[Exton, PA – November 1, 2025] — Fr. Mike Schmitz, host of the chart-topping podcast The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)® and popular presenter in the Ascension App, has announced a brand-new Advent series Waiting Well that will begin on November 30, where he’ll share 26 daily, 5-minute video reflections leading up to Christmas Day.
“The stats show that we spend up to several years of our lives waiting,” said Fr. Mike in the Waiting Well trailer video. “Waiting in line, at red lights, waiting while friends and family get ready—We’re just constantly waiting. And instead of embracing those times of waiting, what do we do? We worry, we get anxious, and perhaps most of all, we check out and get lost scrolling on our phones.”
Building on the success of last year’s Advent series, Face to Face, each daily episode of Waiting Well will feature a reflection from Fr. Mike that unpacks the Daily Mass reading of the day, as well as scripture verses, Catechism excerpts, and thoughtful reflection questions that will help viewers go deeper and get the most out of the Advent season.
In the series trailer, Fr. Mike shares why he thinks ‘waiting’ is an important topic for Catholics in the modern world.
“There is a spiritual importance to waiting that we often miss,” he said. “In fact, waiting is so important that God gives us entire seasons of waiting—Lent and Advent—as a way to help shape us and to help us realize where in our lives we are still waiting to let Jesus in. But in order to be truly open to God in this way, we have to learn to embrace times of waiting.”
Fr. Mike’s weekly homily videos during Advent will be a part of the Waiting Well series and will be available for free on YouTube. However, Fr. Mike’s daily reflection videos will only be available in the Ascension App with a subscription or a free trial. To allow as many people as possible to experience this life-changing content, the Ascension App is offering new customers a 7-day free trial or a 90-day trial for only $4.99.
To watch the trailer for Waiting Well: Advent with Fr. Mike Schmitz, download the free prayer plan, and learn more about the series, visit www.AscensionPress.com/FrMikeAdvent.
The Waiting Well print journal helps parishes and small groups experience Advent together.
This year, Fr. Mike’s Waiting Well video reflections are paired with the Waiting Well print journal for individuals, parishes, and small group study. It’s designed to help readers slow down for 10 or 15 minutes a day during the Advent season as they prepare to meet Christ in the manger.
Each day you’ll find:
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A Word and a Scripture Verse: Focus on a single word and Scripture verse each day to pray with and set the tone of each meditation.
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A Reflection: Read a short, powerful reflection and meditate on Scripture.
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A Prompt: Write down your thoughts and insights as our Lord speaks to you this Advent.
You can purchase the Waiting Well Journal this Advent for your parish or small group and take advantage of special bulk-purchase discounts by visiting www.AscensionPress.com/WaitingWell, or you can purchase the journal for yourself by visiting https://AscensionPress.com/products/waiting-well-advent-with-fr-mike-schmitz.
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. He serves as chaplain at the University of Minnesota Duluth, where he has ministered to college students for over 15 years. Through his work with Ascension, including The Catechism in a Year and Ascension Presents, Father Mike continues to make Catholic teaching accessible to audiences worldwide. His message is simple: faith isn’t just something we believe—it’s something we live.
About Ascension
Ascension is a leading Catholic media company with nearly two decades of experience in digital evangelization and content production. Home to bestselling Catholic resources and top-ranked podcasts including The Bible in a Year and The Catechism in a Year, Ascension has been collaborating with Father Mike Schmitz for over ten years across numerous high-impact projects. Through their multimedia platform, publishing house, and educational programs, Ascension reaches millions of people worldwide, making Catholic teaching accessible, engaging, and transformative. Their mission is to inspire and equip Catholics to live their faith with confidence and joy, meeting people wherever they are in their spiritual journey.
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