Called (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)

Called to Use God’s Gifts of Innovation Faithfully w/ John F. Crowley & Fr. Mike Schmitz

April 3rd, 2026  |  57 mins 51 secs

acts of service, ascension press, bulldog catholic, business leaders, catholic, catholic initiative, christian, christian business, corporal works of mercy, father mike schmitz, fr mike schmitz, leaders, leadership, ministry, service

To receive updates on the podcast text CALLED to 33777.

If you have a question or a story of someone living out their calling to serve others, email [email protected].


Called to Be Courageous w/ Fr. Mike Schmitz and Dr. Carolyn Woo

March 6th, 2026  |  1 hr 12 mins

acts of service, ascension press, bulldog catholic, business leaders, catholic, catholic initiative, christian, christian business, corporal works of mercy, father mike schmitz, fr mike schmitz, leaders, leadership, ministry, service

What does it mean to trust God when the decision feels risky?

In this episode of Called, Fr. Mike Schmitz sits down with Dr. Carolyn Woo to talk about courage, discernment, and leaving security to follow God’s call. Carolyn shares how she walked away from tenure and a successful academic career to say yes to a mission that would eventually lead her to serve the global Church through Catholic Relief Services.

Together they discuss fear, trust, and the question many of us eventually face: What is enough?

If you’ve ever struggled with a big life decision or wondered how to know what God is asking of you, this conversation is for you.

To receive updates on the podcast text CALLED to 33777.

If you have a question or a story of someone living out their calling to serve others, email [email protected].


Called to Rebuild w/ Fr. Mike Schmitz and Harry Lennix

February 20th, 2026  |  1 hr 10 mins

acts of service, ascension press, bulldog catholic, business leaders, catholic, catholic initiative, christian, christian business, corporal works of mercy, father mike schmitz, fr mike schmitz, leaders, leadership, ministry, service

How can beauty rebuild a broken community?

In this episode of Called, Fr. Mike Schmitz sits down with acclaimed actor Harry Lennix to explore faith, storytelling, and the power of the arts to transform culture.

From growing up Catholic on Chicago’s South Side to discerning the priesthood, to performing on Broadway and in film, Harry shares how his vocation has always been rooted in service. Inspired by Pope John Paul II’s Letter to Artists, he explains why creativity images the Creator—and why investing in beauty is essential, especially in under-resourced neighborhoods.

They discuss:
🔸How art reveals truth
🔸Why culture shapes communities
🔸Mercy, justice, and the human heart
🔸The vision behind the Lillian Marcie Center for the Performing Arts

To receive updates on the podcast text CALLED to 33777.

If you have a question or a story of someone living out their calling to serve others, email [email protected].


Called to Love Through Action w/ Fr. Mike Schmitz and Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow

February 6th, 2026  |  58 mins 1 sec

acts of service, ascension press, bulldog catholic, business leaders, catholic, catholic initiative, christian, christian business, corporal works of mercy, father mike schmitz, fr mike schmitz, leaders, leadership, ministry, service

In this episode of Called, Fr. Mike Schmitz sits down with Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow, founder of Mary’s Meals, to talk about what it really looks like to live out the Gospel. From a small village in Scotland to feeding over 3 million children every school day, Magnus shares the unlikely, grace-filled story of how a simple “yes” to God became a global mission of love.

Together, Fr. Mike and Magnus reflect on Scripture, especially “faith without works is dead” (James 2:17), and explore what it means to take small, faithful steps—even when you feel unqualified, afraid, or unsure of the outcome. This conversation is a powerful reminder that God doesn’t ask us to do everything—He asks us to be faithful with what’s right in front of us.

If you’ve ever wondered whether your small acts of love really matter, this episode will challenge and encourage you.

To receive updates on the podcast text CALLED to 33777.

If you have a question or a story of someone living out their calling to serve others, email [email protected].


Called to Form the Young w/ Fr. Mike Schmitz and Fr. Josh Johnson

January 23rd, 2026  |  54 mins 12 secs

acts of service, ascension press, bulldog catholic, business leaders, catholic, catholic initiative, christian, christian business, corporal works of mercy, father mike schmitz, fr mike schmitz, leaders, leadership, ministry, service

What if evangelization started with showing up?

In this episode of Called, Fr. Mike Schmitz sits down with Fr. Josh Johnson to talk about reaching young people on the margins and building parishes that go beyond the pews. Fr. Josh shares his powerful conversion story, the importance of invitation, and how Vagabond Missions meets teens where they are—on the streets, in neighborhoods, and in real life.

This conversation challenges us to rethink discipleship, responsibility, and what it really means to follow Jesus today.

To receive updates on the podcast text CALLED to 33777.

If you have a question or a story of someone living out their calling to serve others, email [email protected].


Called to Care for the Vulnerable w/ Elizabeth Marcolini and Fr. Mike Schmitz

January 9th, 2026  |  1 hr 1 min

acts of service, ascension press, bulldog catholic, business leaders, catholic, catholic initiative, christian, christian business, corporal works of mercy, father mike schmitz, fr mike schmitz, leaders, leadership, ministry, service

In this episode of Called, Fr. Mike Schmitz is joined by Catholic author and speaker Elizabeth Santorum Marcolini to share powerful stories of faith and radical trust in God. Elizabeth reflects on her sister Bella and her daughter Zelie—two lives that reveal the beauty, dignity, and purpose of every human person.
Together, they explore Catholic social teaching, the meaning of mercy, and why love always requires sacrifice. This conversation offers hope to parents facing difficult diagnoses, encouragement to families caring for loved ones with special needs, and a reminder that Jesus does not call us to sufficiency—but to surrender.

