Ave Maria University Welcomes Fr. Mike Schmitz as 2024 Commencement Speaker

[@AveMariaUniversityFL]

We were so honored to have Fr. Mike Schmitz from Bible in a Year and Catechism in a Year here for graduation. So inspiring and feeling ready to go into the wilderness!

[@Ritabug34]

Amazing speaker! I hope he speaks again say in 2028?

[@dorishho3107]

😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅pppp0😊😊😊

[@dorishho3107]

😊

[@dorishho3107]

Llpp0​@@Ritabug34

[@JohnBrust]

May God’s blessings overflow for all of this year’s Ave Maria University graduates.... with full gratitude to the good and holy Fr. Mike Schmitz. 🤍🔥🙏🏻 I am praying for you all right now.

[@maryannlacey4044]

I’m always in awe of how Father Mike ties in everything so perfectly when there seems to be no connection. I never tire of listening to him and learning from him. ♥️🙏🏽

[@monicaswift-hjerrild]

I say this all the time, but honestly, Father Mike is God's personal cheerleader.

[@ruthortega5822]

For sure!! The best.

[@annenovak8426]

I’m 63 years old and chose motherhood and the workforce over college, this speech has inspired me! Thank you father Mike. You are such a blessing to this new generation. A true voice of faith and hope. You are certainly bush whacking through the desert before the promised land, leading us home❤

[@KnowLoveServeHim]

BEST commencement speech!! And I have listened to a bunch now! I have been married for almost 17 years, and am a mother of 8 kids. I needed to hear this! Thank you, Fr. Mike and thank you Ave Maria for inviting him to give this speech!

[@peteschmit5407]

What a remarkable speech..Thank you!!

[@gailconlon9507]

MAY GOD CONTINUE TO BLESS YOU ALWAYS! AMEN. 💗🎁🔥❤️🕊️🙏😘

[@juanitafano9564]

Fr Mike, I am your avid listener. In my 69 years , i just realized truly how good the Father is leaving me in wilderness to do bushwacking. Your speech made me see clearly what a tremendous beyond words how good is our Father. You are his instrument to make me see that. Thank you.

[@darmat6288]

Fr Mike deserves an honorary doctorate.

[@AveMariaUniversityFL]

We were able to give him one, which we are so thankful for!

[@carolosborn4435]

Father Mike, you are a blessing to all of us. I am 50 years beyond my college graduation and I needed to hear your works. Thank you.

[@kristinwannemuehler9757]

Easily the best commencement speech of them all in 2024.

[@kathywiens9852]

Another Excellent Catholic commencement speech. All praise and glory to God!🙏🙌🙏💝

[@susanparker767]

Amen 🙏🏼

[@laurah1028]

Vastly better than Butker.

[@gencodog4941]

This commencement speech is now #1.

[@juliathomas6256]

I'm way past college graduation yet this speech was just what I needed in my life right now. I realize now why God is challenging me... and I must have courage. Thank you Oh Lord for the inspiring words through Fr. Mike. Thank you Ave Maria for choosing Fr. Mike.

[@KathleenDimoff]

Fr. Mike is a gifted speaker. What a great commencement speech.

[@priscillaconlon3385]

As I listen to this commencement speech, my mom has just been admitted to Hospice at Home care and I am left with hope that after she goes home to God, I will able to attend Ave Maria University to work toward a Masters in Theology.

[@dorotheaivanovna9457]

May Holy Mary stand beside your dear mother and you in these difficult days. 🙏 ❤

[@priscillaconlon3385]

@@dorotheaivanovna9457 Thank you.

[@dorotheaivanovna9457]

@@priscillaconlon3385 When my sister was dying, a Chaplet of the Divine Mercy was spoken at her bedside just hours before she passed away peacefully. I believe this will help your mother to pass peacefully into the Nearer Presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. Praying for you now.

[@priscillaconlon3385]

@@dorotheaivanovna9457 Thank you so much for your prayers, they truly help. I have been saying the Chaplet of Divine Mercy since 2020 when I first encountered it, but now I say it with the intention of my mom's peaceful passing. The Doctors have said she may be in this twilight stage for a month or even a year so we are at home where she is most comfortable.

[@kathywiens9852]

I will include your mom in my Chaplet today.🙏🤲🙏💕💝

[@mikebolognese7134]

Who talks as fast as this great priest? No one. Only the folks who talk at the end of car commercials. Love him.

[@edenjohnson3342]

Yes indeed, this is so far the best of Commencement Addresses! Shows real scholarship! This bushwhacking continues till the end of life. This graduates are very very blessed!

