The Bible in a Year with Fr. Mike Schmitz: A Transformative Journey
Discover how Fr. Mike Schmitz guides millions through Scripture daily
Fr. Mike Schmitz has become one of the most recognizable voices in Catholic media, reaching hundreds of millions through his engaging approach to Scripture and faith formation. His podcast The Bible in a Year represents a revolutionary approach to Scripture engagement, guiding listeners through the entire Bible in 365 daily episodes. This groundbreaking podcast has transformed how Catholics worldwide interact with sacred Scripture, making the daunting task of reading the entire Bible achievable and spiritually enriching.
The podcast’s success stems from Fr. Mike’s unique ability to make ancient texts relevant to modern life while maintaining theological depth and authenticity. His conversational style, combined with systematic Scripture reading and insightful commentary, creates an accessible pathway for both longtime Catholics and those new to Scripture study. The impact has been profound, earning Fr. Mike recognition as one of Our Sunday Visitor’s 2021 Catholics of the Year and recipient of the 2022 Cardinal John P. Foley Award for excellence and innovation in Catholic storytelling.
The Man Behind the Microphone
Fr. Michael Thomas Schmitz was born on December 14, 1974, as the fourth of six children to Peter Schmitz, an orthopedic surgeon, and Gudrun “Goodie” Schmitz. Born in the Oak Park neighborhood of Chicago, his family relocated to Brainerd, Minnesota, where he spent his formative years. Despite growing up in a practicing Catholic family that attended Mass every Sunday, Fr. Mike remained largely indifferent to his faith until a pivotal moment at age 15.
This transformative encounter occurred during the Sacrament of Confession when Fr. Mike experienced what he describes as a genuine encounter with Christ’s love. “That really affected me such that I said to myself, ‘This is real,'” he recalled in an interview with Legatus magazine. This interior recognition sparked a journey of faith that would eventually lead him to the priesthood, though the path was neither immediate nor straightforward.
After completing his undergraduate degree in Theology at St. John’s University, Fr. Mike served as a missionary on the border between Belize and Guatemala, teaching at a Catholic high school. This missionary experience proved instrumental in his vocational discernment, leading to what he describes as a “big conversion.” He subsequently attended Saint Paul Seminary School of Divinity, where he spent one year of pre-theology at St. John Vianney before continuing his formation. In 2003, Fr. Mike was ordained for the Diocese of Duluth, beginning a priesthood that would eventually touch millions worldwide.
Building a Newman Center Ministry
Since 2005, Fr. Mike has served as chaplain for the Newman Center at the University of Minnesota Duluth, where he also holds the position of director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry for the Diocese of Duluth. When he first arrived at UMD, the Newman Center operated out of a small house with limited resources. Rather than being discouraged by these constraints, Fr. Mike developed a focused ministry strategy centered on three pillars: retreats, frequent celebration of the sacraments, and small group formation.
The results have been extraordinary. What began with 6-10 students attending daily Mass has grown to 60-90 regular attendees, creating space challenges in the converted two-car garage that serves as the chapel. Students literally have no place to sit during Mass, a problem that speaks to the vibrancy and appeal of the ministry Fr. Mike has built. This grassroots campus ministry became the laboratory where Fr. Mike developed his approach to evangelization and catechesis, testing homilies and topics that would later reach global audiences.
Fr. Mike emphasizes that his online ministries, including The Bible in a Year podcast and Ascension Presents videos, would not exist without his students. Every homily recorded, each Ascension video topic, and every podcast reflection stems directly from conversations with students at the Newman Center. This connection between local ministry and global reach demonstrates how authentic pastoral care can scale to impact hundreds of millions while remaining rooted in real relationships and genuine spiritual guidance.
The Bible in a Year Phenomenon
Launched in 2021 through Ascension Press, The Bible in a Year podcast quickly became a cultural phenomenon within Catholic circles and beyond. The concept was both simple and ambitious: guide listeners through the entire Bible in 365 episodes, following a structured reading plan that makes Scripture comprehensible and spiritually nourishing. Each episode combines Scripture readings with Fr. Mike’s commentary, helping listeners understand context, make connections between passages, and apply biblical wisdom to contemporary life.
The podcast follows a carefully designed reading plan that moves through Scripture chronologically while maintaining thematic coherence. This approach helps listeners understand the overarching narrative of salvation history rather than getting lost in disconnected passages. Fr. Mike’s commentary provides historical context, theological insights, and practical applications, making ancient texts accessible to modern audiences without oversimplifying complex biblical material.
