About Fr. Mike Schmitz

Father Mike Schmitz is the chaplain for Newman Catholic Campus Ministries at the University of Minnesota Duluth. He also serves as the Director of the Office of Youth Ministry for the Diocese of Duluth.

At A Loss

I find myself facing situations where I just don’t know what to do.  I feel like I am out of my depth, but I have responsibilities and people still look to me to have an answer.  What am I supposed to do?

By |2025-01-09T19:25:04+00:00June 21, 2018|Ask Fr. Mike|Comments Off on At A Loss

Raising children in the world, not of the world

As a parent of young children, I want to raise my kids in the faith and help them navigate the world to make good decisions while they are still vulnerable/moldable so that when they grow up and are free to make their own decisions, they still continue to choose Christ. Obviously I cannot shelter them from everything or they will grow up being naïve but I cannot just let them be completely influenced by the world either. Any thoughts on how to let kids be a part of the world but not of the world?  

By |2025-01-09T19:25:58+00:00June 7, 2018|Ask Fr. Mike|Comments Off on Raising children in the world, not of the world

Saints are intense. Do I have to be that intense?

I read about the saints and how extraordinary they were. Some of them did really hard things like only getting a few hours of sleep and doing other painful things. I guess not all of them did outstanding things, but I feel like in order to become a saint I have to do something like not sleep for days or do penance all of the time. How can I be holy?

By |2025-01-09T19:26:49+00:00May 13, 2018|Ask Fr. Mike|Comments Off on Saints are intense. Do I have to be that intense?

Meaning of Suffering

I’ve been hurting a lot lately.  Not only physically, but emotionally and spiritually as well.  It seems like no matter what I do, nothing changes.  If God has been trying to teach me a lesson, I think I’ve learned it by this point.

By |2025-01-09T19:27:01+00:00May 9, 2018|Ask Fr. Mike|Comments Off on Meaning of Suffering

Fear of Sacrifice

I’m afraid of sacrifice.  Not that I am afraid of giving up stuff or letting go of what I need to let go of, but I am afraid of what God might possibly call me to sacrifice some day.

By |2025-01-09T19:27:22+00:00April 26, 2018|Ask Fr. Mike|Comments Off on Fear of Sacrifice

I am a burden to others.

I sometimes get overwhelmed by the burden I place on the people around me.  Even when people help me, I feel so guilty that I can’t stop apologizing.  Lately, my friends and family have told me that I apologize too much.  But isn’t that a good thing?

By |2025-01-09T19:27:34+00:00April 19, 2018|Ask Fr. Mike|Comments Off on I am a burden to others.