Show Notes
In this episode of Called, Fr. Mike Schmitz sits down with Kerry Robinson, President and CEO of Catholic Charities USA, for a powerful conversation about what it truly means to “walk with the poor.”
Kerry shares her remarkable lifelong journey of service — shaped by her family’s legacy of Catholic philanthropy, her early encounters with heroic witnesses of faith, and her vocational call to bring hope where it’s needed most. From her unexpected path into fundraising at Yale, to her leadership with Catholic Charities USA, Kerry reveals how answering God’s call often begins with simply refusing to look away from human suffering.
Together, she and Fr. Mike explore:
✨ What “vocational living” means and why it changes everything
✨ How Catholic Charities serves millions with dignity, mercy, and the heart of the Gospel
✨ The power of accompaniment and why presence matters as much as service
✨ How ordinary Catholics can begin helping the poor right where they are
✨ Why collaboration between clergy and laity is essential for the Church’s mission
✨ The deeper joy found in giving your life away in love
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If you have a question or a story of someone living out their calling to serve others, email [email protected].
More from Called (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
When disaster strikes, where do we find hope—and how does God call us to respond?In this episode of Called, Fr. Mike Schmitz sits down with civil engineer Tracy Kijewski-Correa, Director of the Pulte Institute for Global Development at the University of Notre Dame. Tracy shares her journey from building some of the world's tallest skyscrapers to studying structural disasters and helping vulnerable communities rebuild after catastrophic events.
In this episode of Called, Father Mike Schmitz sits down with Mark Rienzi, the President and CEO of the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty. Mark has led an extraordinary, unbroken string of landmark victories at the US Supreme Court—defending everyone from the Little Sisters of the Poor and Hobby Lobby to everyday parents and ministries. But his journey didn't start with massive victories. It started with a 13-year string of losses.
What does true hospitality look like? It’s more than hosting a dinner party or planning a great trip—it’s creating space for others to encounter love, joy, beauty, and ultimately, God.
What does it mean to answer God’s call—especially when it leads you somewhere unexpected?
What do you do when suffering hits your family—and there’s no cure?