We Watched Our FIRST Catholic YouTube Video… 11 Years Later

It’s hard to believe—it’s been 11 years since we uploaded our very first Catholic YouTube video. Looking back, we had no idea what we were doing! But through every awkward moment, small beginning, and leap of faith, God’s grace (and your prayers) have carried this ministry forward.

In our newest video, we’re taking a lighthearted (and humbling!) look back at where it all began — and we couldn’t help but think of you, because you’ve been part of this journey.

Transcript

Back in 2014, we uploaded our very first Catholic YouTube video. And let's just say we had no idea what we were doing. Now, 11 years and over 250,000 subscribers later, we're looking back at where it all began. The twist, we didn't pick the clips. Nope. Somebody else chose them for us. So, we have no idea what's coming. This could be inspiring or really embarrassing. Embarrassing. Either way, let's hit play. Okay. I feel like I'm nervous. Sometimes it's better not to review the past. Are we ready? Can we hit play? Jesus was pre-announced. I remember this. Oh, this is you. Feel like this is When my wife Janelle and I were planning a wedding, we pre-announced the big day to our friends and family. Sorry, I just think it's so funny.

What was funny? Even in the video because it's like so super scripted. Yeah. Yes. I was pretty stiff and I think there was a mist spelling mistake. Oh, I don't think that's how you write pre-annoned. Anyhow, that's okay. Some things don't change. All right. Next video. I was 18 years old. I came back to the Catholic church, the faith in which I was raised, and I had a renewal of my faith. And for those first couple years, I was passionate about my Catholic faith. I mean, I was excited. You're like so young. I don't think you've worn that color ever again.

That's so embarrassing. I lost some weight from that video there. You You mean you were you've lost weight since Well, no, from that that year. Yeah, that was I put it I put it on back. Okay, so that was 2014. Look at these statistics. 17 videos released, 414 subscribers. Like I'm curious, who were those original 414 and 24,000 views in total for that year, right? And I don't think I was in any of those content. Yeah, content released by Ken. Okay, 2015. Here we go. 2015. I've been speaking full time since 1999 and I've seen many incredible things since. And I feel like if the world could travel with me, the world would believe there was a guy. Remember, it is our decisions in life that become havoc that change our life more than a one-time experience. I like the B-roll. That was good. It was the first time we started using B-roll. And I like you had a different shot. So, you were have more than one camera and we're in our new house. In our other house. Okay. Family. Hello, everyone. Oh, yes. I remember this video. What is it? Christina's soggy diaper. I swear that you posted that. We wanted to do a little gift for you on this Christmas day. So, this is our gift to you from the Yazinski family. Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas.

That was nice. Yeah, we are. 2015 number of videos released 11 1,617 subscribers, 74,000 views. New type of content. Christmas greeting. Our first Christmas greeting. And Christina soggy diaper. Yeah, I never would have noticed. Hi guys, Ken here. I wanted to share something with you I've been working on. It's a short sample from my retreat video program called Pursuit of Purpose because maybe we've never said yes to him. Oh yeah. Or maybe you've never been invited to say yes to him. Welcome to Catholic Minute. On today's episode, we have a guest. I introduced to you my friend, Father Claire Watran. And something inside me said, "Wow, you shouldn't be Russian. Stop and just sit down and eat your orange." Ah, that's crazy. Wow, that's special. I thought about that. Yeah, Father Claire's passed away since he had a really profound impact on my life. a special that he would have been the first guest on the channel. 2016 14 videos, 3,000 subscribers, a total of 106,000 views, content released by Ken Christmas greeting, new type of Oh yeah, there you go. First vest and pursuit of purpose. Hey everybody, welcome to day one of the 9-day divine mercy novena. We are so excited that you're here to join us. Thank you for joining us. Yes, that tells me there's great grace in store for us over these next nine days. I'm really excited. Okay, so today let's chat about four reasons why parents are you annoyed with yourself towards each other. Didn't seem very natural. I don't know. I was like I was like I want my hair like that again.

You always look good. It's like six children ago. Okay. 2017. You want to read this, Janelle? Number of videos released, 14 subscribers, 5,000 views, 132,000. That's in total for that year. Mhm. Oh, Divine Mercy Novena and Janelle's very first videos outside the Yeah, I remember I was so nervous. I just I just didn't really want to do them, but you were like, Janelle, join me. I'm glad you did. Hi guys, this is Ken Yasinski for catholics.com and this is Oh, Janelle is in so tired. Oh my goodness. We We're attempting to pray a full rosary. I can't say that we are perfect at praying the full rosary at this point, but it has definitely been an improvement. I'd say at least a minimum of two decades. Yeah. So, you know that we have a a 7-year-old, a 5-year-old, 4year-old, one and a half. Wow. Would you describe our family prayers very meditative and re reverent? No. No. But I think it's consistent and I think that's beautiful. Wow. Wow. Pregnancy. I was still learning color balancing and matching at that point. That was pretty bad color. [Music] What do we see here? 2018 number of videos released at year 26. So that's an increased subscribers 7,800 views 180,000. So um why do you think it's important to date your spouse? Me? Yeah. Why do you think it's important? Was that the first time you did that little thing? I think so. I think so. The first intro

