Podcast Summary: My Message For All Catholics (w/ Fr. Mike Schmitz)

Podcast: The Fr. Mike Schmitz Catholic Podcast
Host: Ascension
Date: April 9, 2026

Episode Overview

In this heartfelt Easter episode, Fr. Mike Schmitz reflects on the recent surge of people joining the Catholic Church, both in his native Minnesota and across the country. He shares a personal and pastoral message aimed at new and lifelong Catholics alike, addressing the mixture of beauty, imperfection, and real humanity found within the Church. Drawing on stories—including the life and words of J.R.R. Tolkien—Fr. Mike offers guidance for those who might feel let down by ordinary parish life after experiencing the intellectual, relational, or aesthetic allure of Catholicism. The central theme: embrace the fullness of the Church, with all its glories and its rough edges, because at the heart of it all is Jesus.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. An Unprecedented Easter

• [00:00] Fr. Mike’s opening: Rejoices in the significant numbers entering the Church this Easter.
  “So this last Easter, we had, I don't want to say unprecedented number of people coming to the church, but we had a... An incredible number of people coming into the church. It's just really remarkable.”

• Celebrates that many are hearing “the call of Jesus Christ and found that no Jesus, who truly is God, risen from the dead. Hallelujah, Easter, He's Risen also established a church...”

2. Three (Maybe Four) Roads into Catholicism

• [01:38] Identifies ways people come into the Church:

  • Through intellectual study (“read their way into the Church”)
  • Through relationships (“loved into the Church”)
  • Through beauty (“beautified into the Church”)
    “I can read my way into the church... but then it’s sanitary.”
    “Or I can be loved through relationship…”
    “I can look online and see... the incredible liturgy... But then I go to the local parish at the corner and like, oh, oh, oh.”

• Quote [03:34]:
  “The reality is it’s all true... And yet sometimes… it’s like, well, the priest doesn’t know as much as I do... Or the beauty that drew me to look at the Catholic Church... then I go to the normal parish and it might not be that.”

3. Embracing the Reality of Parish Life

• [05:40] Catholicism is experienced not only in grand cathedrals or through deep books, but in ordinary, even messy, parish life.

  • The Church is diverse in social backgrounds and “more brokenness than I thought” is normal.

• Quote [05:55]:
  “It is the intellectual greatness of the giants of the faith. And it’s also the simplicity of those of us who don’t grasp as much... It’s all of it. All of it can be used for God to help you take that next step.”

4. Learning from Tolkien’s Faith

• [07:21] Fr. Mike shares J.R.R. Tolkien’s story, focusing on his mother’s martyr-like conversion and Tolkien’s upbringing by a priest.

• Tolkien’s love for the “mystery, the beauty, the truth of the Catholic Church,” but also God’s use of the ordinary and brokenness to sanctify.

• Memorable Quote from Tolkien’s Letter to his Sons [08:15]:
  “Out of the darkness of my life, so much frustrated, I put before you the one great thing to love on earth, the Blessed Sacrament. There you will find romance, glory, honor, fidelity, and the true way of all your loves on earth.”

• On Communion Amid Ordinary Circumstances [10:20]:
  “Make your Communion in circumstances that affront your taste... It will be just the same or better than that as a Mass said beautifully by a visibly holy man and shared by a few devout and decorous people.”

5. The Core Message: Stay for Jesus

• [13:00] Even in disappointment—bad priests, unwelcoming communities, or lackluster liturgy—Christ’s presence remains central.

• Tolkien’s Wisdom on Staying in the Church [13:30]:
  “I have suffered grievously in my life from stupid, tired, dimmed and even bad priests. But I know now enough about myself to be aware that I should not leave the church, which for me would be leaving the allegiance to our Lord for any such reasons…”

• Fr. Mike’s Summary [14:30]:
  “I read my way into the church. I know it’s true... I was loved into the church by good friends, but I’m not going to leave because I don’t have friends there now... Why? Because Jesus is there. And so that’s where I’m going to be.”

6. New OCIA Program: Invited

• [15:40] Introduction of Ascension’s new OCIA program, “Invited”.

• Focus on personal stories, real-life journeys, and support for navigating both the beauty and the messiness of Catholic life.

• Quote [16:32]:
  “Every good OCIA program helps us encounter the beauty, the truth and goodness of the church. But every good OCIA program also helps us know what to do when we encounter the reality, the messiness and the humanity of the church.”

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Fr. Mike Schmitz [00:52]:
  “I can read my way into the church, but then it’s sanitary. Does that make sense?”
• J.R.R. Tolkien [10:57]:
  “Go to communion with them and pray for them. It will be just the same or better… as a Mass said beautifully by a visibly holy man and shared by a few devout and decorous people.”
• Fr. Mike Schmitz [13:47]:
  “Tolkien was not ignorant of bad priests... but I know now enough about myself to be aware that I should not leave the church… I should leave because I did not believe.”
• Fr. Mike Schmitz [14:30]:
  “I read my way into the church. I know it’s true... Why? Because Jesus is there. And so that’s where I’m going to be.”

Important Timestamps

• 00:00–01:37: Easter welcomes, surge in converts
• 01:38–05:30: Routes into Catholicism
• 05:31–07:20: Embracing the Church’s reality and brokenness
• 07:21–11:54: Tolkien’s story, letters, and Eucharistic focus
• 13:00–14:50: Persevering in faith despite disappointing experiences
• 15:40–17:00: Introduction of new OCIA program and takeaways

Conclusion

Fr. Mike’s Easter message is one of encouragement and realism: whether you join the Church through intellect, relationships, or the pull of beauty, you’ll eventually encounter its full, human reality. Don’t be discouraged by brokenness, disappointing priests, or lack of community. Instead, remember, like Tolkien, that the core reason for remaining Catholic is Jesus Himself, present in the Eucharist and in the Church He founded—even in its most ordinary expression. The challenge and invitation is to embrace all of it, and in doing so, to be made holy.