Father Mike Schmitz, one of the most popular priest-influencers on social media, brought his signature warmth and energy to a sold-out stop on his “Parables” tour at the Broward Centre for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale, where he encouraged audiences to rediscover the timeless message of Christ’s Gospel through the parables.
A priest of the Diocese of Duluth, Minnesota, Father Schmitz also serves as director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry and chaplain of the Newman Centre at the University of Minnesota Duluth.
Speaking about the challenges facing young people, he said many are searching for authenticity, looking for individuals and communities that truly live what they profess.
He pointed to widespread struggles with loneliness, anxiety and broken trust, arguing that the remedy is an overarching sense of Christian hope, which “is knowing that I can trust in God.”
Father Schmitz also reflected on the rise of artificial intelligence, echoing themes raised by Pope Leo XIV in his first encyclical. While acknowledging AI’s growing capabilities, he said some of life’s deepest questions can never be answered by technology alone, underscoring the enduring value of human dignity, faith and relationships.
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