In this episode of Called, Fr. Mike Schmitz is joined by Catholic author and speaker Elizabeth Santorum Marcolini to share powerful stories of faith and radical trust in God. Elizabeth reflects on her sister Bella and her daughter Zelie—two lives that reveal the beauty, dignity, and purpose of every human person. Together, they explore Catholic social teaching, the meaning of mercy, and why love always requires sacrifice. This conversation offers hope to parents facing difficult diagnoses, encouragement to families caring for loved ones with special needs, and a reminder that Jesus does not call us to sufficiency—but to surrender. As Jesus teaches in Matthew 25, when we love the most vulnerable, we love Him.
Our Calling
Restoring the mission
The issues facing the Church today and the model built to meet them.
Transforming Communities
Invest in a thriving and sustainable Catholic Church
The Catholic Initiative is renewing the family of God by investing in and partnering with vibrant, but under-resourced parishes and schools to restore sacred places, amplify ministries, and sustain them for generations.
Who We Are
Invest in a thriving and sustainable Catholic Church
The Catholic Initiative is renewing the family of God by investing in and partnering with vibrant, but under-resourced parishes and schools to restore sacred places, amplify ministries, and sustain them for generations.