Clerics on the Web - My Favorite Podcasting YouTubing Catholic Priests


The past few months I've been loving on some podcasts and videos by really great priests.  I've found my faith strengthened and nourished and am so grateful for the ways that these men put themselves out there and use social media to bring the Gospel to the world.  New Evangelization is this, you know.  What a gift to be able to pull up a homily or talk on my phone while I change sheets or drive or nurse or shower or whatever.  If you're a Catholic looking for some extra spiritual nourishment or you are someone simply interested in learning more about Catholicism, I'd highly recommend these favorites:


1.
Bishop Robert Barron


Bishop Barron was only recently named a bishop for the archdiocese of Los Angeles.  Before that he was Father Barron who ran the seminary in Chicago and who started Word on Fire, a multimedia evangelization and catechetical apostolate.  If you're not a Catholic and don't know where to start learning about this crazy faith, my advice would be to get yourself a copy of The Catechism of the Catholic Church and Father Barron's Catholicism DVD series and start there.  I consider Bishop Barron the Fulton Sheen for our age.  He clearly and beautifully explains the faith for those who have never learned and invites everyone into a deeper relationship with Christ and the Church.

2.
Father John Riccardo


I first heard Father Riccardo about four years ago on our local Catholic radio station.  They played him right at 10 a.m. on Sunday mornings just as we were getting out of Mass.  We called it our second homily despite it not being formally coordinated with the readings for that Sunday.  His talks and homilies made up for a certain lack we were experiencing in our normal Sunday Mass.  His focus on living in real relationship with Jesus Christ and what that means are challenging and poignant.  He so clearly allows the Spirit to move in his life and in that of his parish in Michigan.  What I wouldn't give to be a member there!

3.
Father Dave Pivonka


I met Father Dave in college when he worked at Franciscan University and he is well known for his gift of preaching and evangelization.  I was blessed to have him as a spiritual director for a bit and even got to travel to Tanzania with him.  He is a man on fire for God and his recently released video series called The Wild Goose is a powerful and well produced series on the Holy Spirit.  Brian and I have been watching them together and they are phenomenal.  All videos are available and free at the site.

4.
Catholic Stuff You Should Know


I was introduced to the hilarious and informative Catholic Stuff podcast just this year but it's been around for three years.  It features a group of six or seven priests who chat about different teachings of Catholicism or current events or other relevant topics of the spiritual life.  I have to admit, Father Nathan Goebel and Father Michael O'Loughlin's casts are my favorite.  

5.
Father Mike Schmitz


Father Mike Schmitz is the chaplain at the University of Minnesota Duluth.  His homilies are on point, focused, and even though you can tell he's addressing them to the college age crowd, they're still relevant and applicable to anyone.  I've really enjoyed his recent series on heroic confidence.  His videos for Ascension Press are succinct and easily understood, answering common questions and misconceptions about Catholicism.

6.
Father Mark Noonan


Father Mark is a local priest and personal friend.  I'm so glad he now makes his homilies available to the public since the previous bishop moved him to a parish over an hour away from us and that's been sad.  He's a humble and faithful priest preaching the Gospel at a little country church and we're blessed to have him in our diocese and grateful that we can still get to hear him through his podcasts.

7.
Father Larry Richards


Father Larry is the pull-no-punches priest.  He shares the truth without apology and his no fluff approach is especially good for men.  He is the pastor at a parish in Erie, Pennsylvania but travels around the country for talks and retreats and also makes his homilies and talks available online. Listening to Father Larry will most definitely challenge you in your faith.
  

I know there are many more priests out there using the media to evangelize and catechize...I didn't even touch on blogs!  What are your favorites that I missed?

Linking up with Kelly and Seven Quick Takes.

9 comments

  1. Mary - I am a long time reader but this is the first time I have commented. I am a homeschooling mother of four. I live in Minnesota now but I grew up in western NY. You have mentioned Fr. Mark before and I wondered if it was my parents' Fr. Mark. My parents attend his parish and know him very well. My family gets to attend his Masses whenever we visit. It is such a small world! Thank you so much for your blog.

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    1. Oh, that's great! I miss being able to go to his Masses! Don't tell your parents but I'm secretly hoping he gets transferred back out this way soon ;)

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  2. What a great list. Thanks for gathering them for us. I love catholic stuff you should know podcast.

    Also a big fan of pray-as-you-go Jesuit podcast.

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  3. My husband and I love Fr. Richard Simon. He has a show on Relevant Radio daily at 10:00 am (central time.) You can listen to podcasts of his episodes on the relevant radio app or the relevant radio website. His show is called Fr. Simon Says. He also has a blog: http://reverendknow-it-all.blogspot.com/

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  4. The Lanky Guys... they discuss the gospel and are so entertaining!

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