The team behind the #1 Global podcast in Religion & Spirituality adds a new title to its lineup: Sunday Homilies with Fr. Mike Schmitz, the latest of Ascension’s many free media resources helping Catholics rediscover the depth and beauty of the Mass.
Catholic multimedia network Ascension has teamed up once again with chart-topping podcaster Fr. Mike Schmitz to add his popular Sunday homily podcast, formerly called the UMD Newman Catholic Campus Ministry podcast, to Ascension’s suite of free media offerings. The addition of the podcast, newly titled Sunday Homilies with Fr. Mike Schmitz, expands Ascension’s efforts to help Catholics rediscover the depth and beauty of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass each week via its new Sundays with Ascension multimedia collection of offerings.
For over 15 years, the Newman Center at the University of Minnesota-Duluth (UMD)—where Fr. Mike ministers as chaplain and celebrates Sunday Mass—has handled the production and distribution of the podcast, which has surpassed 16 million cumulative downloads. As part of the show’s transition to Ascension, the podcast has received an updated cover image, a new title, and new introductory elements—making it easier for listeners to find and enjoy Fr. Mike’s homilies. After its first episode released under Ascension for the Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time, Sunday Homilies with Fr. Mike Schmitz jumped to #3 on Apple’s chart for “Religion and Spirituality” podcasts.
“Ascension is immensely grateful for the incredible work that the UMD Newman Catholic Campus Ministry team, and Fr. Mike himself, have done for more than a decade to build this Sunday homily podcast offering into one of the most popular Catholic shows on Apple podcasts,” comments Marisa Beyer, general manager of media at Ascension. “Ascension’s new chapter in the podcast’s story is only possible because of the remarkable foundation they have established.”
“For Father and me to be able to hand the podcast over and to work with a team that’s trustworthy, talented, and passionate about the work they do—it’s such a testament to God’s providence,” shares long-time UMD podcast producer Mary Hazuka, who will continue producing the podcast as a new member of the Ascension team. “I am so pleased for Father, I am so proud of him, and I am so excited for Ascension and the Church!”
In each episode of Sunday Homilies with Fr. Mike Schmitz, Fr. Mike delivers powerful 20-30 minute homilies based on the Sunday Scripture readings, inviting each listener to live more fully as the person God created them to be. The priest’s hit homily podcast has helped reach Catholics with the life-changing message of the Gospel, including long-time Apple Podcast listener Michelle:
“I’ve been listening to Fr. Mike’s homily via this podcast for a number of years, since 2014 or 2015. It has quite literally changed my life and strengthened my faith, more than I can say. Fr. Mike, thank you for your ministry and your gift to all of us, and most of all thank you for your YES to God’s calling to the priesthood.”
“I hope the podcast inspires and motivates listeners,” says Fr. Mike. “And I also hope it leaves them hungry for the One who gave everything to feed them.”
Rediscover the Mass with Sundays with Ascension
The Sunday Homilies with Fr. Mike Schmitz podcast is part of Ascension’s new product line of Sunday and liturgy-oriented content called Sundays with Ascension. This new multimedia collection of free media offerings provides audio and video resources unpacking each week’s Sunday Scripture readings. The collection includes the Sunday Homilies with Fr. Mike Schmitz podcast, Fr. Mike’s virtual Sunday Mass hosted on the new Sundays with Ascension YouTube channel, as well as Jeff Cavins’ Encountering the Word 5-minute Gospel reflections.
Listeners can receive Sunday Homilies with Fr. Mike Schmitz weekly podcast episode, and all of the free Sundays with Ascension Mass resources, in their email every week by signing up at www.AscensionPress.com/Sunday or by texting SUNDAY to 33-777. They can also subscribe directly to the new YouTube channel, Sundays with Ascension.
Sunday Homilies with Fr. Mike Schmitz is available for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other major podcast platforms. The podcast can also be accessed on Ascension’s website as well as the Hallow app.
About Ascension
Ascension is a multimedia network and the leader in Catholic faith formation and digital content. Over the past 24 years, Ascension has helped nurture the faith of over 10 million Catholics through award-winning books, the chart-topping Bible in a Year podcast, more than 50 unique faith formation programs, and Ascension Presents, which hosts the largest Catholic YouTube channel in English.
About Fr. Mike Schmitz
Fr. Mike Schmitz is the best-known Catholic podcaster in the world. He was the host of the 2021 breakout podcast The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)™ and will be the central figure of the all-new 2023 daily podcast The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz), which will guide listeners through the entire Catechism of the Catholic Church, providing explanation, insight, and encouragement along the way.
In addition to his many video and podcast programs produced by Ascension, Fr. Mike is the director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry for the Diocese of Duluth as well as the chaplain for the Newman Center at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. Fr. Mike attended St. Paul Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota, and was ordained for the Diocese of Duluth in 2003.
See Fr. Mike’s full bio in the Ascension Newsroom.
Media Contact
For media inquiries, please contact Lauren Joyce at (800) 376-0520 or Newsroom@AscensionPress.com.