Several years ago one of our good friends Amanda Anderson who is now Sr. Amanda with the Religious Sisters of Mercy in Alma, Michigan used to work for an amazing Catholic organization called FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students) as a FOCUS Missionary.
Each year FOCUS puts on powerful Catholic conferences for college students all around the country which is where Amanda first heard Fr. Mike Schmitz speak. I'll never forget when Amanda called Johnny and I to tell us about this amazing priest and how we have to bring him in for ICYC (which we have now tried for the last four years).
At that time, we had never heard of Fr. Mike but began to google him and found some videos of his homilies and then discovered that he podcasts his homilies each week. So, for the past several years we've been listening to his homilies, often times several a week.
For me, my favorite time to listen to them is when I am on the elliptical at the gym. I have to listen to music when I'm running, but the elliptical is perfect for listening to his homilies. Often times I find myself laughing (almost hysterically) and at other times I've been in tears, but never-the-less with each homily I find myself inspired, challenged and motivated to grow in holiness and to grow closer to our Lord. You can only imagine how excited I was to be able to meet Fr. Mike at the Steubenville NW Conference earlier this summer!
Last week, while meeting with some teens down at the church we played this Fr. Mike homily for the group and then discussed it. It was powerful and all I can say is that after watching this homily, receiving the Eucharist for me went to an entirely new level.
I hope and pray that each of you will give yourself 26 minutes to watch this homily. I promise you that these 26 minutes will change you.
Plus this will count as one of your three homilies for the challenge this week. Enjoy!
