Word_on_Fire Knowpia

Word on Fire
Founder	Robert Barron
Founded at	Des Plaines, Illinois, U.S.
Type	Non-profit Catholic new media organization
Chief executive officer	Stephen Grunow
Affiliations	Catholic Church
Website	wordonfire.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 edit

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 spiritual media, such as DVDs and books, for individual and group study.^{[citation needed]}

Catholicism series (2011) edit

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.^[4]

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.^[5]

References edit

^ Knight, Chris (26 September 2016). "Thousands of Catholics converge on Lake Placid". Lake Placid News. Archived from the original on 18 October 2016. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
^ Allen, John L. Jr. (19 August 2016). "What clergy are hearing from Francis: 'Presence, mercy and service'". Crux. Archived from the original on 20 August 2016. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
^ ^a ^b Kisken, Tom (19 November 2015). "New regional bishop goes viral as social media star". Ventura County Star. Archived from the original on 25 September 2016. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
^ Getler, Michael (14 October 2011). "Catholicism: A Religion, but NOT a 'PBS' Series". PBS Ombudsman. Archived from the original on 6 December 2011. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
^ Barron, Bishop Robert. "CATHOLICISM 10th Anniversary Online Screening Event". catholicismseries.com. Archived from the original on 10 August 2020. Retrieved 15 August 2020.