Homilies preached by Fr. Michael Schmitz, Chaplain for the University of Minnesota-Duluth Catholic Campus Ministry.
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The UMD NEWMAN CATHOLIC CAMPUS MINISTRY podcast is an incredible resource for anyone looking to deepen their faith and grow in their understanding of the Catholic Church. Hosted by Father Mike Schmitz, these homilies provide powerful insights and teachings on the Gospel readings, making them relatable and applicable to everyday life.
One of the best aspects of this podcast is Father Mike's ability to communicate complex theological concepts with clarity and simplicity. He has a unique gift for breaking down scripture and connecting it to real-life experiences, making it easy for listeners to apply the teachings to their own lives. His homilies are filled with wisdom, compassion, and love, creating an atmosphere that is both inspiring and uplifting.
Another great aspect of this podcast is Father Mike's authenticity and relatability. He speaks from the heart without judgment or condemnation, allowing listeners to feel seen and understood. His delivery is engaging and often includes humor, creating a welcoming space where listeners can feel comfortable exploring their faith.
As for any potential downsides, one could argue that the podcast focuses primarily on Catholic teachings and may not appeal as much to those outside of the Catholic faith. However, even non-Catholics have found value in Father Mike's messages due to his universal themes of love, mercy, forgiveness, and personal growth.
In conclusion, The UMD NEWMAN CATHOLIC CAMPUS MINISTRY podcast is a remarkable resource for anyone seeking spiritual guidance or a deeper understanding of the Catholic faith. Whether you are a devout Catholic or simply exploring your spirituality, Father Mike's homilies offer profound insights that will inspire you on your journey towards God.
Homily from the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord. Jesus didn't give us the Bible. He gave us the Church. And the Church gave us the Bible. All Christians believe in the 27 books of the New Testament. We all believe these books are the inspired Word of God based on the authority of the Church to recognize this truth and teach it. The same Church has the authority to declare the 46 books of the Old Testament as well. June 1, 2025: Acts 7:55-60 Psalm 97:1-2, 6-7, 9Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20 John 17:20-26
Homily from the Sixth Sunday of Easter. Do we rely on the Bible alone? The Church is not optional. When there is a question that is not covered explicitly in the Bible (and even when it is), where do we look for guidance? Mass Readings from May 25, 2025: Acts 15:1-2, 22-29 Psalm 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8Revelation 21:10-14, 22-23 John 14:23-29
Homily from the Fifth Sunday of Easter. Life is difficult. You don't have to move on alone. In a difficult life and a difficult mission, Paul had someone with him who helped him continue to do the work he was called to do. Paul had someone who helped him move on. Mass Readings from May 18, 2025: Acts 14:21-27 Psalm 145:8-13Revelation 21:1-5 John 13:31-33a, 34-35
Homily from the Fourth Sunday of Easter. We get the behavior we are willing to tolerate. There are times when we need to establish boundaries...even with the people we love. Even as Christians, we need to choose and clearly communicate what we are able to or willing to tolerate. Mass Readings from May 11, 2025: Acts 13:14, 43-52 Psalm 100:1-2, 3, 5Revelation 7:9, 14b-17 John 10:27-30
Homily from the Third Sunday of Easter To be restored, we must revisit the place of ruin. When we are called to move on, we may need to revisit the places in our lives that need healing in order to allow the Lord to change our future. Mass Readings from May, 4th, 2025: Acts 5:27-32, 40b-41 Psalm 30:2, 4, 5-6, 11-12, 13Revelation 5:11-14 John 21:1-19
Homily from the Second Sunday of Easter, Sunday of Divine Mercy Five words that can change your life. Life is filled with change and uncertainty. But there is one thing that is stable and unchanging. Mass Readings from April, 27, 2025:Acts 5:12-16 Psalm 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24Revelation 1:9-11a, 12-13, 17-19 John 20:29
