3rd podcast to top the Apple charts from Ascension
Ascension has released a third instant-hit podcast, securing the #1 spot in all categories on the Apple charts, surpassing shows like The Joe Rogan Experience, Dateline, and The Daily. The Rosary in a Year (with Fr. Mark-Mary Ames, CFR) is a sequel to Ascension’s 2021 breakout hit, The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)®, and 2023’s The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)®, both of which have maintained the #1 position on the Apple Podcast charts for a combined total of 37 weeks days.
The Rosary in a Year is currently ranked #1 in all categories on Apple Podcasts and has held the #1 position in Religion & Spirituality since December 30, 2024. It has already garnered hundreds of thousands of downloads.
The Rosary in a Year made a splash in November as the #6 Top New Show on Apple Podcasts during the week of its initial announcement (Associated Press).
“The world offers so much, but we want God,” explains podcast host Fr. Mark-Mary Ames, CFR. “In 1979, when the newly-elected Pope John Paul II was returning to communist-controlled Poland for the first time as the Holy Father, in response to his words, the crowd of over 1 million people cried out, ‘We want God! We want God! We want God.’ I can’t help but see this cry being echoed by the millions of people who have participated in Bible in a Year, Catechism in a Year, and now Rosary in a Year.”
“The success of our podcasts reflects a growing desire in our culture to seek spiritual connection and purpose,” notes Ascension President and CEO, Jonathan Strate. “Being at the top of the charts once again is a testament to the hard work of our team in leveraging digital media to reshape how people engage with Catholic content.”
Introducing New “in a Year” Podcast Host: Fr. Mark-Mary Ames, CFR
Rosary in a Year host Fr. Mark-Mary Ames, CFR, is a leading figure in Catholic media, well-known for his weekly videos on the Ascension Presents YouTube channel, including the channel’s 2 most popular videos of all time: a Divine Mercy Chaplet prayer video with 7M views and a Rosary prayer video with 5.3M views.
Fr. Mark-Mary’s love for—and expertise in—prayer, is precisely why Ascension was excited to green light the Rosary in a Year concept that Fr. Mark-Mary had first sketched out in a December 2021 Ascension Presents YouTube video. In that original video, the Bronx-based priest had given his audience a 10-minute rough sketch of how they could spend a year diving deeply into the prayers of the Catholic rosary. With the launch of The Rosary in a Year, Fr. Mark-Mary will be able to actually accompany his listeners through all 365 days of that prayer plan.
“The Bible In a Year” Podcast: #1 Global Podcast in Religion
The Rosary in a Year follows in the footsteps of Ascension’s The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)® which has been the #1 global podcast in religion since its 2021 debut. It was was the #5 most-shared show on Apple Podcasts in 2024 in all categories, and is the most successful Catholic podcast of all time. As of this writing, The Bible in a Year is #7 in All Categories on Apple Podcasts.
The Rosary in a Year (with Fr. Mark-Mary Ames, CFR) is Ascension’s 3rd “in a Year” podcast in this brand family, and the 5th across all languages:
“In a Year” podcasts from Ascension have been #1 on Apple for a combined total of 39 days and counting.
As of this writing, Ascension owns 3 of the top 4 podcasts in Religion & Spirituality (Apple).