WOF 486: Celebrating 25 Years of Word on Fire

WOF 486: Celebrating 25 Years of Word on Fire

Author: Bishop Robert Barron April 21, 2025 Duration: 41:09

Word on Fire is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. That's twenty-five years of proclaiming the Gospel, evangelizing the culture, and working hard to bring people to—or back to—Christ and his Church. It's worth pausing to look back to remember where it all began and how the ministry has grown along the way. What is Word on Fire's origin story? When, where, and why did Bishop Barron—then Fr. Barron—first conceive of the idea to found Word on Fire? What were the early years like? What have been some major developments along the way? What obstacles were encountered, what lessons learned? And what does the future look like for the next five, ten, and even fifty years?

A listener asks how he might be able to become a part of the Word on Fire religious order. 

00:00 | Introduction
01:22 | Minnesota bishops visit state capital
02:55 | A brief look at Bishop Barron's early priestly life
06:18 | Bishop Barron's cathedral project
06:58 | Word on Fire's beginning
09:49 | Beginning the Catholicism series
11:24 | Cardinal Francis George
14:30 | Early days with Fr. Steve Grunow
15:41 | Reddit's "Ask Me Anything"
18:48 | Sunday Sermons
23:22 | Bishop Barron Presents
25:45 | The Word on Fire Show
27:07 | Public speaking events
28:32 | Speaking at Google and Facebook
29:57 | Expanding into the United Kingdom
31:17 | Word on Fire's Institute and Publishing
33:58 | The Word on Fire Bible
37:08 | Looking into the future
38:32 | A message to donors
39:17 | Listener question: How can I join Word on Fire's Third Order?
40:35 | Join the Word on Fire Institute


NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a Word on Fire IGNITE member! Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners . . . like you! So become a part of this mission and join IGNITE today to become a Word on Fire insider and receive some special donor gifts for your generosity.


Each week, The Word on Fire Show-Catholic Faith and Culture offers a thoughtful conversation with Bishop Robert Barron. This podcast explores the rich intersection of belief with contemporary life, examining everything from art and philosophy to current events and personal spirituality through a Catholic lens. Listeners will find deep dives into theological concepts, reflections on scripture, and discussions on how ancient wisdom addresses modern challenges. The tone is engaging and accessible, designed for anyone curious about the deeper questions, whether they are longtime in their faith or simply exploring. Bishop Barron brings his distinctive perspective as a theologian and communicator to these dialogues, making complex ideas relatable. It’s a space for meaningful exploration, where faith is presented as a compelling force for understanding our world and our place within it. New episodes arrive weekly, continuing a long-running series of insightful commentary and analysis.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The Word on Fire Show - Catholic Faith and Culture
Podcast Episodes
WOF 503: Our Call to Radical Self Gift [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:59
Bishop Barron gave a Jubilee address in Rome recently to Irish pilgrims in which he looked at the great Old Testament figures and examined what it looks like to be called out of one's self into radical self gift. Enjoy.…
WOF 502: The Meaning and Purpose of Beauty (Part 1) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:41
This week we bring you the first half of a recent discussion between Managing Editor of the Word on Fire Evangelization & Culture Journal, Dr. Tod Worner, and Bishop Barron. The two discuss the meaning, purpose, and obje…
WOF 501: Christ's Real Presence in the Eucharist [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:14
Today, we're listening to a talk Bishop Barron gave within one of his classic study programs, the Eucharist series. He addresses Christ's Real Presence in the Eucharist. Enjoy. Link: Word on Fire Institute: https://insti…
WOF 500: Catholic Social Thought in the Age of AI [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:51
In taking the name Pope Leo XIV, the new pope has signaled that the Church finds itself in an era marked by tumultuous social change. The question remains whether the Catholic social thought of his predecessor Leo XIII's…
WOF 499: Four Culminating Themes of the Bible (Part 2) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:42
We bring you the second half of Bishop Barron's keynote address at this year's inaugural international Evangelisation & Culture conference in London. In the first half, Bishop Barron focused on the first two of four them…
WOF 498: How to Strengthen Catholic Identity in Catholic Schools [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:03
If Catholic schools are already Catholic, why would they need to become more so? The unfortunate reality, however, is that some Catholic educational institutions are not living up to their name. As some frustrated parent…
WOF 497: Four Culminating Themes of the Bible (Part 1) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:02
Earlier this year, we hosted Word on Fire's first international Evangelisation & Culture conference in London, at which Bishop Barron gave the keynote address. He focused on four themes of the Bible, examined the themes…
WOF 496: The Evangelical Power of the Nicene Creed [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:56
The Nicene Creed was written 1,700 years ago and is one of the earliest summations of the core doctrinal beliefs of the Christian faith. We continue to recite it to this day at almost every Sunday Mass. Yet despite its f…
WOF 495: The Bigger Story of the Bible with N.T. Wright (Part 2) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:43
Today we bring you the second half of a conversation between Bishop Barron and biblical scholar, N.T. Wright, at Word on Fire's recent Evangelisation & Culture Conference in London. We hear the conclusion of the conversa…
WOF 494: What to Expect from a Pope Leo XIV Papacy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:40
On May 8, 2025, the college of cardinals stunned the world by electing Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, a native of the South Side of Chicago, as our new pope. What kind of papacy should we expect from this American pope…