[Exton, PA – March 19, 2026] As the Church prepares to welcome thousands of new Catholics at Easter 2026, and as many more return to the pews with renewed faith, Ascension is releasing three distinct but complementary offerings designed to help Catholics better understand and more fully experience the Mass: a free teaching Mass video featuring Fr. Mike Schmitz, host of the #1 The Bible in a Year® podcast; a daily The Mass in a Month podcast hosted by author and theologian Dr. Edward Sri beginning May 1; and their new co-authored book, Pocket Guide to the Mass, available for purchase at www.AscensionPress.com/Pocket-Mass.
A Teaching Mass with Fr. Mike Schmitz — Available Today
Released today on YouTube, Fr. Mike’s The Catholic Mass Explained is a one-of-a-kind teaching Mass in which Fr. Mike walks viewers step-by-step through an entire staged Sunday liturgy, pausing to explain what is happening and why it matters.
“Catholics go to Mass every single Sunday and, yet, how many of us actually know what’s going on?” says Fr. Mike at the beginning of the video. “[Today] we want to walk through the Mass with you and actually show you not only why we do what we do, but how you can pray the Mass more powerfully.”
In approximately 40 minutes, viewers are guided through every detail of the Mass, from the use of Holy Water and the Sign of the Cross to the meaning of the Liturgy of the Eucharist and the powerful words of the consecration. The Catholic Mass Explained is free for anyone to watch at www.AscensionPress.com/Mass and on the Ascension Presents YouTube channel.
The Mass in a Month Podcast Hosted by Dr. Sri — Launching May 1st
Beginning May 1, Dr. Sri—creator of the best-selling A Biblical Walk Through the Mass—will host The Mass in a Month, a 31-episode podcast designed to walk listeners through every part of the Mass in bite-sized daily reflections. A free podcast available exclusively in the Ascension app, the series offers both foundational teaching and practical preparation for new and lifelong Catholics to fully participate in the Mass.
Reminiscent of Ascension’s popular “In A Year” podcasts, The Mass in a Month systematically guides listeners through every part of the liturgy, helping them know what to do, what to pray, and how to enter more deeply into the mystery being celebrated.
Those interested are encouraged to join the waitlist on the Ascension app and receive a free downloadable outline to accompany the podcast at www.AscensionPress.com/Mass.
Pocket Guide to the Mass — Available for Purchase Today
The brand-new Pocket Guide to the Mass is a deeper dive into the theology, structure, and Biblical roots of the Mass. Throughout the book, co-authors Fr. Mike and Dr. Sri guide readers to see the Liturgy not as a familiar ritual, but as a profound encounter with Christ.
“From the outside, it might seem like just a bunch of rituals: people standing, sitting, kneeling, crossing themselves, and reciting certain prayers in unison,” said Dr. Sri. “But the Mass invites us to look deeper… to encounter the profound invisible realities to which those sights, sounds, smells, and gestures are pointing.”
The Pocket Guide to the Mass is the latest addition to Ascension’s popular Pocket Guide collection. The book is perfectly designed to fit in a pocket or small bag, making it easy for Catholics to bring it directly into the pew with them as a companion for Mass.
The Pocket Guide to the Mass is available at www.AscensionPress.com/Pocket-Mass.
About the Authors/Presenters
Fr. 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, Fr. 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 the full author biography.
Dr. Edward Sri is a theologian, well-known Catholic speaker, author of several best-selling books, and host of the acclaimed Ascension podcast All Things Catholic. Together with Curtis Martin, Dr. Sri is a founding leader of the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS), of which he serves as senior vice president of Apostolic Outreach. Click here to see the full author biography.
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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