For readers curious about faith lived out on baseball diamonds, in parishes, and across continents, author Emily Koczela offers a window into Catholic life around the world. In this conversation, she shares how travel, family, and an the Ballpark Day of Faith inform her Very Young Catholic book series and inspire children to spot the sacred in everyday moments. Enjoy a Q+A with her below.
You’ve worshiped at Mass in more than two dozen countries and are now a mother of six and grandmother of fifteen. How have those experiences shaped the lens through which you tell children’s faith stories today?
I have spent thousands of hours with children between the ages of 7 and 12, which is the age group I write for. They are curious about everything, capable of understanding complicated ideas, and underserved as a group in terms of good materials for serious religious formation. I naturally gravitated to that group when I began to write.
What first nudged you to start the Very Young Catholic Project, and how did it grow from an idea into a globe‑spanning book series?
A good priest got up in the pulpit one day and reminded us that no matter what else the Church had done right or wrong over the centuries, we had, as a group, remained faithful to the Eucharist and Jesus’ command “Do this in memory of me.” Jesus also commanded us to go and teach all nations. I thought about writing a series that would show children that these two commandments really are being carried out daily, and have been for centuries. Catholics really are all around the world now. I researched locations in every part of the world, then set out to write about them to give people courage that other Catholics like them were getting up on Sunday morning and taking the kids off to Mass—from Iceland to Fiji, from Kenya to Kazakhstan.
How did you learn about Ballpark Day of Faith and why did you decide to include it in your book?
I don’t even remember how I first heard about the Day of Faith, but it had all the hallmarks of a good story. I try to include some sport in every book—a sport beloved or special to that country. The kids I’m writing about in the USA book are good athletes, particularly good baseball players, so baseball got into the book naturally. The Ballpark Day of Faith was a great angle on the sport plus the faith, and I was lucky that the whole leadership group was willing to let me feature it.
What was your favorite part of the Ballpark Day of Faith that you show in the book?
I loved writing about the nun who threw out the first pitch, and then the wild, crazy game‑winning finale with that great throw to home base. What an exciting game! I’m planning to be there this year, but there’s no way it can be that suspenseful every year.
For families planning to attend Ballpark Day of Faith this year, what tips would you give first‑timers—especially those bringing young children?
I would suggest that parents of young children sit near the bathrooms, and don’t feel you need to stay for nine innings. And if a picture book will help, maybe buy a copy of the new Very Young Catholics in the USA, which will be for sale at the Ballpark Day of Faith, and let them look at the pictures of the very same stadium where they are sitting! Kids love knowing that things in a book are real and can happen to them.
You’ve said the long‑term goal is a book set in every time zone, allowing children to “circle the globe” with their peers. What excites you most about that vision, and which time zone is up next?
Showing the universal Church to kids and their parents has been even more enchanting for everyone than I guessed at the beginning. Every kid LOVES seeing another kid their own age who is “just like me, Mom,” even though the other kid lives eight thousand miles away and has a different culture. Whenever I get a letter like that from a kid or a parent, I rejoice that I’m nurturing the love of Christians for each other. I’ve gotten a long way toward finishing the 24 books of the series. I’m working on book #19, about Mexico. I’ve just gotten home from the Philippines, which will be book #20, and I’m setting up for #21 on the island of Huahine in the eastern Pacific. The families and teachers using these books really wanted all seven continents, so I am headed to Antarctica in March 2026.
Many readers (kids and grown‑ups!) say your books prompt them to notice the “Catholic moments” in their own ordinary lives. What new everyday‑faith moments are you hoping to spotlight in future editions or companion resources?
I would love for other countries to copy the Ballpark Day of Faith in their own favorite sport. There are Catholics all over the world who are crazy sports fans—wouldn’t it be great to have a Ballpark Day of Faith for a football (soccer) game in Argentina or Brazil? And a cricket game in Australia? Any sport, anywhere! It could be joyous and vibrant.
What is the biggest theme and lesson you’ve taken away from your writing adventures?
I have gained enormous respect for the faithful missionaries and priests who have quietly kept the Church growing and faithful all over the world. When I show up in rural Kenya and find a church, a school, and a priest who preaches a great inspiring sermon, I know how much work and how many years went into making that happen. Where the Church is old and established, like Austria or Ireland, I see the young families who are trying to be sure things stay new and fresh. Where the Church has suffered, like Iceland or Kazakhstan, I see the religious and laity who travel from all over the world to help them get their feet under them again. We really are greater than we realize.
Very Young Catholics in the USA (second edition) will be available for sale at this year's game for a discount, and Emily can be reached at the project website www.veryyoungcatholic.com or veryyoungcatholic@gmail.com.