ORLANDO  |  Downloaded more than 83 million times in the first year of its release, the Catechism in a Year with Father Mike Schmitz is introducing many Catholics to the Catechism of the Catholic Church for the first time. With the resurgence of interest in the Catechism three parishes across the Diocese are following up with Foundations of Faith: A Journey Through the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

Holy Family in Orlando, St. Mary of the Lakes in Eustis, and Holy Spirit in Mims are already engaged in the 20-session video-based study of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Released in April 2025 by Ascension, the program takes participants through the four pillars of the Catechism featuring insights from Dr. Edward Sri, Jeff Cavins, Dr. Marcellino D’Ambrosio, Father Mike Schmitz, and others.

A parishioner of Holy Family for almost 20 years, Sharon Branch teaches children going through the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults and has led small groups at the parish for the last five years. When looking for their next study, she “needed to find something with a lot of structure, that had a lot of information that (she) knew was reliable.”

Branch tries to select the studies in a democratic manner and consults with two trusted individuals who help facilitate group discussion and cover sessions when she is absent. They both “wrote to me in separate emails about Foundations of Faith. And, so to me, that was a sign from the Holy Spirit, and what we needed to do,” she said.

Many participate in the Mass at 8:30 a.m. before attending the study. Each session begins with time for fellowship and prayer, followed by a 30-minute video on the topic of the week and a period of small group discussion.

Branch explained the sessions equip participants with the skills and knowledge to engage in evangelization “to anyone who you encounter that doesn’t understand why the Catholics do what they do.” It empowers participants “to speak to them and not feel like, oh, well, I really don’t know the answers to all these questions.” She said being able to identify error and “knowing a way to kindly explain that that is not really true” empowers Catholics to confidently defend the faith.

Melissa Aguilar, a parishioner at Holy Family, agreed the information covered by the study will prepare participants to address real-world situations. “We need to learn (the catechism) because you can so easily get swayed by people who have an agenda.” By continuing to grow in understanding of Church doctrine, “we can bring it back to our family, our friends, this is what the Church teaches,” she said.

Monica Vega, catechetical director at St. Mary of the Lakes Parish, said she selected Foundations of Faith for the parish’s adult study group because she “thought it would be great for my candidates, for my catechumens, (and) my ongoing faith formation (group).” As the group progressed through different studies, participants would tell her, “Well, I never learned that. I was never taught that information, and I’d like to get to know the faith and the holes that I have, the gaps that I have in my understanding.”

“I thought it would fill a need, and it really did,” Vega said.

From its digestible breakdowns of Catholic dogmas defined by ecumenical councils throughout the centuries to its exploration of locations key to Catholic history, the study has prompted intellectual and spiritual growth. Vega commended the study’s format, saying, “It’s well structured. It’s easy for them to follow.”

Vega shared the participants have become good friends and their fellowship has inspired them to get more involved at the parish. “Coincidentally, we had a parish ministry fair in the middle of (the study). So, people were signing up and getting excited for different things, so that’s the fruit. They’re just becoming more of a community.”

The fruit borne from the study includes participants receiving the sacraments, converts getting stronger in their faith, deeper recollection in prayer, and the creation of a genuine, supportive community. After the success of the study, Vega looks forward to going through it again with another group. “I’m sure I’ll be using it again in the future.”

Chris McCormick, director of faith formation at Holy Spirit Parish, has been leading Bible studies at the parish for almost 17 years. He said the Catechism “has always been a reference book for previous studies, rather than something to read like the Bible to understand their faith better.” After looking for a newer study with high production value, he chose Foundations of Faith for the parish’s next study.

Gary Zielanski, a parishioner at Holy Spirit, was drawn to the course because he had never read through the entire Catechism before. “The idea of a course, walking through (the Catechism) as opposed to just trying to sit down and read it solo was definitely appealing,” he said.

As he progressed through the study, Zielanski recognized that he had gained “a much better feel of the Catechism.” He is now more comfortable using the Catechism and sees it as a living document with “a lot of things you could take away from it and a lot of value and things to help your walk.”

“Before this course, I thought that it was just going to be sort of like dry rules,” he said.

McCormick reported strong attendance at the sessions, which are offered after daily Mass on Monday evenings and Thursday mornings.

“The group discussions have been continuing longer than in previous studies,” McCormick said, a sign that participants are actively engaging with the material covered.

After going through the study, McCormick believes that participants “have developed a stronger desire to read and understand the (Catechism). Some of our participants had previously attempted the Catechism in a Year and now have a renewed interest in attempting that again.”

McCormick also sees the study as a possible tool to help catechumens explore and understand the basic tenets of the Catholic faith.

The wisdom shared from participants of all ages has been “pretty amazing” according to longtime parishioner Susan Grudzinski, of the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites. “We have a group of people who really want to be studying this… they’re showing up and, consequently, they’re contributing.” She credited Father Andrew Wojtan, pastor of Holy Spirit, with building a community that strengthens one another and takes the practice of their faith seriously.

Grudzinski recounted that Father Wojtan, a frequent attendee of the sessions, shared with the group helpful recommendations about how to take what they learned during the section on prayer and apply it to their own lives during the season of Lent. “It’s giving us the opportunity to look more deeply into what we’re doing, (and) to hear from other people as to what they’re doing,” Grudzinski said.

By Lucas Blackwell, Special to the Florida Catholic, February 12, 2026