Podcast
Called (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Hosted by Ascension · EN
Called (with Father Mike Schmitz) brings you powerful stories of ordinary people living extraordinary lives of service. Hosted by Father Mike Schmitz and brought to you by The Catholic Initiative in partnership with Ascension, each episode features conversations with individuals who have answered God’s call to serve others—from highly successful entrepreneurs to industry executives and community leaders. Whether you’re seeking inspiration for your own journey or looking for practical ways to live your faith, Called will challenge you to see service not as obligation, but as invitation.
18episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Called to Be Hospitable (w/ Fr. Mike Schmitz and John Hale)
2w ago00:58:35Summary readyWhat does true hospitality look like? It’s more than hosting a dinner party or planning a great trip—it’s creating space for others to encounter love, joy, beauty, and ultimately, God. In this episode of Called, Fr. Mike Schmitz sits down with John Hale to talk about the deeper meaning of hospitality, how pilgrimage can transform hearts, and why a “theology of abundance” changes the way we live and love. Whether you’re welcoming thousands or simply showing up for the person in front of you, this conversation will challenge you to live with greater joy, generosity, and magnanimity of heart. 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 info@thecatholicinitiative.org.
SummaryCalled to Walk with Families in Need w/ Kristy Schena and Fr. Mike Schmitz
3w ago00:47:25Summary readyWhat does it mean to answer God’s call—especially when it leads you somewhere unexpected? In this episode of Called, Fr. Mike Schmitz sits down with Kristi Schena, founder of Kids On The Go, to share a powerful story of faith in action. What began as a simple response to a gap in care for children with special needs grew into a life-changing ministry serving thousands of families. Kristi opens up about the moment she saw the need, the challenges of building a nonprofit from the ground up, and how her own family’s struggles deepened her mission. Through uncertainty, loss, and unexpected blessings, her story reveals how God works through ordinary people to do extraordinary things. If you’ve ever felt a tug on your heart to make a difference—but didn’t know where to start—this conversation will inspire you to listen, trust, and take the next step. 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 info@thecatholicinitiative.org.
SummaryCalled to Use God’s Gifts of Innovation Faithfully w/ John F. Crowley & Fr. Mike Schmitz
Apr 300:57:51Summary readyWhat do you do when suffering hits your family—and there’s no cure? In this episode of Called, Fr. Mike Schmitz sits down with John Crowley, a father whose life changed overnight when two of his children were diagnosed with a rare, fatal disease. Faced with the impossible, John didn’t walk away—he stepped in. From grief and fear to faith and determination, this powerful conversation explores what it means to trust God in crisis, to “see a need and fill it,” and to use your gifts in service of others. John’s journey into the world of biotech innovation is a witness to courage, perseverance, and the call to love in action. 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 info@thecatholicinitiative.org.
SummaryCalled to Be Courageous w/ Fr. Mike Schmitz and Dr. Carolyn Woo
Mar 601:12:41Summary readyWhat 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 info@thecatholicinitiative.org.
SummaryCalled to Rebuild w/ Fr. Mike Schmitz and Harry Lennix
Feb 2001:10:45Summary readyHow 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 info@thecatholicinitiative.org.
SummaryCalled to Love Through Action w/ Fr. Mike Schmitz and Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow
Feb 600:58:01Summary readyIn 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 info@thecatholicinitiative.org.
SummaryCalled to Form the Young w/ Fr. Mike Schmitz and Fr. Josh Johnson
Jan 2300:54:12Summary readyWhat 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 info@thecatholicinitiative.org.
SummaryCalled to Care for the Vulnerable w/ Elizabeth Marcolini and Fr. Mike Schmitz
Jan 901:01:00Summary readyIn 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 info@thecatholicinitiative.org.
SummaryCalled to Accompany Mothers w/ Fr. Mike Schmitz and the Sisters of Life
Dec 1201:01:36Summary readyIn 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 info@thecatholicinitiative.org.
SummaryCalled to Walk with the Poor w/ Fr. Mike Schmitz and Kerry Robinson
Dec 200:58:26Summary readyIn 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 info@thecatholicinitiative.org.
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