Homily from the The Resurrection of the Lord, The Mass of Easter Day Get up and do what you can. We know that darkness is real. And death is real. But darkness and death are not the end. There are some things that never die...Faith...Love...the Promise of eternal life. Mass Readings from April, 20, 2025: Acts 10:34a, 37-43 Psalm 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23Colossians 3:1-4 or 1 Corinthians 5:6b-8 John 20:1-9
Homily from Good Friday of the Lord's Passion This is not the end of the Story, but it had to happen for the Story to go on. The Passion of Christ is not the end of the Story, but we must pause and reflect on it. It is the lens through which we see: What love looks like when it costs everything, what sin looks like when we can see the wounds, and what mercy looks like when it refuses to give up. Mass Readings from April, 18, 2025: Isaiah 52:13—53:12 Psalm 31:2, 6, 12-13, 15-16, 17, 25Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9 John 18:1—19:42
Homily from Holy Thursday, Evening Mass of the Lord's Supper He loved them to the end. One of the characteristics that marks modern man is that we find ourselves angry at God. In fact, we are so angry that we would be willing to hurt God if we could. Yet, God is invulnerable. He cannot be hurt. Still, God chose to step into this world and love us...while making Himself vulnerable. Mass Readings from April, 17, 2025: Isaiah 61:1-3a, 6a, 8b-9 Psalm 116:12-13, 15-16bc, 17-18.1 Corinthians 11:23-26 John 13:1-15
Homily from Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion. Thank God ahead of time. We often put off joy and praise and peace. We are tempted to be preoccupied with wanting to be "there" or wanting to be "done" with whatever we are working on or whatever we are doing. Yet, as Catholics, we are called to be "here". We can best live "on the way" when we don't wait to thank God; when we thank God before we are "there". We can thank God right here. Mass Readings from April 13, 2025: Isaiah 50:4-7 Psalm 22:8-9, 17-20, 23-24.Philippians 2:6-11 Luke 22:14—23:56
Homily from the Fifth Sunday in Lent. We run out of all hope...and then Jesus. The Dead End is a necessary place of the way. The location where we run out of our own skill and our own strength and find ourselves completely unable to move forward on our own. In the midst of the dead end...and then Jesus. Mass Readings from April 6, 2025: Isaiah 43:16-21 Psalm 126:1-6Philippians 3:8-14 John 8:1-11
Homily from the Fourth Sunday of Lent. To look like Jesus, we must learn how to live in the Presence of the Father. When it comes to our relationship with the Father, too often it is marked by hiding our hearts or avoiding His gaze. But we must learn how to live like Jesus, who remained in the Father's Presence at all times and with profound trust. Mass Readings from March 30, 2025: Joshua 5:9, 10-12 Psalm 34:2-72 Corinthians 5:17-21 Luke 15:1-3, 11-32
Homily from the Third Sunday of Lent. We all want peak moments, but growth happens in the Valley. Why do we walk through valleys? What good is life in the valley? Is it only a negative? Is it always a punishment from God? Or could the valley be necessary? Mass Readings from March 23, 2025: Exodus 3:1-8, 13-15 Psalm 103: 1-4, 6-8, 111 Corinthians 10:1-6, 10-12 Luke 13:1-9
Homily from the Second Sunday of Lent. A big life is a series of small crossroads. Life happens at the crossroads. Life is also a series of small crossroads that might seem insignificant, but add up to a life of beauty and meaning...or a life potentially wasted. Mass Readings from March 16, 2025: Genesis 15:5-12, 17-18 Psalms 27:1, 7-9, 13-14Philippians 3:17—4:1 Luke 9:28b-36
Homily from the First Sunday of Lent. The only way out is through. As we enter into the desert, the desert takes away the things we tend to trust in...the things we use as comforts and crutches...and we are led through the "training place" to the place of being able to live like Christ. Mass Readings from March 9, 2025: Deuteronomy 26:4-10 Psalm 91:1-2, 10-15Romans 10:8-13 Luke 4:1-13
Homily from the Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Silence reveals our hearts and silence trains our hearts. As we enter into the place of training, we realize that there are certain things that reveal the condition of our hearts...trial, tribulation, speech, and silence. But we need to consciously enter into these if we are going to know ourselves and be trained in the way of Christ. Mass Readings from March 2, 2025: Sirach 27:4-7 Psalm 92:2-3, 13-14, 15-161 Corinthians 15:54-58 Luke 6:39-45
