The Word on Fire Show – Episode WOF 486: Celebrating 25 Years of Word on Fire

Date: April 21, 2025
Host: Matthew Patrucyk
Guest: Bishop Robert Barron
Podcast Theme: Catholic faith and culture

Overview

In this milestone episode, Bishop Robert Barron and host Matthew Patrucyk reflect on the 25-year journey of Word on Fire, from its humble origins to a global evangelistic force. The episode delves into Bishop Barron’s priestly beginnings, pivotal moments and challenges, major initiatives (from radio and publishing to viral online outreach), and the ministry’s vibrant future, including exciting plans for an Order of Priests and global expansion. The conversation is candid, rich with stories and insights, and interspersed with gratitude for all who have journeyed alongside Word on Fire.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Bishop Barron’s Recent Activities (01:36)

• Bishop Barron recounts the annual visit of Minnesota bishops to the Capitol in St. Paul, where they meet government leaders and share church concerns.
  • “We share some of our concerns as bishops...we hear from them and we have a bit of a dialogue.” (01:36–02:37)

From Parish Priest to Media Evangelist (03:18)

• Barron did not originally envision engaging in large-scale media outreach; he expected a long career in seminary teaching or academia.
  • “If you were to ask me, then, I probably would have said, I'll teach at Mundelein for 10 years or so, and then, you know, maybe get a job at a university.” (03:20–04:44)

Parisian Formation (04:44)

• His studies in Paris profoundly impacted him, both through exposure to Catholic intellectuals and through travel.
  • “I'm a Thomas Aquinas man and I just think of Paris as very much Thomas City and medieval Catholicism. That always attracted me.” (04:58–06:19)
• Mentors like Michel Corbin and Herve Legrand influenced his theological outlook and engagement with figures like Balthasar.

“Cathedral” Documentary in France (06:26)

• Barron shares plans to resume filming a cathedral-focused spiritual documentary in France, delayed by COVID and his move to Minnesota.

The Birth of Word on Fire (07:01)

• The ministry began with Bishop (then Father) Barron's desire to broadcast sermons on radio, fundraising $50,000 from a parish for a graveyard timeslot.
  • “I was told that WGN...for $50,000 would let me have a year at 5:15 on Sunday morning...So I got up at all the masses...I said, I need $50,000 everybody to get on the radio.” (07:11–08:40)
• The name “Word on Fire” was suggested by Fr. Steve and affirmed by poet Paul Murray.

Early Expectations and Spirit of Experimentation (08:47)

• The initiative was propelled as much by calling as by clear planning.
  • “I just felt a certain call, I suppose, that the church wasn't doing enough with the media...it was a seed.” (08:47–09:49)

The Catholicism Series: Trust and Leap (09:49)

• The signature “Catholicism” documentary was greenlit after Barron described his dream project. Starting with meager funds and no distribution plan, it emerged from shared conviction.
  • “What’s your dream project?...So I laid out the Catholicism series...And they said, alright, great, let's do that.” (09:55–10:59)
• No market research or plan: “I had none of any kind at the time. But we all felt...a summons to do it and to do it at a high level...” (11:01–11:25)

Cardinal George’s Influence and Independence (11:25)

• The late Cardinal George fostered an independent, fundraising-driven approach, and animated the ministry’s evangelistic spirit.
  • “He encouraged us to be independent...He thought it would...be more efficacious if we had our own kind of identity.” (11:34–14:30)
• Shifted from in-person lectures to media to reach wider audiences: “There’s something very 19th century about it...Now we have a means to communicate so much more widely.” (13:22–14:27)

Partnership with Fr. Steve Grunow (14:38)

• Fr. Steve, current CEO, began as Bishop Barron's student and proved the primary creative force behind institutional milestones.
  • “Almost every major step we’ve taken institutionally at Word on Fire is his idea.” (14:38–15:43)

Outreaching to Digital Culture – Reddit AMAs (15:43)

• Barron’s Reddit “Ask Me Anything” sessions, at Brandon Vaught’s suggestion, proved wildly popular and revealing about cultural attitudes.
  • “It’s like what Thomas Aquinas did...I have a bit of the French...joie de combat, you know, the joy of getting into the fight.” (16:26–18:23)
  • Famous moment: “Do you think your religion is better than all the others?” – “Yes.” (17:54–18:23)

The Surprising Online Religious Revival (18:23)

• Noted the shift from “new atheist” online culture to re-interest in Christianity, linked to figures like Jordan Peterson (18:36).
  • “That’s been kind of a delightful surprise.” (18:44)

Growth of Sunday Sermons (19:13)

• Barron's homilies—initially local—became a major means of evangelization, particularly during COVID.
  • “I think in preaching...I become more Barthian...Let me introduce you to the biblical world.” (19:13–21:39)
• His approach shifted from “experiential” to more direct, scriptural engagement.
• Pandemic pivot: started livestreaming daily Mass, which deeply impacted viewers and grew a new following.
  • “COVID...Your Mass during COVID got my attention...So not Mass every day, but do a Sunday sermon.” (21:50–23:22)

“Bishop Barron Presents” – Long-Form Conversations (23:33)

• Inspired by William F. Buckley’s “Firing Line,” this series features in-depth conversations on diverse, often non-explicitly religious topics.
  • “I wanted to do something that was at a very high level of conversation...that was the idea behind it.” (23:33–24:46)
• Dream guests: Bob Dylan, the Coen Brothers, Quentin Tarantino. (24:50–25:17)

The Word on Fire Show Origins (25:47)