[@ruthortega5822]

Father Mike, I have been following you for about 2 years now. I did the BIAY, the Cathechism in year once and am now doing it again. I have heard your wonderful homilies, masses, speaches and have just listened to the commencement speech. It brought me to tears, especially speaking about your mom. You have been so strong through her illness and her ultimate death. God bless you and keep you going strong in your ministry. I will listen to you until I can no longer do so. I must remember "one day at a time".

[@MarilynRussell-mk2gl]

Best commencement speech ever. What a great message. I was there. My grandson graduated and is entering seminary. Thank you Fr. Mike. I’ve shared this with many friends.

[@arcy5798]

As always Father was awesome! He is going to be in demand next graduation season!!!

[@alasanasilvia5605]

Beautiful, spiritual, amazing, this is the type of Commencement every graduating class needs. ❤️🙏🏼👏🏼

[@KarenBliss-wu8en]

Father Mike, You are an inspiration! You have given these young people (as well as us old folk) something to remember always. God's Blessings!🙏🙏🙏

[@barbarawalsh2875]

You never disappoint. I will see you in August. You are not old you aren’t even 50.

[@kimlersue]

It was in the wilderness that I found out how much God really loves us! "No pain...no gain."

[@carlkessler303]

Best commencement ever. Memorable and practical.

[@monicageller226]

Father Mike, that was outstanding. The bit about your mom’s cooking really touched my heart to the point of tears. Thank you for such a beautiful reminder that God wants more for us than we want for ourselves and hardship only makes us more resilient and allows us to grow closer to our heavenly Father

[@janeli_becerra]

I graduated from college 6 years ago and really needed to hear this 🤍

[@peggybruening4415]

Congratulations to the graduates of Ave Maria college, and God bless you, Fr. Mike, you are a treasure!

[@LucilleMedina-lw1xu]

Fr. Mike you are such an amazing speaker

[@nicoleashley90s]

Very good speech, Father Mike! Thank you for everything you do. Lucky kids!

[@esperanzagonzalezcoons]

Wonderful message for all to hear

[@katherinemanriquez8983]

Best speech ever, I wish I heard this at my graduation. Fr. Mike is awesome, so full of joy and the Spirit.

[@IrishTechnicalThinker]

I've been listening to Father Mike everyday on the Bible in a year podcast, he has helped me get closer to Jesus than ever and closer to my guardian angel. God bless him. He is brilliant.

[@reginakennekk7551]

Beautiful course I have done it twice

[@WidowOfWindsor]

Yes! So many gifts of sacrifices from so many. Thanks be to God for the gift of perseverance.

[@garyscott3413]

What a commencement speech. My wife and I established a nursing scholarship in my daughters name at Ave Maria. The lyrics of song Ave Maria: "Ave Maria, full of thanksgiving Maria, full of thanksgiving Maria, full of thanksgiving, Ave Ave God, Your God" Amen

[@irenehatton-ir1gs]

Awesome speech Father Mike! You are a blessing to us all! 😊

[@sheilasmith5114]

Fr. Mike is incredible. I love both the BIAY and CIAY. I also enjoy his mini videos about certain subject matters.

[@reginakennekk7551]

Excellent and remember this is A Man of God speaking to YOU❤

[@janelanzon6011]

Thank you Fr. Schmitz Excellent speech.

[@shj0792]

I I love this guy sooooooo much !!!!

[@bekind808]

God bless you Fr. Mike! Inspiring and beautiful words for all graduates throughout the world. 🙏🏽❤️🕊️🌈😘

[@JudyJoeLarson]

Thank you, AGAIN, Fr. Mike!

[@michelleharkness7549]

love ❤️

[@magdaannahandley5185]

God bless you From Anna in Australia

[@luciag4786]

I’ve been dreaming of going to this college for so long and now I want to go more!!

[@leticiap.pulley6211]

Wow what an inspiring speech for a commencement program. Lots of “food for thought “ to ponder

[@KarenBliss-wu8en]

Father Mike, Such an inspirational Graduation Speech! You gave us all something to remember always! God's Blessings!🙏🙏🙏

[@chuck1274]

May God continue to bless you, Father Mike.

[@joanholtzapple6854]

Amazing speech Fr. Mike, keep doing the work, the world needs it!

[@lillianodonnell4151]

Love is just showing up. Thank you!

[@helencorpuz2852]

God bless you Fr. Mike , great speech for all !

[@mariadgarza1685]

I just watched an awesome commencement speech! Amen father you said what every one of those students needed to hear. I pray that they understand what a blessing these words will be. Congratulations to Ave from Texas

[@KarenKoskoff]

St. Paul ch. 14! So inspiring! TY❤

[@smc4jmj1]

Father you always touch our hearts. God bless you. Thank you for your words always! 🙏🏼❤️

[@jmspegel]

My mom a stay at home, hated cooking and her food was dry and bland too. But…she constantly complained about it. So the fact you felt love through that was a gift.