Homily from the Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time. Love those who deserve it. And those who don't. Jesus gives us a commandment that existed from the beginning: we are to love those who deserve it. This is justice. Jesus goes on to teach us and even greater love: mercy. Mass Readings from February 23, 2025: 1 Samuel 26:2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23 Psalm 103:1-2, 3-4, 8, 10, 12-131 Corinthians 15:45-49 Luke 6:27-38
Homily from the Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time. We live in this life, but we live for the next life. Jesus turns our fears and our hopes upside down...because through the Resurrection, Jesus has turned the world upside down. Mass Readings from February 16, 2025: Jeremiah 17:5-8 Psalms 1:1-4 & 61 Corinthians 15:12, 16-20 Luke 6:17, 20-26
Homily from the Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time. There are two requirements: Be available and be willing to try. There are times when the future is so uncertain and so unknown that we hesitate to move. But since we know that God is with us, He has a call on our lives, and His grace is active...we can take the next step without fear. Mass Readings from February 9, 2025: Isaiah 6:1-2, 3-8 Psalms 138:1-5, 7-81 Corinthians 15:1-11 Luke 5:1-11
Homily from the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. Do what you know, where you are. What is the Greatest Thing you will ever do? What if the Greatest Thing is not something you accomplish, but who you become? Mass Readings from February 2, 2025: Malachi 3:1-4 Psalms 24:7-10Hebrews 2:14-18 Luke 2:22-40
Homily from the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time. You've been given a great work, and must not come down. Since you have been made on purpose, there are two ways to live: on purpose and off purpose. But if a person has been made to be great and set apart for a purpose, why would they ever choose to live off purpose? The common culprits are distraction, forgetting, comparison, and living a shadow mission. Mass Readings from January 26, 2025: Nehemiah 8:2-6, 8-10 Psalm 19:8, 9, 10, 151 Corinthians 12:12-30 Luke 1:1-4; 4:14-21
Homily from the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time. Why be great? A powerful goal in life is to be great. To be able to say, "I am good at this" regardless of comparison, but with an eye towards real excellence. At the same time, even when we have a goal and have a plan, we all need to be motivated by WHY. Mass Readings from January 19, 2025: Isaiah 62:1-5 Psalm 96:1-3, 7-101 Corinthians 12:4-11 John 2:1-11
Homily from the Baptism of the Lord. You've been claimed at the lowest point. The Baptism of the Lord is a mystery. The mystery of how Christ comes into contact with the water...and it does not change Him; He changes it. This is the pattern from this moment on: Christ comes into contact with us, claims us, and changes us. Mass Readings from January 12, 2025: Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7 Psalms 29:1-4, 9-10Acts 10:34-38 Luke 3:15-16, 21-22
Homily from the Epiphany of the Lord. There is something powerful about optimism. Optimistic people are more likely to be risk takers and more likely to have a positive view of life. But optimistic people also have to have something stronger than mere "wishful thinking" to lean on when their own strength runs out. Mass Readings from January 5, 2025: Isaiah 60:1-6 Psalms 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-13.Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6 Matthew 2:1-12
Homily from the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God. When we know God's will, we must respond with "yes". There are truly horrible and troubling things that can happen in each one of our lives. And yet, at every moment, we have the opportunity to respond in faith and love. Our response of trust can be summed up in one word: "Yes". Mass Readings from January 1, 2025: Numbers 6:22-27 Psalm 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8Galatians 4:4-7 Luke 2:16-21