The format typically includes the day’s Scripture readings followed by Fr. Mike’s reflections, usually totaling 20-25 minutes per episode. This manageable daily commitment makes the daunting task of reading the entire Bible achievable for busy individuals. The podcast’s production quality, combined with Fr. Mike’s engaging delivery style, creates an immersive listening experience that transforms daily commutes, workout sessions, or quiet moments into opportunities for spiritual growth.
Impact and Recognition
The Bible in a Year’s impact exceeded all expectations, becoming one of the most successful religious podcasts in history. The podcast topped charts across multiple platforms, introducing millions to systematic Scripture engagement. For many listeners, this represented their first complete reading of the Bible, while for others, it provided a structured approach to deepen their existing Scripture study.
The recognition Fr. Mike received for this work underscores its significance. Being named one of Our Sunday Visitor’s 2021 Catholics of the Year acknowledged his contribution to Catholic media and evangelization. The 2022 Cardinal John P. Foley Award for excellence and innovation in Catholic storytelling further validated the podcast’s groundbreaking approach to making Scripture accessible and engaging for contemporary audiences.
Beyond awards and recognition, the podcast’s true impact is measured in transformed lives. Countless listeners report deepened faith, renewed prayer lives, and newfound appreciation for Scripture. The podcast created a global community of participants who embarked on this spiritual journey together, sharing insights and supporting one another through social media groups and online forums dedicated to discussing the daily readings.
Expanding the Vision: The Catechism in a Year
Building on the success of The Bible in a Year, Fr. Mike launched The Catechism in a Year podcast, applying the same systematic approach to the Catechism of the Catholic Church. This follow-up project demonstrates Fr. Mike’s commitment to comprehensive Catholic formation, recognizing that Scripture and Church teaching must work together to form mature disciples. The Catechism podcast follows a similar format, breaking down the Church’s official teaching into daily, digestible segments with Fr. Mike’s characteristic clarity and engagement.
This expansion reflects Fr. Mike’s broader vision for Catholic media ministry. Through Ascension Press, he has become involved in numerous projects including Ascension Presents YouTube videos, The Fr. Mike Schmitz Podcast, Sundays with Ascension livestreamed Masses, and various Bible study programs and sacramental preparation materials. Each project shares the common goal of making Catholic faith accessible, engaging, and transformative.
A Multifaceted Media Ministry
Fr. Mike’s media presence extends far beyond podcasting. His Ascension Presents YouTube videos tackle contemporary questions about faith, morality, relationships, and Catholic living with honesty and clarity. These short-form videos have garnered millions of views, addressing topics ranging from dating and marriage to prayer and discernment. The videos’ success comes from Fr. Mike’s ability to speak authentically to younger generations while maintaining theological orthodoxy.
His speaking ministry has taken him across the country and internationally, addressing audiences from small parish gatherings to the National Eucharistic Congress, where he spoke to 50,000 attendees. As a featured speaker at events like the March for Life, Fr. Mike brings his gifts for communication and evangelization to important cultural moments, representing Catholic perspectives with intelligence and compassion.
Fr. Mike has also contributed to numerous Ascension Press programs including The 99 evangelization series, Altaration exploring the Mass, Bible study programs like No Greater Love, and sacramental preparation resources. These projects demonstrate his commitment to comprehensive Catholic formation across all life stages and sacramental moments.
The Day Job That Makes It All Possible
Despite his prominence in Catholic media, Fr. Mike consistently emphasizes that his “day job” as Newman Center chaplain remains his primary ministry. His weekly schedule reveals this commitment, balancing campus ministry responsibilities with media production. Typical weeks include leadership team meetings, daily Holy Hours, RCIA sessions, retreat planning, campus Masses with shared meals, Newman social events, and weekend recording sessions for podcasts and videos alongside speaking engagements.
This grounding in local ministry keeps Fr. Mike’s media work authentic and relevant. The conversations with students, the pastoral challenges faced at the Newman Center, and the real-life questions brought to him in confession and spiritual direction all inform his broader ministry. This connection ensures that his media content addresses genuine struggles and questions rather than theoretical concerns disconnected from lived experience.
The Newman Center’s growth has created both opportunities and challenges. The Seeds of Faith initiative was launched to revitalize the ministry and build a proper Newman Center on campus, creating adequate space for the growing student community while supporting the broader media ministry that reaches millions. This fundraising effort recognizes that the local and global ministries are interconnected, each supporting and strengthening the other.
The Power of Systematic Scripture Engagement
One of The Bible in a Year’s greatest contributions is demonstrating the value of systematic Scripture engagement. Many Catholics express desire to read the Bible but feel overwhelmed by its length and complexity. Fr. Mike’s podcast removes these barriers by providing structure, context, and guidance. The daily format creates accountability and momentum, while the year-long timeline makes the goal achievable without requiring unsustainable time commitments.