Now, we've decided what's better for us is to go on a date once a month. Mhm. For sure. And I still believe that four or five years later to do a live uh behind the scenes look at what Janelle and I do when we recording in our home. No toys on the floor. This is not usual. So, here is the typical setup that we have for the filming with Janelle and I and Kathy M. Perhaps maybe. My name is not yet, but you can call me Dad. Can I say I'm J. Yeah. A baby mommy's tummy. A baby mommy's tummy. [Music] Oh my goodness. Oh, that's special.

Yeah. I'm glad you recorded that. Yeah. So, that was uh who? Oh, it's 2019 and I had Catherine in 2020. So, it was Catherine. Okay. 2019 number of videos 27 subscribers 14,000 views 357. It's like I can't even remember the previous year's numbers. Well, that's a big that's a big jump on subscribers. I think that's about double I think. And that and then the views really went up too. Ready? Yeah. 2020 coming up the co virus or Christ which one is going to have a lasting impact in our lives it's like of the cross by Alonsus Lori this is a special video for you our Patreon team member we want to take this time again our appreciation for what you have done for our ministry and for our family oftent times when I'm speaking I share with people I have a dream of reaching millions of people. I don't know how that's possible, but I feel like you as a Patreon team member are allowing us to do that. Yeah.

Shoot.

Okay. So, what a terrible year. Well, that changed that that But it wasn't it really wasn't a terrible year. was probably like the best year in many ways. You were home cuz you were gone so much before that. Big big deal though. The Patreon supporters. That was the first time we invited people to support us which allowed this to go fulltime. Yeah. Yeah. Huge. So grateful for all the our supporters. So grateful. Big change here in 2020. Janelle number of videos released that year were 93 subscribers were 33,000 views 2 million 200 so the new things that were released for the Holy Spirit novena the novena to our lady of sorrows 15 prayers of St. Bridget. Yes, I had just completed them. To date, we have 5 million people who have watched that one of the cross. 5 million people. Wow. The chaplet of the seven sorrows of Mary in the Holy Rosary. Wow. So, people really started praying with us that year. That's the first time we really started releasing uh devotional prayers. Mhm. That's really special. 2021. Hey guys, we're doing something different today. This is the first time I'm interviewing somebody on this YouTube channel. Father Christina Bouvette. You came out to lead a retreat, a youth retreat at Our Lady of Victory Camp when I was a seminarian. Hello everyone and welcome. It's Ash Wednesday today and we are so glad that you're journeying with us and I in this Facebook group are going to be posting every day a [Music]

we have some big news over here now. Tell us. Yes, we are moving today but we've been living here for over 7 years. So we have lots of beautiful memories in here. I feel like I really grew into my motherhood in this home. Welcome everyone to our Advent journey as we reflect upon St. Alfonsus Lori's sermons. Thank you so much for joining us. Wow. Wow. What a change there. Yeah. From our house to the rental. Yeah. Number of videos released for 163 subscribers. 83,000. So that's a big jump. Views 6,815. Yeah. Father Christina was new. St. Bridget 12ear prayers which I'm into my year too. Oh, that was the first time we did Lent. Was that the first year we did Lent? Yeah, because remember we didn't do it in 2020 cuz that you were supposed to be speaking. Oh, yeah. That's why our videos are so high. 163 videos. Litany of St. Joseph. Oh, yeah. Lydney of St. Joseph, Chaplet of Holy Spirit, Fatima Consecration. Oh, that was huge. That was a big one. That was sponsored by Clay Ministries. So grateful for them at Yes, that was really great. Yeah, that was very great. All still found on our channel. 2022 Catholic morning prayer for January. Oh, in the name of the father. What happened? It's a It's the YouTube button thing, I think. Oh, wow. I think it came. Oh my goodness. I thought you could play. You thought we could play on it? Okay, so here it is. This is what it looks like. Yeah. And so practically on the YouTube side. Yeah. I I do all the editing. I do all the lighting, the sound. We have no no crew behind us. This is the crew. So, you know, thank you. Thank you for allowing us to get to this point. And we look forward to serving you for many years. This is the crew. But now we have now we have Matthew. Like uh impossible to do all of that without our people who watch, our subscribers. and then our supporters. So blessed to be able to get to that point. So we reached over 100,000 that year, right? That's the play button. 100,000 subscribers, 8 million 600,000 views that year. New type of content, Catholic morning prayer. We started those. We haven't missed since and we just started releasing now the short form of that uh last month. Chaplet of St. Gertude. That's really important for the holy souls in purgatory. Yeah. Oh, and Lent and Advent in conversation with God. Okay. Yeah, that was good. That's a great series. Exc That was excellent content. 2023. Welcome everyone to the first Thursday of Lent. We'll read a quote. We'll get your thoughts and then we'll sit at your feet and listen to your wisdom. How's that sound? Well, I don't know how St. Alphonsus would feel about that, but give it a try. Hey friends, good to see you. I have some exciting news to share with you. It's taken us 2 years and our house is almost ready. and we've been filming in one of the basements here in this house in this rental. But it's been a challenge because this room that you see is actually quite small. I'd like to bring you over to our new space to share with you the difference and also what this new space will allow us to do in in better to our new YouTube studio in the making. So, we're just getting drywall going right now. Welcome back everybody. So good to be here with you. And you know, I wasn't actually supposed to be here today, but I'm kind of a little bit of a buffer because you see my husband, he sometimes needs me to help him. I don't want to say calm down, but you were really upset about something. What was it? Oh, something. There's always something. Do you remember what it was? No. Isn't Isn't that the case when we usually get upset? We don't remember about it. The next year I can't remember what that was. So, but I remember someone saying that I had too much control over you. They're like, Janelle, get out of the way. Let your husband speak his mind. We've let that go. Yeah, right. I forgive them. I release them from the pain they've caused.