Homily from the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. Make it your ambition to live a quiet life. In a world where so many people live their lives "on display," the Holy Family shows us what it is to live a quiet (and meaningful) life. Mass Readings from December 29, 2024: Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14 Psalms 128:1-5Colossians 3:12-21 Luke 2:41-52
Homily from the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas). The one who has gratitude has enough. At the moment we get to stand before the Lord face to face, what will the automatic and overwhelming response be? Will it be a word of love? Of contrition? Or will it be two words that summarize everything that could be said to the God who has used everything to get us ready to stand before Him? Mass Readings from December 25, 2024: Isaiah 52:7-10 Psalms 98:1-6.Hebrews 1:1-6 John 1:1-18
Want to walk through Advent with Fr. Mike? Join us for daily video Advent reflections in the Ascension App: https://ascensionpress.com/pages/frmikeadvent Homily from the Fourth Sunday of Advent. I'm not going to fear what I don't know, I am going to trust who I do know. We can wait in excitement and joy...we can also wait in fear. We fear the dark and might fear death for the same reason: the unknown. We can fear the unknown in the afterlife and we can fear the unknown of our own inner life. God's mercy leads us to a place of trust. Mass Readings from December 22, 2024: Micah 5:1-4 Psalms 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19Hebrews 10:5-10 Luke 1:39-45
Want to walk through Advent with Fr. Mike? Join us for daily video Advent reflections in the Ascension App: https://ascensionpress.com/pages/frmikeadvent Homily from the Third Sunday of Advent. How can we see the Lord face to face til we have faces? We tell ourselves so many stories. Some of these stories are true and some of them are not. One challenge we have is to tell true stories...about ourselves and about the Lord. In order to be able to see the Lord face to face, we will need to know ourselves and some before God as our true selves. Mass Readings from December 15, 2024: Zephaniah 3:14-18 Isaiah 12:2-6Philippians 4:4-7 Luke 3:10-18
Want to walk through Advent with Fr. Mike? Join us for daily video Advent reflections in the Ascension App: https://ascensionpress.com/pages/frmikeadvent Homily from the Second Sunday of Advent. God will bring the work He has begun to completion. We can do so many things in the Christian life that are important. But if we miss the most important aspect of following Christ, our lives will be incomplete. We are called to love...and yet we do not have it in us to be able to love the way we need to. Thankfully, God meets us in our need and our lack and supplies us with all we need. Mass Readings from December 8, 2024: Baruch 5:1-9 Ps 126:1-6Philippians 1:4-6, 8-11 Luke 3:1-6
Want to walk through Advent with Fr. Mike? Join us for daily video Advent reflections in the Ascension App: https://ascensionpress.com/pages/frmikeadvent Homily from the First Sunday of Advent. We are made to see the Lord face to face...but are we ready for that? Advent is a time to prepare to see the Lord face to face. We are preparing to have the ability to stand before the Lord. But we often find ourselves reluctant to be seen because we are afflicted and affected by shame. How do we move forward and allow the Lord to deal with our shame? Mass Readings from December 1, 2024: Jeremiah 33:14-16 Psalms 25:4-5, 8-9, 10, 141 Thessalonians 3:12—4:2 Luke 21:25-28, 34-36
Miss the Livestream? Wanting to Donate? Make a Donation: http://www.bulldogcatholic.org https://www.givemn.org/organization/Newman-Catholic-Campus-Ministries-At-Umd Watch the Livestream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTybyJQuDQY Homily from the Solemnity of Christ the King. The Mass is the fuel for our life in the world...and our life in the world is an extension of the Mass. The words, "The Lord be with you" are meant to prepare us for great things...dangerous things. When we hear them at the end of Mass, they prepare us to bring what we've done at the altar out to the world. Mass Readings from November 24, 2024: Daniel 7:13-14 Psalms 93:1, 1-2, 5Revelation 1:5-8 John 18:33b-37