The reading plan itself represents careful thought about how to present Scripture most effectively. Rather than simply reading Genesis through Revelation, the plan moves through salvation history chronologically while grouping related materials together. This approach helps listeners understand how different biblical books relate to each other and to the overall story of God’s relationship with humanity.
Fr. Mike’s commentary enhances comprehension by providing historical background, explaining cultural contexts, and highlighting theological themes. He draws connections between Old and New Testament passages, shows how Scripture relates to Catholic doctrine and practice, and offers practical applications for daily life. This multi-layered approach transforms Scripture reading from an academic exercise into a transformative spiritual practice.
Challenges and Future Directions
The success of Fr. Mike’s media ministry presents ongoing challenges. Balancing campus ministry with growing media demands requires careful discernment and boundary-setting. The temptation to expand media presence at the expense of local pastoral ministry must be resisted, as the local ministry provides the authenticity and groundedness that makes the media ministry effective.
Fr. Mike has been clear about his priorities, maintaining that the Newman Center students remain his primary responsibility and that media work serves rather than replaces this core ministry. This commitment requires saying no to opportunities and carefully managing time and energy. The support of the Diocese of Duluth and the resources provided by Ascension Press make this balancing act possible, but it remains an ongoing challenge requiring wisdom and grace.
Looking forward, the impact of The Bible in a Year and Fr. Mike’s broader media ministry continues to unfold. The podcast introduced millions to Scripture in a systematic way, creating a foundation for ongoing spiritual growth. Many listeners who completed the year-long journey have continued with The Catechism in a Year or other formation resources, demonstrating that the initial engagement can lead to sustained spiritual development.
Lessons for Catholic Media and Evangelization
Fr. Mike’s success offers valuable lessons for Catholic media and evangelization efforts. First, quality matters. The production values of The Bible in a Year, combined with Fr. Mike’s preparation and presentation skills, create an experience that respects listeners’ time and intelligence. Second, authenticity resonates. Fr. Mike’s genuine pastoral concern and real relationship with students comes through in his media presence, creating trust and connection with audiences.
Third, systematic approaches work. By providing structure and reducing barriers to engagement, The Bible in a Year made Scripture accessible to millions who might never have attempted a complete reading otherwise. Fourth, traditional content delivered through contemporary media reaches new audiences. The podcast format brings ancient Scripture to people during their daily routines, integrating faith formation into modern life patterns.
Finally, local ministry and global reach can reinforce each other. Fr. Mike’s campus ministry provides the depth and authenticity that makes his media work compelling, while the media ministry extends the impact of insights gained through local pastoral work. This integration creates a virtuous cycle where each dimension of ministry strengthens the others.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How long are The Bible in a Year podcast episodes?
A: Most episodes run approximately 20-25 minutes, making them manageable for daily listening during commutes, workouts, or other routine activities while providing substantial Scripture content and commentary.
Q: Do I need prior biblical knowledge to start The Bible in a Year?
A: No prior knowledge is required. Fr. Mike provides context, explanations, and background information that make the podcast accessible to beginners while still offering depth for those with more biblical experience.
Q: Where does Fr. Mike Schmitz serve as a priest?
A: Fr. Mike serves as chaplain for the Newman Center at the University of Minnesota Duluth and as director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry for the Diocese of Duluth, positions he has held since 2005.
Q: What other podcasts has Fr. Mike created besides The Bible in a Year?
A: Fr. Mike hosts The Catechism in a Year, The Fr. Mike Schmitz Podcast, and Sunday Homilies with Fr. Mike Schmitz, all produced through Ascension Press, addressing various aspects of Catholic faith and formation.
Q: Can I still start The Bible in a Year if it’s not January 1st?
A: Yes, you can begin the podcast any time throughout the year. Many listeners start on personal significant dates or simply begin whenever they discover the podcast, following the 365-episode sequence from day one regardless of calendar date.
References
- https://bulldogcatholic.org/seeds-of-faith/about-fr-mike-schmitz/
- https://sjvseminary.org/general/you-will-be-my-witnesses-father-mike-schmitz-99/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Schmitz
- https://ascensionpress.com/pages/person/fr-mike-schmitz
- https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250167/seven-things-to-know-about-march-for-life-speaker-father-mike-schmitz
- https://bulldogcatholic.org/about-us/about-father-mike-schmitz/
- https://www.allamericanspeakers.com/celebritytalentbios/Mike+Schmitz/450638
- https://catholicreligionteacher.com/fr-mike-schmitz/
- https://stmichaelsflushing.org/authors/fr-mike-schmitz
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