Big year going from there to the studio here. Yeah, that was huge. Yeah. So, 124 videos, subscribers, 172,000 subscribers, 10 million views. That's a lot. Um, new type of content. Father Christino joined us for Lent. That was that was kind of the first time. I think he joined us for a series. What you're about to watch is new for our YouTube channel. It's an in-person interview with Father Christina Buvet. Hey, we got a first for you. We have an interview to share with you with Mother Mary. The future of this channel, and this is really big for us, is that we're hiring somebody. We're hiring a video editor. Here's a question. People probably want to know what you look like. That's an angel. Besides, every morning when you look in the mirror today, um, there's there's been a topic that I've been meaning to talk to you about, and it starts with the number 215. Do you think the sweater's green? Is that what you said to me? There's a little Is there a little green in it? No. Like, I'll go get my green sweater. So interesting. That was a huge change having you, Matthew, join us. And then you can see the content what happened like all it freed you to have more guests. Yeah. And so driving out to where Father Christina was in I was in Strathmore at that time and then just having Father Penna, Mother Mary Bernardet. Yeah. That was a real It was last year was huge. Mhm. with having you, Matthew, to do to free me to be able to do this kind of content. Uh, in person interviews. Yes. Mhm. Number of videos released as we're 119 subscribers, 227,000. Views, 12 million. So, we're up in we're always inching up, growing. Welcome. We are so happy to have you. So, what are you doing for Lent this year? Because we would like to invite you to our new Lenten journey. This year, we're doing something different than any other year. This year we're doing Lenten reflections on heaven, hell, and purgatory. This is going to be great. Did you have a playground when you were little? Oh, what a great question. Did I have a playground when I was little? So, what's it like to pack up a family of 10? Rosaries in hand, and drive 3,500 km across Western Canada. 14 days, one van, countless snacks, fairy rides. Parenting can feel overwhelming. [Music] like you're drowning in the chaos. [Music] We've been there. And in this video, we'll show you we are there that help us get through it. Father, Dan, I can't believe we're doing this. Well, I can. It's great to be here. How many times have I asked you to come on? How many years did it take you on? You've asked me many times. Many times. The stars have aligned. And it's probably at least what, 50 times. Oh, I don't know how many times I asked him to come on finally. So, that that was a that was a big change just recently having him agree to come on to the channel. We're doing a series with him, by the way, coming up. We're working on it right now on the liturgy. So, to date, we've had 65 videos. Uh we're at 263,000 subscribers and this year so far, 8,200,000 views. Wow. Well, I sure hope people are growing in their faith. That's the goal. Oh, look at this. So, we have from the beginning from 2014 to now. So, that's over 10 years. 812 videos. Wow. It's a lot. Subscribers. 261,000 and views. 49,300,44.

That's incredible. Yeah. Almost 50 million views. Never would have thought that's possible. Yeah. That's crazy. Wow. Yeah. But I don't think God's going to be like, "Hey, did you get all those views?" Well, no. I think the the views are it's it's special. Yeah. Like I can't believe that people watch. It's really an honor to be able to serve this way. Thank you to all of you who've been journeying with us for a long time. Um, through our ups and downs and disappointments and joys, ways that we've changed our looks, babies, no babies. Yeah. Yeah. Thank you to our supporters. You you realize that you your monthly contribution has directly impacted our lives and how we serve you directly. There there's absolutely no way that we could have got to this point with this studio, with hiring Matthew consistently putting out 800 videos without your help. Like it's just not possible. Like this this channel belongs to you and uh we're grateful that we get to serve you this way. Thank you for letting us have this privilege. [Music]

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That was really fun. Maybe we could do that again in 10 years. What's the next benchmark? 500,000. I don't know. How fast can we get there?