• Inspired by co-host Brandon Vaught, the podcast amplifies and deepens Bishop Barron's written content.
  • “Brandon came to me...what’s really popular right now is this sort of podcast format.” (25:54–26:58)

Speaking at Global Venues (27:09)

• Bishop Barron recalls presenting at the Library of Congress, London Parliament, and in massive arenas like Indianapolis’s Lucas Oil Stadium during the Eucharistic Congress (audience: 50,000).
  • “I loved at the Library of Congress...I’ve spoken to big crowds before, but never 50,000.” (27:21–28:33)

Engaging with Big Tech (28:40)

• He discussed faith and reason at Google and Facebook, focusing on dispelling misconceptions about religion’s place in intellectual life.
  • “The quest for God means that your mind never stops searching for truth...It is nothing against any legitimate form of reason.” (28:42–30:00)

International Growth (30:00)

• Emphasis on global expansion, particularly in the UK, with the ultimate aim of spreading the Word on Fire model worldwide.
  • “I'd love to see the model that we've developed here happen...in all the major cities of the world.” (30:14–31:20)

The Publishing Arm and Institute (31:20)

• Word on Fire Publishing arose from a conviction they could create beautiful, high-quality Catholic resources on their own.
  • “I think they're the most beautiful books out there.” (31:37–34:00)
• The Institute, founded in 2018, forms and trains lay evangelists—akin to a third order—helping them fulfill their baptismal call.

The Word on Fire Bible Project (34:06)

• Emphasis on biblical literacy, beautiful design, and integrating commentary from the Church’s tradition.
  • “You can't understand Jesus apart from the Old Testament...We could do it beautifully, that the text is beautifully printed...with commentary around the text...” (34:11–37:10)
• Its release was so successful that it sold out immediately despite pandemic disruptions.

The Future: Order of Priests & A Lasting Legacy (37:10)

• Bishop Barron is most excited by founding a Word on Fire Order of Priests to secure the ministry’s apostolic future and charism.
  • “If I'm hit by a bus this afternoon, Word on Fire would be over...Wouldn't a better idea be to establish an Order of priests with the same sort of charism?” (37:19–38:35)
• He places the future in God’s hands, drawing a scriptural parallel to David and the temple.

Gratitude for Supporters (38:35)

• Barron expresses deep gratitude to donors and Institute members, acknowledging dependence on their generosity and commitment.
  • “I've always been like a Franciscan with my beggar's bowl...So that's my word is gratitude to them...” (38:40–39:23)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

“I was told that WGN...for $50,000 would let me have a year at 5:15 on Sunday morning...So I got up at all the masses...I said, I need $50,000 everybody to get on the radio.”
— Bishop Barron (07:11–08:40)

“He encouraged us to be independent...He thought it would...be more efficacious if we had our own kind of identity.”
— Bishop Barron on Cardinal George (11:34–14:30)

“It’s like what Thomas Aquinas did...I have a bit of the French...joie de combat, you know, the joy of getting into the fight.”
— Bishop Barron on Reddit AMAs (16:26–18:23)

“Do you think your religion is better than all the others?”
“Yes.”
— Reddit AMA moment, Bishop Barron (17:54–18:23)

“I’ve always felt that way from the beginning, from that time at Sacred Heart Parish when I said, ‘hey everybody, can I have $50,000?’ I’ve always been in that stance of...I got my beggar’s bowl.”
— Bishop Barron (38:40–39:23)

“If I'm hit by a bus this afternoon, Word on Fire would be over...Wouldn't a better idea be to establish an Order of priests with the same sort of charism?”
— Bishop Barron (37:19–38:35)

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment / Topic | |------------|-----------------------------------------------------| | 01:36 | Minnesota bishops visit to Capitol | | 03:18 | Bishop Barron’s early expectations/priestly calling | | 04:44 | Studies in Paris and theological formation | | 06:26 | Upcoming cathedral documentary in France | | 07:01 | Origin story of Word on Fire | | 08:47 | Early hopes and outlook | | 09:49 | Creation of the Catholicism series | | 11:25 | Role of Cardinal George and evolution of ministry | | 14:38 | Partnership with Fr. Steve Grunow | | 15:43 | Reddit AMAs and online evangelization | | 18:49 | Evolution of Sunday sermons and COVID’s impact | | 23:33 | 'Bishop Barron Presents' – origins and vision | | 25:47 | The podcast's origin story | | 27:09 | Speaking at major global venues | | 28:40 | Talks at Google and Facebook | | 30:14 | International expansion and global vision | | 31:37 | Founding of the Institute and Publishing arm | | 34:11 | Word on Fire Bible Project | | 37:19 | The Order of Priests: vision for the future | | 38:40 | Expressions of gratitude to donors and members |

Listener Question & Response

(39:23)
Jim from Illinois asks about joining the forthcoming Order of Priests.

• Bishop Barron responds: The best way for laypeople to join the “third order” is to become part of the Word on Fire Institute.

Tone & Language

The conversation is warm, candid, and occasionally humorous. Both host and Bishop Barron use accessible language, weaving in anecdotes, spiritual reflections, and cultural references. There’s a strong sense of mission, gratitude, and hope for the future.

For Listeners Who Missed the Episode…

This episode provides a rich tapestry of the last 25 years at Word on Fire, told with humility and delight by Bishop Barron. From unlikely radio beginnings to viral digital dialogues, from crisis pivots to ambitious new frontiers, the story is a testament to responding faithfully to the Holy Spirit—with no shortage of risk, creativity, and humor.

Advertisements, intros, and outros omitted for clarity and focus on content.