As Jesus teaches in Matthew 25, when we love the most vulnerable, we love Him.

To receive updates on the podcast text CALLED to 33777.

If you have a question or a story of someone living out their calling to serve others, email [email protected].


Called to Accompany Mothers w/ Fr. Mike Schmitz and the Sisters of Life

December 12th, 2025  |  1 hr 1 min

acts of service, ascension press, bulldog catholic, business leaders, catholic, catholic initiative, christian, christian business, corporal works of mercy, father mike schmitz, fr mike schmitz, leaders, leadership, ministry, service

In this episode of Called, Fr. Mike Schmitz sits down with Sr. Gianna Maria and Sister Zelie Maria Louis of the Sisters of Life—a community of religious sisters whose mission is to protect and enhance the sacredness of every human life. One of their missions is to serve women who are vulnerable to abortion and give them the support and resources they need to choose life for themselves and their children.

Together, they share powerful stories of hope, trust, and God’s unwavering tenderness. From “tea party” first meetings, to miraculous moments like the “gummy bear grace”, to the long-term accompaniment that continues far beyond a baby’s birth, the sisters reveal what it truly means to walk with women in love.

They also open up about:

• How each discovered their vocation—including one sister’s unforgettable rap testimony.
• The deep spiritual motherhood at the heart of every religious vocation.
• What genuine healing looks like for women wounded by abortion.
• How ordinary Catholics—men and women—can speak hope into someone’s life.
• What it looks like when parishes become true communities of accompaniment.

To receive updates on the podcast text CALLED to 33777.

If you have a question or a story of someone living out their calling to serve others, email [email protected].


Called to Walk with the Poor w/ Fr. Mike Schmitz and Kerry Robinson

December 2nd, 2025  |  58 mins 26 secs

acts of service, ascension press, bulldog catholic, business leaders, catholic, catholic initiative, christian, christian business, corporal works of mercy, father mike schmitz, fr mike schmitz, leaders, leadership, ministry, service

In this episode of Called, Fr. Mike Schmitz sits down with Kerry Robinson, President and CEO of Catholic Charities USA, for a powerful conversation about what it truly means to “walk with the poor.”

Kerry shares her remarkable lifelong journey of service — shaped by her family’s legacy of Catholic philanthropy, her early encounters with heroic witnesses of faith, and her vocational call to bring hope where it’s needed most. From her unexpected path into fundraising at Yale, to her leadership with Catholic Charities USA, Kerry reveals how answering God’s call often begins with simply refusing to look away from human suffering.

Together, she and Fr. Mike explore:

✨ What “vocational living” means and why it changes everything
✨ How Catholic Charities serves millions with dignity, mercy, and the heart of the Gospel
✨ The power of accompaniment and why presence matters as much as service
✨ How ordinary Catholics can begin helping the poor right where they are
✨ Why collaboration between clergy and laity is essential for the Church’s mission
✨ The deeper joy found in giving your life away in love

To receive updates on the podcast text CALLED to 33777.

If you have a question or a story of someone living out their calling to serve others, email [email protected].


Called to Unify w/ Fr. Mike Schmitz and Dave Arnold

November 14th, 2025  |  50 mins 33 secs

acts of service, ascension press, bulldog catholic, business leaders, catholic, catholic initiative, christian, christian business, corporal works of mercy, father mike schmitz, fr mike schmitz, leaders, leadership, ministry, service

In this episode of Called, Fr. Mike Schmitz talks with Dave Arnold—former CEO turned global ministry leader—about how God transformed his life and led him into the heart of Rwanda’s post-genocide healing. Dave shares how the PEACE Plan united government, business, and the church to rebuild a nation and how simple, local acts of love sparked reconciliation for millions.

Together they explore what real unity looks like, how forgiveness becomes possible after deep wounds, and how each of us can begin answering God’s call right where we are.

To receive updates on the podcast text CALLED to 33777.

If you have a question or a story of someone living out their calling to serve others, email [email protected].


Called to Sustain the Church for Generations w/ Fr. Mike Schmitz and Kevin Doyle

October 31st, 2025  |  47 mins 40 secs

acts of service, ascension press, bulldog catholic, business leaders, catholic, catholic initiative, christian, christian business, corporal works of mercy, father mike schmitz, fr mike schmitz, leaders, leadership, ministry, service

When thousands of parishes are closing and fewer people identify with any faith, how can the Church not only survive—but thrive?

In this episode of Called, Fr. Mike Schmitz talks with Kevin Doyle, president of the Catholic Initiative, about a bold new approach to sustaining vibrant parishes and schools for generations to come. From restoring Detroit’s historic St. Anne’s Basilica to supporting under-resourced communities, the Catholic Initiative is reimagining what it means to invest in the future of the Church.

Discover how one man’s generosity sparked a movement of faith, service, and renewal—and how we’re all called to build something that lasts.

You can learn more about the Called podcast at: https://ascensionpress.com/pages/called.
To learn more The Catholic Initiative, please visit https://thecatholicinitiative.org/.

To receive updates on the podcast text CALLED to 33777.

If you have a question or a story of someone living out their calling to serve others, email [email protected].