John Riccardo

John Christopher Riccardo (born June 11, 1965) is an American Roman Catholic priest, author, syndicated radio host, and speaker. He is the founder and executive director of ACTS XXIX Mobilizing for Mission, a nonprofit apostolic initiative focused on evangelization, renewal of the Church, and proclaiming the gospel in contemporary culture. He is also known for his preaching, podcasts, and media resources that aim to mobilize the faithful for mission.

Early life and Education

John Riccardo was born June 11, 1965, in Birmingham, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit, to John and Thelma (nee Fife) Riccardo. He is the youngest of five children. His father, John Joseph Riccardo, was president, chairman, and chief executive officer of the Chrysler Corporation (1975-78). His grandfather, D. Lyle Fife, was a successful businessman and president and co-owner of the Detroit Lions, a professional American football team, from 1948-1963. Riccardo attended Holy Name Elementary and Shrine of the Little Flower High School in Royal Oak, Michigan. He studied at the University of Michigan, earning a bachelor’s degree in English and Communications in 1987. He later pursued graduate studies in theology and philosophy at the Gregorian University in Rome and completed his licentiate in Sacred Theology at the Pope John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family in Washington, D.C., in 2001.

Priesthood

Riccardo was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Detroit in 1996 by Cardinal Adam Maida. He served as associate pastor at Divine Child Parish in Dearborn, Michigan, from 1996-1999. In 2001, he was appointed Director of the Cardinal Maida Institute at the St. John Center for Youth and Family in Plymouth, Michigan. He then served in various parish assignments, most notably as pastor of Our Lady of Good Counsel in Plymouth, Michigan, from 2007-2019, where he established a national reputation for dynamic preaching and parish renewal initiatives.

ACTS XXIX Mobilizing for Mission

In 2019, Riccardo founded ACTS XXIX Mobilizing for Mission, an international nonprofit apostolic initiative based in Detroit, Michigan, comprised of both lay and ordained missionaries partnering with dioceses, parishes, and apostolic movements to unleash the power of the Gospel and equip lay and ordained Catholic leaders in order to mobilize the Church for mission. Under Fr. Riccardo’s leadership, ACTS XXIX has been active in scores of dioceses and parishes across the United States and around the world. The organization’s name references the 29th chapter of Acts of the Apostles (Sacred Scripture contains only 28 chapters), symbolizing the continuation of the mission of the early Church in the modern era. ACTS XXIX produces media content, books, and conferences, ministers to clergy and seminarians, leads intensive workshops for Church leaders. Most notably, ACTS XXIX created The Rescue Project, a multimedia small-group experience designed to proclaim the gospel in a compelling and attractive way. The Rescue Project has been translated into 5 different languages and is currently active throughout the United States and in more than 30 countries around the world.

Media and Publications

While serving as a diocesan priest in the Archdiocese of Detroit, Riccardo was invited by Ave Maria Catholic Radio in Ann Arbor, Michigan, to develop a program focused on catechetical teachings of the Catholic Church. In 2002, Ave Maria premiered Christ Is the Answer, and soon after Riccardo’s daily half-hour radio show was picked up by the EWTN network and distributed to a national audience. He is also the author of five books, including Heaven Starts Now (2016) and Rescued (2020), and has for the last two and a half decades been a pioneering leader in contemporary Catholic media evangelization. Riccardo is a frequent speaker at Catholic conferences and retreats. His preaching and talks often focus on evangelization, discipleship, and the healing power of Jesus Christ. He hosts several podcasts, including You Were Born for This. Averaging more than 30,000 downloads per month, You Were Born for This currently ranks in the top 2% of all podcasts in the United States. In July 2023, Hallow, the leading app for Christian and Catholic prayer, distributed ACTS XXIX’s 14-day “Rescue Challenge” that brought the power of the gospel message to more than 70,000 subscribers. In October 2025, Hallow produced “The Screwtape Letters Challenge,” narrated by Jim Caviezel with commentary provided by Fr. Riccardo and Msgr. Stephen Rossetti.

Books: · Heaven Starts Now: Becoming a Saint Day by Day (2016) · Rerouting: Finding Our Way Back to God (2018) · Rescued: The Unexpected and Extraordinary News of the Gospel (2020) · Learning to Trust from Mary: Meditations on the Rosary (2021) · Unshakeable Hope in the Midst of the Storm (2023)

Theological Emphasis

Riccardo’s preaching emphasizes the kerygma (the core proclamation of the gospel), the fatherhood of God, the identity of Christians as beloved sons and daughters, and the call to mission. He often frames the Christian life as participation in God’s rescue mission of humanity.

References

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