Ascension’s ‘Bible in a Year’ presented in Spanish

By Christine Bordelon
Clarion Herald

In less than 30 minutes a day, Latinos worldwide can go through the entire Bible in 2022. That’s because Ascension Press’ popular podcast, “The Bible in a Year,” is now offered in Spanish with Dominican Father Sergio Serrano and Father Dempsey Rosales Acosta as hosts.


“La Biblia en un Año” began Jan. 1.

“We saw this great opportunity to build off Bible in a Year’s success and how powerful it had been for the English-speaking community and wanted to offer that to the (fast-growing) Spanish-speaking community,” said Alejandra Garcia, Ascension associate product manager and a manager of Bible in a Year in English and Spanish.

The podcast is not a Spanish translation of Father Mike Schmitz’s and Bible scholar Jeff Cavins’ podcast in 2021. It presents new content from the Spanish hosts, although it follows the same reading plan, based on Cavins’ “The Great Adventure Bible Timeline Learning System.”

Father Serrano, who considers Cavins’ salvation history timeline a fantastic guide, takes Father Schmitz’s role and reads two or three Bible passages and gives fresh commentary daily. Father Dempsey is the guide who offers a historical introduction to each biblical period so listeners understand the context of the Scripture. He also will pop in podcasts occasionally to answer questions.

“The Bible is a daily gift that God wants to give each of us,” Father Serrano said, hoping listeners ask the Holy Spirit to open their hearts and minds to the words, so they receive what they need.


Father Dempsey is humbled to participate in the podcast and is optimistic that by listening to “La Biblia en un Año,” Catholics – who are not schooled in the Bible – discover the beautiful treasure we have. He said this oral tradition of hearing God’s word dates to Jesus. He thinks the joy of God’s words will change lives by changing hearts.

“Every time we hear the word of God, we become an echo for others,” Father Dempsey said. “God will resonate within us, and we begin to speak like God and echo his word like a boombox.”

Hosts were auditioned
Both hosts are native Spanish speakers. Father Serrano, originally from Colombia, is the director of the Archdiocese of New Orleans’ Hispanic Apostolate. He is a doctoral candidate in pastoral ministry at Barry University  in Miami and often speaks at conferences.

Father Dempsey Rosales Acosta, originally from Venezuela, is an adjunct professor of biblical theology and holds the Miller Endowed Chair of Catholic Studies at the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas. He has degrees in philosophy and education from the Universidad Católica Cecilio Acosta en Maracaibo, Venezuela, a bachelor of theology and doctorate in sacred theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, a degree in Biblical Sciences and Biblical Languages (S.S.L.) from the Pontifical Biblicum Institute in Rome.

Garcia said Ascension auditioned several Spanish-speaking hosts, asking them to pray about it. Putting the two together was providential.

“We ended up with Friar Sergio as primary host for several reasons,” she said. “He speaks Spanish fluently and has experience behind the microphone with his work in the Hispanic Apostolate. Most importantly, as director of the apostolate, he has a lot of experience working with the Hispanic community, helping them and meeting their needs. That passion of building up the Spanish Catholic community, his reading skills, charisma behind the microphone and sharing God’s word and helping Hispanics understand the word of God were the qualities that convinced us he was the right candidate. He obviously felt called to it, too.”


Father Serrano said he had been listening to the “Bible in a Year” podcast and when “Ascension discovered I was sending out a daily (audio and video Spanish) message, and they asked me to audition. They sent me chapters from the Bible and asked me to do commentary. They liked my reflections and delivery.”

Father Dempsey’s name was mentioned several times as Ascension searched for a Spanish-speaking priest with experience in Biblical studies to replace Cavins.

“What stood out to us about Father Dempsey was his expertise to be that trail guide to explain the context behind the readings,” Garcia said, hearing his name from the Juan Diego Network that is producing the Spanish podcast. “Without someone guiding you through it, you could easily get lost. He was also passionate about helping the Spanish community understand the richness of the Biblical scriptures.”

Ascension connected the two hosts a few times and found “natural chemistry,” Garcia said. “They both are very joyful, faithful and committed to the mission of the church.”

Top rated
As of Jan. 3, Ascension’s duo of Bible-focused podcasts (The Bible in a Year in English and Spanish) had snagged the No. 1 spot in “Christianity” in 47 different countries. It was voted the top podcast in religion and spirituality at the 2021 “The People’s Choice” podcast awards and has an average of 430,000 downloads daily.
 
“So many people listened last year, and they’ve inspired a whole new crowd to participate,” adds Jonathan Strate, president and CEO of Ascension, the Catholic multimedia network behind the show.

The podcast is distributed free in association with Ascension Catholic Faith Formation and Juan Diego Press on major podcast platforms such as YouTube, Apple podcast, Spotify and Google. So, it is meant for easy accessibility.

“I mainly want to communicate with Hispanics who don’t have access to Mass or participation in a parish group,” said Father Serrano, who thinks the Spanish podcast is timed perfectly, especially after two consecutive years of pandemic. “I think this is a moment of hope. The love of God goes beyond (the darkest moments of the church, world) and will help us go through 2022.”

“Just think if children see their parents listening to the Gospel every day,” Father Dempsey said. “People listen to TicToc, etc., why not the Bible?”

To register to receive “La Biblia en un Año” or to download the daily guides to follow, visit: https://ascensionpress.com/pages/biy-espanol-registration
 
[email protected]