Podcast Summary: "Called to Form the Young"

Podcast: Called (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Episode: Called to Form the Young w/ Fr. Mike Schmitz and Fr. Josh Johnson
Date: January 23, 2026
Host: Fr. Mike Schmitz
Guest: Fr. Josh Johnson

Overview

This episode of the "Called" podcast centers on the Church’s responsibility and opportunity to form young people—especially those on the margins—as intentional disciples of Christ. Fr. Mike Schmitz and Fr. Josh Johnson discuss personal experiences, parish strategies, and the call to reach youth beyond church pews, highlighting the importance of relationship, accompaniment, and spiritual responsibility.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Power of Invitation and Accompaniment

• Fr. Josh’s Testimony: Fr. Josh shared how persistent invitations from a friend led him, despite resistance and opposition from a parishioner, to an encounter with Christ in the Eucharist at a youth conference that transformed his life (00:02–09:16).
• Barrier to Sainthood: "How many other future saints are there out there who aren't saints just because we didn't do our role of inviting them to encounter Jesus Christ?" – Fr. Josh (00:43)
• Model of Jesus: Jesus met people where they were, often when they were far from perfect, and invited them into relationship first before expecting transformation (00:02, 39:39).

2. Priestly and Parish Responsibility for All Souls

• Geographical Parish Responsibility: Both priests discuss the canonical and pastoral duty for every soul within parish boundaries, not just parishioners (10:04–12:32).
• Presence in the Community: Fr. Josh explained practical ways he and his seminarians engage their local area, such as praying the Rosary in neighborhoods, being visible in public and school spaces, supporting local needs, and interceding for all residents (12:32–16:47).
  • “[As priests] we are responsible for every single soul that lives within the geographical boundaries of our parish, whether they’re Catholic, Protestant, atheist, agnostic, Muslim, Hindu, or Jew.” – Fr. Josh (10:04)
• Concrete Examples:
  • Seminarians build relationships with the marginalized—visiting elderly neighbors, homeless shelters, and women recovering from trafficking (12:32–16:47).

3. Prayer and Dependence on God’s Grace

• Starting with Prayer: Before programs or innovations, everything begins with prayer, particularly intercessory prayer for the parish’s geographical area (16:47–17:42).
• God’s Action: A memorable story recounted how praying the Rosary in the neighborhood led directly to a spontaneous request for prayer by a suffering mother, showing God's responsiveness through availability (17:42–19:07).

4. Formation and Mission in Tandem

• Both/And Approach: Fr. Josh asserted being formed as disciples and evangelizing are not sequential but simultaneous—pointing people to Jesus is possible even as one’s own relationship deepens (19:55–23:02).
  • “I think a lot of us don’t believe Jesus is Jesus. Like, we don’t believe that if I bring people to adoration, that he could do everything.” – Fr. Josh (21:20)

5. Accessible Evangelization and Discipleship

• Peer-Led Ministry: Fr. Mike referenced Curtis Martin's idea that ordinary students can be more effective than experts because of their relational proximity (23:02).
• Vagabond Missions:
  • An apostolate aimed at evangelizing marginalized youth by building relationships in their environments—basketball courts, bus stops, etc.—progressing from relationships to Bible study to sacraments (24:22–29:29).
  • "Sometimes you’re doing relational ministry with some people for, like, six years before they are open to the gospel." – Fr. Josh (24:22)

6. Parish Obstacles & Solutions

• Knowledge Gaps: The average parish may not reach out to the margins due to lack of awareness, tradition, or formation—"they only know what they know" (29:44–32:56).
• Team Approach: Pastors can't do everything; identifying and delegating to parishioners with varied charisms is essential (34:43–37:58).
  • "Every gift that's necessary for us is already there in our parish." – Fr. Josh (36:31)

7. Moving from Program to Relationship

• Messiness of Ministry: Parish ministry can’t be sanitized; welcoming the marginalized brings unavoidable messiness that requires relationship, not just programs (44:15–46:45).
  • "It's too messy for a program, but it's not too messy for a relationship." – Fr. Mike (45:07)

8. Concrete First Steps for Listeners

• Root in the Gospel: Fr. Josh advises the very first step anyone can take in responding to God’s call is to immerse in the Gospels daily and imitate Jesus’ behavior as shown there (47:13ff).
  • “Ignorance of scripture is ignorance of the voice of Christ.” – Fr. Josh (47:13)

9. The Role of Redemptive Suffering

• Offering Suffering for Mission: Fr. Josh ends with a poignant story of a parishioner whose sufferings, united with Christ’s, bore fruit for his ministry and encourages suffering listeners to offer their pain for the mission of the Church and its missionaries (47:13–52:27).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Being the Bridge (00:43):
  “If that person who worked in the church had their way, I may have never encountered Christ in the Blessed Sacrament at that conference. And I may not be a disciple of Jesus Christ today. How many other future saints are there out there…?” – Fr. Josh

• On Parish Responsibility (10:04):
  “We are responsible not just for the people who are sitting in our pews at Mass, but… for every single soul that lives within the geographical boundaries of our parish…” – Fr. Josh

• On Inclusive Evangelization (19:55):
  “We do need that place of formation for sure… but I don’t have to have a theology degree or social working background to feed somebody who’s hungry.” – Fr. Josh

• On Leadership and Empowerment (36:31):
  “Every gift that's necessary for us is already there in our parish.” – Fr. Josh

• On the Necessity of Relationship (45:07):
  “It’s too messy for a program, but it’s not too messy for a relationship.” – Fr. Mike

• On Redemptive Suffering (47:13):
  “I invite you and I beg you to unite [your suffering] to Jesus Christ on the cross… and offered up for either Father Mike or for our vagabond missionaries…” – Fr. Josh

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Fr. Josh’s Conversion & The Power of Invitation: 00:02–09:16
• Parish Responsibility for Every Soul: 10:04–12:32
• How to Practically Reach the Margins: 12:32–16:47
• Importance of Prayer Before Programs: 16:47–19:07
• Formation & Going Out—A Both/And: 19:55–23:02
• Vagabond Mission Overview: 24:22–29:29
• Obstacles for the Average Parish: 29:44–32:56
• Teamwork and Delegation: 34:43–37:58
• Parish and School as Welcoming Spaces: 39:39–44:15
• Role of Relationship vs. Program: 44:15–46:45
• First Steps – Immerse in the Gospels: 47:13ff
• Redemptive Suffering Story: 47:13–52:27

Tone & Style

Warm, direct, conversational, and honest. Both priests are candid about struggles, persistent in hope, and place a strong emphasis on the lived experience of discipleship and on everyone’s unique role in forming future saints. The episode brims with stories—personal and parish-based—meant to inspire listeners to see evangelization not as an obligation, but an invitation.

Takeaway Action Steps

• Accept personal responsibility for your local community, not just your church circle.
• Begin with daily prayer and immersion in the Gospel—let your actions imitate Christ’s.
• Be present, visible, and relational—go to the peripheries and meet people where they are.
• Don’t wait to be perfect to invite others; grow together in discipleship.
• Offer your sufferings in union with Christ for the spread of the Gospel.

For more information on the Catholic Initiative and how to support under-resourced parishes and schools, visit thecatholicinitiative.org.