[@17CW68fNv]

Great talk and full of wisdom! God be with you always, Fr Mike. Claire.

[@SJFF]

Bushwhacking - my new favorite word! In you Lord, I put my trust Psalm 25:1

[@janmlynarski5919]

Excellent speech!!

[@dariderfan]

Powerful message

[@cathykirk4112]

Great commencement speech

[@paulolewnik9110]

Amazing speaker!

[@Llpigeon48]

Wow Father Mike the send off we all need

[@CigarsNRoses]

Thank you Fr. Mike!

[@monicasalinas8024]

That was beautiful

[@marystermer5983]

Wow!

[@deniseg9047]

Fantastic commencement address!

[@allensenner7989]

Inspiring , great speech, Fr Mike !

[@joanhooper95]

Amen ❤️ 🙏

[@taliacarli4244]

Great!

[@treezmathew]

Excellent words

[@katheenrochefort9759]

So, so good and truely inspiring ! Thank you Father Mike!!!

[@MichaelBrinager]

Thank you father mike. You are truly blessed.

[@tanyavigneau9405]

Best speech I’ve ever heard. So good!

[@Dentistry-h2v]

Best speech Ever. May Gid bless u more❤️🌸

[@gailconlon9507]

DEAR FATHER MIKE YOU ARE SO Soooooo IN !!! LEADING IS YOUR BLESSING 💗🎁 🕊️🔥❤️😘

[@AngelaAbner77]

Amazing!!!❤

[@elperinasoswa6772]

Love you Father Mike ❤

[@Msebastian2010]

You are sooo good! Omg I’m blessed I get to listen to you

[@maureengeisinger1506]

AMEN ..wow

[@elisaportillo4314]

Beautiful speech, Father Mike 👏

[@yeni2307]

Thank you for sharing, so true😂😊❤

[@Eternallyhopeful7788]

So Very Good! ❤❤❤

[@jb.301]

your great

[@tinacook4976]

Profound message!

[@christinetuthill8249]

Excellent

[@Marcia811]

🕊🙏

[@sfh05004]

I certainly know exactly what he is describing when he talks about post-college life being a "wilderness." Being surrounded by people who are not even trying to serve God before themselves, particularly in the workplace, is just about the spiritual equivalent of Survivor, Naked and Afraid, etc. 🙏

[@peggybruening4415]

❤

[@partysimmons5032]

I needed to hear this today

[@britaahonen1489]

Ye of little faith, would I persevere and bring somebody abusive on a trek with me, Or know my abilities I'm capable of coming up with something,

[@britaahonen1489]

No, it's no panic, your not everyone else, Even if you've made it to your grad school or whatever you call it there,

[@edesgaro]

No hay intérprete ni subtítulos cómo soy Persona Sorda

[@crohunter100]

Better than Butker's speech

[@kathywiens9852]

I'd say different, but both excellent for Catholic universities. Wish it'd go viral like Butker's did. Lots to reflect on and take to heart.

[@britaahonen1489]

So, who is the winner here? Sorry, Which person actually wins here? It's maybe not what the artist would fund.

[@britaahonen1489]

It's normal that your standing there and the things aren't there because your standing there, Like, I know to don't stand there for example, This heaven your chasing is this more in your mind, that you can't see you've destroyed it?

[@christinegreenberg1145]

great speech....................shave that beard..............you're not 'old' but the beard ages you by at least 25 years..............

[@barbarawalsh2875]

Not a fan of this, but I see is a sloppy beard. It just kind of looks like he didn’t shave for a couple of days I expected since he was at a graduation speaking that he would be clean-shaven. But to each their own, I actually like his full beard during the winter. But I think he takes better care of it. I have no idea I’m not a fly on the wall just a guess thank God it doesn’t affect the way he speaks, or when he smiles because it just lights up the room even though I know they were outside.

[@britaahonen1489]

You can confuse this and just say 'get out of your house',..?

[@britaahonen1489]

Yeah but the flavours stink after years. My house smells like hospital food sometimes for a reason.

[@britaahonen1489]

So, you want to create me a new boss everyday?

[@britaahonen1489]

GET OUT OF YOUR HOUSE? TELL GOD, GET OUT OF YOUR HOUSE,...

[@britaahonen1489]

Today I only hear cors of bitterness from them, Or you could all ask them to leave please. It's your church not his.

[@chuckcarnell1160]

He's too ADHD for me!