Mark Your Calendars! Donate Today! Give to the Max Day: Thursday, November 21st, 2024 http://www.bulldogcatholic.org https://www.givemn.org/organization/Newman-Catholic-Campus-Ministries-At-Umd Day of Thanks Livestream Event: Thursday, November 21st, 2024 7PM CST http://www.youtube.com/ascensionpresents Homily from the Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time. At Mass, you are not in the bleachers. You are on the field. You are in the game. We are kingdom priests. But do we know what we are saying? Do we know what we are praying? Mass Readings from October 17, 2024: Daniel 12:1-3 Psalms 16:5, 8, 9-11Hebrews 10:11-14, 18 Mark 13:24-32
Mark Your Calendars! Donate Today! Give to the Max Day: Thursday, November 21st, 2024 http://www.bulldogcatholic.org https://www.givemn.org/organization/Newman-Catholic-Campus-Ministries-At-Umd Day of Thanks Livestream Event: Thursday, November 21st, 2024 7PM CST http://www.youtube.com/ascensionpresents Homily from the Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time. It is truly right and just...worship sets us free. Does God need our worship? He does not. But we do. Worship sets us free from slavery and opens us up to love. Mass Readings from November 10, 2024: 1 Kings 17:10-16 Psalms 146:7-10Hebrews 9:24-28 Mark 12:38-44
Homily from the Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time. Worship is not about what we get, but about what we can give. When it comes to Mass, we often complain that we "don't get anything out of it". Is that what Mass is about? Is that what love is about? Or is love (and worship) about what we can give? Mass Readings from November 3, 2024: Deuteronomy 6:2-6 Psalms 18:2-4, 47, 51Hebrews 7:23-28 Mark 12:28-34
Homily from the Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time. The heart of worship is sacrifice. We know that the sacrifice of Jesus once-for-all is the moment that saves us. It is possible to be present to this moment and offer that one sacrifice now. Mass Readings from October 27, 2024: Jeremiah 31:7-9 Psalms 126:1-6Hebrews 5:1-6 Mark 10:46-52
Homily from the Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time. A thing is worth what someone is willing to sacrifice for it. How do we know what a thing is worth? When it comes to God, do we know how to worship Him? Mass Readings from October 20, 2024: Isaiah 53:10-11 Psalms 33:4-5, 18-20, 22Hebrews 4:14-16 Mark 10:35-45
Homily from the Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time. God's Word is living and active. In order to understand our lives clearly, we need to know The Story. In order to know The Story, we need to become familiar with the Bible. Mass Readings from October 13, 2024: Wisdom 7:7-11 Psalms 90:12-17Hebrews 4:12-13 Mark 10:17-30
Homily from the Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time. God has called us here. God is with us here. God will not leave us here. Marriage will always be a challenge. But there is a way to move forward in this challenge that brings greater peace and joy. There are no guarantees other than "I will not leave" and "God will not leave". Mass Readings from October 6, 2024: Genesis 2:18-24 Psalms 128:1-6Hebrews 2:9-11 Mark 10:2-16
Homily from the Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Restriction is the first step towards freedom. God is good. God wants all of us to have the fullness of life and of joy. God wants all of us to have HIM. But there are things that suffocate joy. There are things in our lives that rob us of God. There are things that we choose to keep in our lives that strip us of freedom. And Jesus calls us to be ruthless in how we approach those things. Mass Readings from September 29, 2024: Nehemiah 11:25-29 Psalms 19:8, 10, 12-14James 5:1-6 Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48
Homily from the Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Not all ambition is bad. Every good thing that we have in our lives we most likely have because an individual (or group of individuals) wanted to do something great. Jesus warns us of the dangers of wanting to be first. James warns us about selfish ambition. But is every desire to be great or to do great things wrong? Mass Readings from September 22, 2024: Wisdom 2:12, 17-20 Psalms 54:3-6 and 8James 3:16—4:3 Mark 9:30-37
Homily from the Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Our answer makes a difference. We are presented today with the single most important question any of us will be asked and all of us will have to answer: who do you say that Jesus is? Mass Readings from September 15, 2024: Isaiah 50:5-9 Psalms 116:1-9James 2:14-18 Mark 8:27-35
