Following up on its “The Bible in a Year (with Father Mike Schmitz),” the No. 1 religion podcast in the world, Ascension Press will unveil “The Catechism in a Year” on Jan. 1, 2023, continuing to nurture the faith of Catholics around the globe in audio form.
“What we did with the Bible, we’re going to do with the Catechism,” Father Schmitz explained in a news conference last month.
“We are going to take a little section of the Catechism every single day. We’re going to read it, explain it and expand upon it so that by the end of the year, we’ll be able to say, ‘I know what the Church believes; I know what God’s plan is for my life; I know how to talk to God; I know how to listen to His voice, and I know how to worship Him.’ It’s going to be incredible.”
Over the course of 15-20 minute podcast episodes, Father Schmitz will read the entire Catechism of the Catholic Church, taking listeners through the four parts of the Catechism (What We Believe, How We Worship, How We Live and How We Pray) and providing explanation, insight and encouragement.
Jeff Cavins – biblical scholar and frequent “The Bible in a Year” guest – will again join Father Schmitz, along with Bishop Andrew Cozzens of the Diocese of Crookston, Minnesota; Dr. Mary Healy, Catholic theologian and speaker, and Sister Miriam James Heidland, SOLT.
Ascension Press is also offering its new print edition of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, for listeners to supplement their teaching alongside the podcast. This work includes a color-coded approach to the Catechism, aimed at helping readers get a clear understanding of its sources in Scripture, Church documents and writings of the saints. There is an extensive glossary and appendices, which include a timeline of ecclesiastical writers who contributed to the development of doctrine throughout the Church’s history.
John Harden, senior product manager at Ascension, thanked the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops for working with Ascension on the issue of copyright and permissions that allowed the Ascension volume to go forward. Each country’s local bishops control permissions and copyrights for the catechisms disseminated within their country. For this reason, Ascension currently only has permission from the USCCB to sell Ascension’s edition of the catechism within the United States. Ascension said it hopes to work with other episcopal conferences to receive their approvals in the future.
This past November, “The Bible in a Year” surpassed 365 million total episode downloads worldwide, and was No. 1 in Apple Podcasts Religion and Spirituality category, and in its Top 40 Podcasts for the year 2022. “The Bible in a Year” debuted Jan. 1, 2021.
As well, the Catholic Media Association awarded Father Mike Schmitz and Cavins its Cardinal John P. Foley Award for “demonstrated excellence and innovation in Catholic Storytelling.”
In “The Bible in a Year,” listeners were privy to “a biblical worldview,” Father Schmitz said. “The Catechism In A Year” will bring that same “biblical worldview that is amplified brought into even sharper distinction and clearer visions. I’m hoping people will not only grow into information, but real transformation.”
“The Catechism in a Year” podcast will be available for free on all major podcast platforms as well as the Hallow app. Ascension also is providing Catholic schools and parishes free materials promoting the podcast, including flyers, posters, media graphics and bulletin announcements.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church, Ascension Edition, is available for purchase for $64.95.
For more information, visit www.ascensionpress.com.
Catholic News Service contributed to this report.
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