Word on Fire

{{Infobox organization

| name = Word on Fire

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| logo = Word_on_Fire_logotype.png

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| founder = Robert Barron

| founding_location = Des Plaines, Illinois, U.S.

| type = Non-profit Catholic new media organization

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| leader_title = Chief executive officer

| leader_name = Stephen Grunow

| affiliations = Catholic Church

| website = {{URL|wordonfire.org}}

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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.{{cite web |last=Knight |first=Chris |date=September 26, 2016 |title=Thousands of Catholics converge on Lake Placid |url=http://www.lakeplacidnews.com/page/content.detail/id/525809/Thousands-of-Catholics-converge-on-Lake-Placid.html?nav=5079 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161018220452/http://www.lakeplacidnews.com/page/content.detail/id/525809/Thousands-of-Catholics-converge-on-Lake-Placid.html?nav=5079 |archive-date=October 18, 2016 |accessdate=14 October 2016 |website=Lake Placid News}} 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.{{cite web |last=Allen |first=John L. Jr. |date=19 August 2016 |title=What clergy are hearing from Francis: 'Presence, mercy and service' |url=https://cruxnow.com/analysis/2016/08/19/clergy-hearing-francis-presence-mercy-service/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160820200413/https://cruxnow.com/analysis/2016/08/19/clergy-hearing-francis-presence-mercy-service/ |archive-date=20 August 2016 |accessdate=14 October 2016 |website=Crux}}

Media formats

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.{{cite web |last=Kisken |first=Tom |date=19 November 2015 |title=New regional bishop goes viral as social media star |url=http://archive.vcstar.com/news/local/ventura/new-regional-bishop-goes-viral-as-social-media-star-24db0074-57a7-19a2-e053-0100007fb247-351946521.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160925182857/https://archive.vcstar.com/news/local/ventura/new-regional-bishop-goes-viral-as-social-media-star-24db0074-57a7-19a2-e053-0100007fb247-351946521.html |archive-date=25 September 2016 |accessdate=14 October 2016 |website=Ventura County Star}} In addition to this, Word on Fire distributes spiritual media, such as DVDs and books, for individual and group study.{{Cn|date=July 2021}}

''Catholicism'' series (2011)

In 2011, Word on Fire published Catholicism, a ten-part video documentary series that explores the cultural, spiritual, and historical elements of Catholicism. 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.{{cite web |last=Getler |first=Michael |date=14 October 2011 |title=Catholicism: A Religion, but NOT a 'PBS' Series |url=https://www.pbs.org/ombudsman/2011/10/catholicism_a_religion_but_not_a_pbs_series_t.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111206035248/https://www.pbs.org/ombudsman/2011/10/catholicism_a_religion_but_not_a_pbs_series_t.html |archive-date=6 December 2011 |accessdate=14 October 2016 |website=PBS Ombudsman}}

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.{{Cite web |last=Barron |first=Bishop Robert |title=CATHOLICISM 10th Anniversary Online Screening Event |url=https://catholicismseries.com/watch |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200810020533/https://catholicismseries.com/watch |archive-date=10 August 2020 |access-date=2020-08-15 |website=catholicismseries.com |language=en}}