Homily from the Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Our answer makes a difference. We are presented today with the single most important question any of us will be asked and all of us will have to answer: who do you say that Jesus is? Mass Readings from September 15, 2024: Isaiah 50:5-9 Psalms 116:1-9James 2:14-18 Mark 8:27-35
Homily from the Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time. Love the person in front of you. It is easy to walk through life and feel invisible. Like you don't matter. Like you have nothing to offer. But when we are seen by Christ, all of that has the potential to change. And then we can begin to see that we are called to love the person in front of us who has nothing to offer. Mass Readings from September 8, 2024: Isaiah 35:4-7 Psalms 146:6-10James 2:1-5 Mark 7:31-37
Homily from the Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time. It's the least you can do. We are made to strive. We are made to pursue the ideal. But we also need to know what the minimum is. We also need to know: What is the least I can do? (And still give the Lord access to my heart!) Mass Readings from September 1, 2024: Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-8 Psalms 15:2-5James 1:17-18, 21b-22, 27 Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23
Homily from the Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time. Do not miss your turn. There are times in our lives when we have the opportunity and the ability to make a decision that will change the direction of our lives. Joshua issued this invitation to the people of Israel as they entered the Promised Land and we are issued the same invitation. We must decide for ourselves whom we will serve. Mass Readings from August 25, 2024: Joshua 24:1-2a, 15-17, 18b Psalms 34:2-3, 16-21Ephesians 5:21-32 John 6:60-69
Homily from the Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Let praise go up first. There is something that every Christian can do at every moment and in every situation...that most of us forget to do. Or we fail to do it. God has called us to offer praise at all times. Mass Readings from August 18, 2024: Proverbs 9:1-6 Psalms 34:2-7Ephesians 5:15-20 John 6:51-58
Homily from the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Body and soul in Heaven. The fact of the Assumption is the greatest reminder that all those who have died in Christ are meant to rise with Christ. All of us will get our bodies back and we will rise on the Last Day; some to the Resurrection of Glory and others to the Resurrection of Shame. Mass Readings from August 15, 2024: Revelation 11:19; 12:1-6, 10 Psalms 45:10, 11, 12, 161 Corinthians 15:20-27 Luke 1:39-56
Homily from the Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. What does a"win" look like? There are times when we accomplish our goals...and then we still feel that there ought to be something more. There are times when "winning" is just as empty as "losing". In those moments, we have the opportunity to step back and ask what we are shooting for. These are the moments we can ask "what does a 'win' look like?" Mass Readings from August 11, 2024: 1 Kings 19:4-8 Psalms 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9Ephesians 4:30—5:2 John 6:41-51
Homily from the Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. There are four kinds of vision...one is the most helpful. We all want to see the world accurately. But most often, we fall into the blindness of being shortsighted. Then we want foresight so that we can know what will happen. Or hindsight so that we know what we've lived through. But God calls us to a newer sight. One that helps us get out of the desert by going through the desert. Mass Readings from August 4, 2024: Exodus 16:2-4, 12-15 Psalms 78:3-4, 23-24, 25, 54Ephesians 4:17, 20-24 John 6:24-35
Homily from the Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Give the first fruits and gather the fragments. We are given two commands in this weekend's readings: to give the first fruits and gather the fragments. Our temptation, however, is to do the opposite; to give the fragments and gather the first fruits. In order to have a heart like Christ, we must become givers. Mass Readings from July 28, 2024: 2 Kings 4:42-44 Psalms 145:10-11, 15-18Ephesians 4:1-6 John 6:1-15
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