Word on Fire
Non-profit Catholic new media organization
FounderRobert Barron
Founding locationDes Plaines, Illinois, U.S.
Chief executive officerStephen Grunow
AffiliationsCatholic Church
Websitewordonfire.org

Word on Fire is a Catholic media organization founded by Bishop Robert Barron that uses digital and traditional media to introduce Catholicism to the broader world.[1] It rose to prominence through Barron's work as a priest engaging with new media, and has been noted as an effective model for sharing information about Catholicism to the public.[2]

Media formats

Barron initially worked through radio and television, hosting the Word on Fire radio show on Relevant Radio and the Word on Fire with Father Barron television show on WGN America. Barron eventually expanded to online distribution through social media, and is active in distributing videos on YouTube.[3] In addition to this, Word on Fire distributes media, such as DVDs and books, for individual and group study.[citation needed]

In 2025, Word on Fire was selected, along with Ascension Press, to be one of two publishers for the 2nd American edition of the Liturgy of the Hours.[4]

Catholicism series (2011)

In 2011, Word on Fire published Catholicism, a ten-part video documentary series that explores the cultural, spiritual, and historical elements of Catholicism.[3] Offered on DVD, the series was also broadcast on PBS stations, prompting PBS's ombudsmen to issue a statement clarifying to the public that it was neither distributed by PBS nor produced using PBS funding, the latter of which was expressed as a concern by PBS viewers.[5]

The series has received much praise from figures like papal biographer George Weigel, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, and Cardinal Francis George for its effort in pursuing the new evangelization in the modern world.[6]

See also

References

  1. ^ Knight, Chris (September 26, 2016). "Thousands of Catholics converge on Lake Placid". Lake Placid News. Archived October 18, 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  2. ^ Allen, John L. Jr. (19 August 2016). "What clergy are hearing from Francis: 'Presence, mercy and service'". Crux. Archived 20 August 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  3. ^ Kisken, Tom (19 November 2015). "New regional bishop goes viral as social media star". Ventura County Star. Archived 25 September 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  4. ^ Orendain, Simone (2025-10-08). "2 Catholic outlets to publish Liturgy of the Hours edition". Retrieved 2025-10-09.
  5. ^ Getler, Michael (14 October 2011). "Catholicism: A Religion, but NOT a 'PBS' Series". PBS Ombudsman. Archived 6 December 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  6. ^ Barron, Bishop Robert. "CATHOLICISM 10th Anniversary Online Screening Event". catholicismseries.com. Archived 10 August 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2020-08-15.

YouTube channels