[Exton, PA – February 23, 2026] The Museum of the Bible has awarded its prestigious Pillar Award for Narrative to Jeff Cavins and Fr. Mike Schmitz, recognizing the global impact of Cavins’ The Bible Timeline® learning system and its worldwide reach through the chart-topping The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)® podcast.
Jeff Cavins gives a moving acceptance speech at Museum of the Bible’s 2026 Pillar Award Gala.
Jeff Cavins and Fr. Mike Schmitz are honored at Museum of the Bible’s 2026 Pillar Awards in the Narrative category.
The award was presented at the Museum of the Bible’s 2026 Pillar Award Gala in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 20, where Cavins accepted the honor on behalf of both himself and Fr. Mike. The Pillar Award recognizes individuals who bring Biblical stories to life through cultural media and whose work reflects the museum’s pillars of History, Narrative, and Impact. Cavins and Fr. Mike are the first Catholics to receive this distinction.
“It isn’t our own skill or cleverness, but the Word of God that transforms the human soul,” said Cavins in his acceptance speech. “God has a wonderful plan for every one of our lives. Your story is in His story, and that [truth] changed my life. We are very honored for this award.”
Jeff Cavins and Ascension President & CEO Jonathan Strate with the Narrative Pillar Award at the 2026 Pillar Awards ceremony.
A Framework That Transformed How Catholics Read the Bible
Long before The Bible in a Year became a global podcast phenomenon, Cavins developed The Bible Timeline in the 1990s, first presenting it on EWTN before Ascension published the program in the early 2000s. Today, it is the most popular Catholic Bible study of all time. For more than three decades, the program has helped Catholics understand Scripture not as a collection of disconnected books, but as one unified story of God’s saving plan. Using a color-coded system centered on 14 key narrative books, The Bible Timeline makes the overarching story of salvation history clear and approachable.
Serving as the foundation for The Great Adventure Bible studies and The Great Adventure Catholic Bible, The Bible Timeline has been implemented in parishes, dioceses, and small groups, reaching hundreds of thousands of people worldwide. In 2025, Ascension released a newly filmed edition on location in the Holy Land, Egypt, Rome, and beyond, bringing fresh energy and cinematic visuals to the award-winning program for a new generation of learners.
From Parish Study to Global Podcast Phenomenon
Building on the enduring framework of The Bible Timeline, Cavins partnered with Ascension and Fr. Mike to bring it to millions worldwide through The Bible in a Year. The podcast debuted at #1 on Apple Podcasts across all categories—an unprecedented achievement for a Catholic program—and returned to the top of the charts again in 2022.
Now celebrating its 5-year milestone, The Bible in a Year remains the most successful religious podcast in the world. The podcast remains a consistent presence in the Top 40 shows overall and is approaching one billion total downloads worldwide and has been adapted into Spanish, Malayalam, Hungarian, and Slovak—bringing God’s Word and Cavins’ The Bible Timeline to listeners across the globe.
“I never knew the story of salvation like I know it now until Jeff Cavins taught me The Bible Timeline,” said Fr. Mike. “If you’ve gone through The Bible in a Year or just want to know the Bible better, I don’t know of a clearer, simpler, or easier way to grasp the overarching story of salvation. This teaching from Jeff Cavins changed my life for the better.”
To learn more about The Bible Timeline, visit www.AscensionPress.com/BTL.
To join The Bible in a Year, download the free reading plan at www.AscensionPress.com/BIY and listen free on the Ascension app, YouTube, and all podcast platforms.
About The Bible in a Year
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)® is the world’s #1 religion podcast. Since its 2021 debut, listeners worldwide have been guided through the entire Catholic Bible in 365 daily episodes using The Great Adventure Bible Timeline learning system. With nearly one billion downloads and over 50,000 five-star reviews on Apple Podcasts, The podcast has transformed how Catholics engage with Scripture and sparked a global movement of daily Bible reading. See press kit here.
About Jeff Cavins
Jeff Cavins is recognized both nationally and internationally as one of the most effective and engaging speakers in the Church today. Over the past several decades, Jeff has been a leading figure in Catholic media and dedicated his life to developing The Bible Timeline®, a practical, interactive program that helps people read the “big picture” of God’s plan of salvation in Sacred Scripture and understand its meaning for their lives. Click here to see full author biography.
About Fr. Mike Schmitz
Father Mike Schmitz is a Catholic priest of the Diocese of Duluth and one of the most trusted voices in Catholic media today. Host of the #1 religion podcast The Bible in a Year, Father Mike has guided millions of listeners through Scripture with his approachable teaching style and genuine passion for helping people encounter Jesus. Click here to see full author biography.
About Museum of the Bible
Museum of the Bible is an apolitical, non-sectarian organization that invites all people to engage with the transformative power of the Bible. Located just three blocks from the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., the stunning 430,000-square-foot museum showcases rare and fascinating artifacts spanning 4,000 years of history and immersive experiences exploring the Bible. In addition to its educational programs, exhibits and experiences, Museum of the Bible hosts the beautiful 480-seat World Stage Theater. To learn more, visit MuseumoftheBible.org.
About Ascension
Ascension is a multimedia network and the leader in Catholic faith formation and digital content. Over the past 25 years, Ascension has helped nurture the faith of over 20 million Catholics through award-winning books, the chart-topping Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)® podcast, more than 50 unique faith formation programs, and the Ascension Presents YouTube channel and Ascension app.
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