike Schmitz serves as Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry for the Diocese of Duluth and as Chaplain for the Newman Catholic Campus Ministry at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
He is well known for his popular YouTube videos, released weekly on the Ascension Presents YouTube channel, and he also streams Sunday Mass to a worldwide audience. In addition to hosting the first complete Catholic Bible in a Year podcast, he is also a presenter in Ascension’s Chosen, Altaration, and The 99 programs, as well as a contributing author to Pray, Decide, and Don’t Worry: Five Steps for Discerning God’s Will.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will the podcast be available?
The Catechism in a Year will begin on Jan. 1, 2023. Episodes will be released every day until the end of the year.
Will Fr. Mike read the entire Catechism?
Yes! This podcast will cover the entire Catechism of the Catholic Church. Sign ups for the reading plan are available above.
What should I do in the meantime?
Many listeners of The Bible in a Year are listening again this year, and we think that’s a great idea!
There is a LOT to absorb from the Word of God, and a thorough understanding of Scripture will enhance and deepen understanding of the Catholic Faith as laid out in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
How can I best prepare for The Catechism in a Year?
Besides continuing to journey with Scripture in The Bible in a Year, join Ascension’s official Catechism in a Year Facebook group for updates before the launch of The Catechism in a Year!
What will The Catechism in a Year cover?
The Catechism in a Year will include the entire Catechism of the Catholic Church. Each episode will cover a section of the Catechism, highlighting key sections, explaining the context, and showing how to live out the teachings of the Catholic Faith in daily life.
What is the Catechism of the Catholic Church?
Published in 1992 under the direction of St. John Paul II, the Catechism of the Catholic Church is the compendium of the essentials of Church teaching.
What version of the Catechism will the podcast use?
Ascension has released a version of the official Catechism of the Catholic Church (2nd edition with the revision to paragraph 2267 by Pope Francis) that Fr. Mike will use to record the podcast. It is available for preorder here.
What Catechism editions are suitable for reading along with the podcast?
We recommend the edition from Ascension, which has the most up to date text as well as a guide from Ascension to help make the Catechism easy to learn and a joy to remember.
The current edition of the Catechism (with the blue cover) published by the USCCB was revised with the 2011 new translation of the Mass and contains the revisions to CCC 2267. This edition is also suitable for reading along with the podcast.
Other earlier editions have an older version of the text and do not have key support materials such as the Glossary and Index of Citations. They can be used with the podcast but we recommend the most recent editions for the best experience, as those support materials are referenced in the podcast.
What Catechism editions are not suitable for the podcast?
These editions contain substantially different text and are not suitable for following along with the podcast.
How can I support The Catechism in a Year?
First and foremost, please pray for Fr. Mike and for the entire Ascension team as we develop this resource for Catholics across the world! If you feel called, you can also financially support the production of The Catechism in a Year podcast here.
Who is the host?
Fr. Mike Schmitz, the host of The Bible in a Year, is also taking on The Catechism in a Year for 2023! Please keep him and this project in your prayers.
How can I access the podcast?
The podcast will launch on January 1, 2023. At that time, you will be able to access the show from your favorite podcast app—click below to view some options. (Please keep in mind that The Catechism in a Year will not show up in these apps until January 1, 2023.)