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Jesuitical

How Father Mike Schmitz balances a popular media ministry with being a college campus priest

Jesuitical

America Media

News, News Commentary, Spirituality, Religion & Spirituality, Christianity

4.71K Ratings

🗓️ 21 October 2022

⏱️ 61 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Podcast episodes and YouTube videos featuring Father Michael Schmitz rack up thousands, even millions, of views. His latest project, “The Bible in a Year,” has even made it to the top of the Apple Podcast charts since it debuted in 2021. But for students at the University of Minnesota Duluth, Father Mike isn’t just another celebrity priest. He’s their chaplain. This week, we talk to Father Mike about the big questions Catholics (and non-Catholics) on campus are asking today, the challenges and opportunities of ministering at a big state school and how he balances life in the public eye and being present to his students. And in Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley chat with Colleen Dulle about Inside the Vatican’s latest deep dive into the synod on synodality. The global church has just finished up the listening phase of the synod and reports from at least 112 of the 114 bishops’ conferences around the world are in. What have we learned so far from this yearlong consultation? And what comes next? Topics: 04:10 - Colleen Dulle of "Inside the Vatican" breaks down the Synod on Synodality at the end of phase one 14:55 - A day in the life of Fr. Mike Schmitz 20:55 - The joys and challenges of doing campus ministry on a secular university campus 32:53 - How 'The Bible in a Year' project changed Fr. Mike's engagement with Scripture 42:07 - How Fr. Mike balances being a celebrity priest and a chaplain to his students Links from the show: Podcast: Synod reports from all over the world are in. What happens next? The Bible in a Year podcast Watch America’s new documentary, People of God: How Catholic Parish Life is Changing in the United States What’s on tap? An IPA that was not made in Father Mike’s brother’s brewery Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

Boston College School of theology and ministry is committed to the intersection

0:04.4

between theology, culture, and contemporary questions. Preparing leaders who are

0:09.3

equipped to serve the Church and the world through diverse career paths. Generous financial aid is available.

0:16.0

Learn more at BC.edU.

0:20.0

S.M. Hello and welcome to Judge Woodacle, a podcast by the Young Hip and Lay editors of

0:35.4

America media that lay part means we aren't Jesuits but we work with them.

0:39.3

Join us each week for a smart Catholic take on faith culture in the news, often over drinks.

0:44.7

I'm Ashley McKinless and I'm joined by Zach Davis.

0:47.6

I am so excited to be with you Ashley and really thrilled about this week's show.

0:50.9

Oh yeah, we got a great one coming for you.

0:53.2

We are talking with Father Mike Schmitz, who probably doesn't need an introduction.

0:57.7

But we're going to give you one anyway.

0:59.2

He is the chaplain for the Newman Center at the University of Minnesota Duluth and he's the

1:03.9

creator and host of the very popular The Bible in a year podcast. Yes which is

1:08.1

exactly what it sounds like. It's a podcast where it gives you short episodes that you

1:12.4

can listen to every day, the readings, and then a little

1:15.2

commentary by Father Mike, and it's really excellent.

1:18.0

And as you said, this podcast was and is a hit.

1:20.6

It shot to the top of the Apple podcast charts when it came out which is not

1:24.4

usual for Catholic podcasters as we can attest to.

1:29.8

No it is not and so you might have heard of Father Mike from that podcast or from his super popular

1:35.4

YouTube videos, but as we mentioned, he is the chaplain for a Newman Center at a university.

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