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


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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 482: Bishop Barron Joins Catholic Voices Podcast (Part 1 of 2) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:46
Today we're bringing you the first half of a conversation that Bishop Barron had with Brenden Thompson during a trip to London. Brenden is Programme Manager of the Word On Fire Institute in the United Kingdom where he wo…
WOF 481: Bishop Barron on the Theology of Balthasar (11 of 12) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:13
Here is the eleventh lesson of Bishop Barron's lecture series on one of the most important and influential Catholic theologians of the twentieth century, Han Urs von Balthasar. As we journey through these lectures, we wi…
WOF 480: Are We Required to Love Everyone Equally? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:29
Are Christians required to love everyone equally? This question has recently become a matter of public and even political debate. So how should we answer? It seems necessary to ask what "loving thy neighbor" means in pra…
WOF 479: Bishop Barron on the Theology of Balthasar (10 of 12) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:30
We bring you the tenth lesson of Bishop Barron's lecture series on one of the most important and influential Catholic theologians of the twentieth century, Han Urs von Balthasar. We will come to understand his life, his…
WOF 478: Bishop Barron on the Theology of Balthasar (9 of 12) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:56
Today we continue with lesson nine on our walk through Bishop Barron's lecture series on one of the most important and influential Catholic theologians of the twentieth century, Han Urs von Balthasar. We will come to und…
WOF 477: 5 Ways Faith Can Free You from Anxiety & Depression [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:56
Depression and anxiety have exploded in the past decade in the United States, especially, though not exclusively, among young people. Tragically, anxiety and depression frequently contribute to suicide and suicide attemp…
WOF 476: Bishop Barron on the Theology of Balthasar (8 of 12) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:26
We continue our walk through Bishop Barron's lecture series with lesson eight on one of the most important and influential Catholic theologians of the twentieth century, Han Urs von Balthasar. We will come to understand…
WOF 475: How to Balance Work and Leisure [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:26
A debate has been raging on social media recently about the role work should play both in our individual and communal lives. One side argues that Americans are not only spending too few hours at work, but at a deeper cul…
WOF 474: Bishop Barron on the Theology of Balthasar (7 of 12) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:46
Today we present the seventh lesson of Bishop Barron's lecture series on one of the most important and influential Catholic theologians of the twentieth century, Han Urs von Balthasar. We will come to understand his life…
WOF 473: Why and How to Pray [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:08
What is the nature and purpose of prayer? The question may sound simple, but it unearths some complex philosophical and theological issues. If God is omniscient, what is the point of speaking with him, either out loud or…