Many Catholics are wary of social media, and rightfully so, but there's a surprisingly large niche of Catholic influencers which has braved this daunting mission field and are out there explaining, evangelizing, and entertaining.
Here are five YouTube standouts.
Father Mike Schmitz
Father Mike Schmitz is an incredible orator, as he demonstrated recently at the Los Angeles Catholic Prayer Breakfast. Besides that, his two series, Catechism in a Year and Bible in a Year, have helped thousands of people better understand fundamental Catholic doctrine.
His explanations are accessible and positive, without downplaying the essential seriousness of living morally in a fallen world. And as a bonus, most of the videos in his series are under a half-hour!
Click here for his YouTube playlist. The channel he's on, Ascension Presents, recently hit 1M subscribers.
Father Schmitz recently did a longer video interviewing Catholic actor David Henrie, but here's the most recent addition to his regular series on faith topics:
Bishop Robert Barron
In my sophomore year of college, I watched Bishop Robert Barron’s series on the Mass in one of my classes. Two years later, insights that amazed me at the time still come to mind on a regular basis.
Bishop Barron has Word on Fire’s subscription video series platform, but also maintains a significant YouTube following with videos on all aspects of the faith.
If you’ve done Fr. Mike’s programs and want to understand the Faith more intellectually, Bishop Barron is the guy for you. The connections he draws between ancient teaching, Greek and Latin etymology, and spirituality in practice, continually blow me away.
He also does regular Sunday Sermons, commenting on the Bible readings at that week's Sunday Mass. Here's the latest one:
Saint Dominic Media
Saint Dominic Media is named after the saint who received the Rosary and spent the rest of his life arguing with heretics about it.
Similarly, their priests discuss subjects pertinent to modern Catholics, such as “Are Men Useless?”, “Dualism and Gnosticism in the Modern World”, and “Zombies in the Bible?!?”
Subchannels include cultural issues apologetics under SENT; “Catholics in America” on politics, from election issues to the Amendments; and Spanish-language apologetics.
Jackie and Bobby Angel
Jackie and Bobby Angel are two former missionaries who fill their YouTube channel, Conversations With Jackie and Bobby, with chats with up-and-coming Catholic speakers about living the Faith in our culture.
They lean into the Catholic vision of sexuality and marriage, and thus discuss LGBTQ issues with same-sex-attracted speakers, along with chatting Theology of the Body with converts, and navigating having "The Talk" with parents.
They also talk about an amalgam of topics pertinent to Catholics living “in the world but not of it,” e.g., the morality of video games, full-time ministry, psychology, and theology of style.
Here, they talk to a member of one Family Theater Productions' favorite orders, the media-oriented Daughters of St. Paul:
Father Casey Cole, O.F.M.
Breaking in the Habit is run by Father Casey Cole, O.F.M. Franciscan priest and beer enthusiast. He posts about his personal experience living the Franciscan life. He also has series breaking down parts of the Mass, and on theological doctrines, like the Marian dogmas, and “7 Women Who Changed the Catholic Church.”
My personal favorite are his blogs, such as “Evangelizing at a Baseball Game” and “Asking Important Questions at RE Congress.”
He’s upbeat and funny, and his Instagram posts are just as clever. He makes being a religious look really fun: I definitely spent too long watching his Reels series “Did Pope Francis or Taylor Swift Say This?”
Image: Courtesy Father Casey Cole, O.F.M./Credit: Breaking In The Habit Media
Sophia Sariego is a Los Angeles native working in the pro-life movement. She loves Eucharistic Adoration, making music, and hitting the beaches in her spare time.
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