The Catholic Church in America is young.
Compared to the ancient roots of Christianity in Europe and the Middle East, with their centuries-old cathedrals, saints, and sacred art, American Catholicism is still finding its position in the global Church. Pilgrims returning from Rome or the Holy Land often remark, “We just don’t have beauty like that here in America."
Yet while the Church in the United States may lack visible history and tradition, it possesses something uniquely its own. Entrepreneurial initiative and creativity, hallmarks of American culture, are proving to be gifts the Holy Spirit is using in powerful ways to build up the universal Church today.
This came into sharper focus when a friend forwarded to me an Instagram post from The Free Press promoting an article titled “How Catholicism Got Cool.”
The post quoted journalist Dan Hitchens:
“Catholics have turned out to be surprisingly good at using the internet to evangelize."
While perhaps unexpected, this development is deeply aligned with the Church’s mission. The Second Vatican Council urged the faithful to embrace modern means of communication to proclaim the Gospel. At the time, this referred mainly to film, radio, and print. But the Holy Spirit seemed to be preparing the Church for something greater: a global digital frontier.
Across social platforms, a growing number of American Catholic voices, including clergy, lay leaders, artists, educators, and bishops, are using digital media to present the faith with clarity, beauty, and joy. Their work reaches millions, often forming and inspiring people who may never set foot in a church yet are drawn in by a compelling message and the allure of sacred beauty.
This momentum accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic, which became an unexpected catalyst for digital evangelization.
While the world grappled with anxiety and isolation, mission-driven creators stepped up, transforming screen time into meaningful hours of podcast conversations, theological reflection, and prayer. Though the pandemic has passed, the hunger for hope remains, and Catholic voices continue to meet that need.
These creators each bring a unique gift to the Church’s mission.
Fr. David Michael Moses, a priest of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, reaches over a million followers with content ranging from lighthearted skits to profound theological reflections.
John Donahue’s Truth Charting project explores the heroic and adventurous legacy of Church history.
Lila Rose, founder of Live Action, uses her platform to champion the dignity of human life and host compelling conversations with leaders devoted to human flourishing.
Their voices are distinct, but all proclaim the same timeless truth at the heart of the Church.
Even Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope, has become a focal point on social media, not just among American Catholics, but within mainstream culture as well.
Secular media personalities, talk show hosts, and podcasters across the United States have taken notice of the Chicago-born pontiff following what many are calling the first true “social media conclave.”
Well-known content creator among Gen Z and host of the viral Views podcast, Chicago native David Dobrik, remarked in a recent episode, “He [the pope] wasn’t really prevalent in my life, and now I think it’s a really cool thing to have a guy from the United States—someone that I feel like will get through to me more.”
Alongside Catholic creators, Catholic apostolates in the United States have embraced digital evangelization.
Organizations like EWTN, Word on Fire, Ascension, Hallow, FOCUS, and the National Eucharistic Revival (among many others!) are producing global-reaching content—podcasts, video series, social media posts, prayer communities, and digital events—all designed for scaling access to the Good News.
One example is the impact of digital evangelization seen in ministries like the St. Michael Center for Spiritual Renewal, founded by Msgr. Stephen Rossetti, Chief Exorcist for the Archdiocese of Washington.
Focused on exorcism and deliverance, the center reaches thousands of souls through social media and its monthly online deliverance webinars. Each webinar draws tens of thousands of participants who join in healing prayers. Msgr. Rossetti frequently shares stories from people across the globe who have found spiritual healing through the guidance of this digital content.
Another example of digital devotion is the Bible in a Year podcast, hosted by Fr. Mike Schmitz and produced by Ascension.
The podcast topped global charts, not only in religious categories but across all genres. It revealed the world’s hunger for Scripture and showed that when the Word of God is offered with warmth and clarity, it resonates.
That same spirit was visible in the 2023 Eucharistic procession through Manhattan organized by the Napa Institute and led by Fr. Mike Schmitz.
Thousands gathered in person while tens of millions watched online. Social media feeds were flooded with posts from the event, and media outlets (everywhere from Italy to Australia) jumped on the story. What started as a local event in New York has grown into an annual event with global reach and impact.
America’s entrepreneurial spirit, paired with the power of the Holy Spirit, is fueling a Catholic digital renaissance. Faithful creators are harnessing modern media, and in His generosity and love, God is using it to accomplish His divine will.
Over the past three years, through my work supporting creators and apostolates on social media, I have seen this impact firsthand.
Again and again, I meet Catholics around the world who express gratitude for the content being produced in the United States. Whether in Israel or Ireland, they describe how it has deepened their faith and renewed their relationship with the Lord.
While the American Church may not have centuries of sacred tradition to draw from, we have been entrusted with a new kind of mission field: one that brings the Gospel and beauty to the digital continent.
So keep launching podcasts, sharing stories of encounter on TikTok, and building apostolates that prepare hearts and minds for the coming of the King.
The world is watching.