Ascension
Building a digital home for the catholic faith
QUICK LINKS
iOS app
Android app
For over 25 years, Ascension has been a leading force in Catholic media — a publisher and content powerhouse committed to meeting people wherever they are on their faith journey.
Best known for The Bible in a Year, one of the world’s top religion podcasts, Ascension creates content that’s accessible, engaging and deeply meaningful.
Tech Stack
• React Native (for seamless cross-platform development)
• AWS Cloud Infrastructure (scalable backend)
• AWS OpenSearch (for hybrid & semantic search)
• Custom Embedding Models (for AI-driven discovery)
VISION
Ascension came to STRV with a vision: to build the most comprehensive Catholic app ever made — a single digital home for Scripture, catechism, study plans and community. More than just a Bible app, this platform would support people at every stage of their spiritual journey.
The goal wasn’t just scale; it was significance. This platform needed to honor the depth of Catholic tradition while feeling modern, approachable and designed for daily use. STRV’s role was to bring that to life — with smart tech that could meet the moment and grow with its global audience.
CHALLENGE
We were starting from scratch, designing and engineering every layer for an audience ranging from newcomers to seasoned theologians.
The first and biggest hurdle: content. Much of Ascension’s library (including the Bible, Catechism and Bible in a Year companion) existed in legacy or print formats. We couldn’t simply load an EPUB file into a reader view. To make these resources searchable, cross-referenced and discoverable alongside podcasts, articles and study plans, we needed to completely transform them into structured, app-ready data.
The goal was to enable the feature that now defines the app: deep, contextual cross-referencing that promotes discovery and helps users go deeper in their knowledge and faith.
Search presented its own challenge. Users expected more than keyword matches; they wanted context, intent-based results and the ability to connect concepts across different types of content.
And finally, the audience. We had to build for a massive and growing user base, capable of handling huge traffic spikes without huge infrastructure costs — while remaining personal and easy to navigate for all.
4.9
APP STORE RATING2T+
OF STRUCTURED AND SEARCHABLE CONTENT
WHAT WE DID
STRV led the full build — product management, backend and frontend development, architecture, QA and data strategy.
We developed a modular backend on AWS-managed services and a cross-platform frontend in React Native. A custom parsing script transformed the Bible, Catechism, companion texts and key events into structured, offline-ready app data. These became the backbone for cross-referenced features like related content surfacing, podcast tie-ins and intuitive navigation — making discovery seamless and meaningful.
Search combined semantic and exact-match retrieval, refined through real-world feedback from 1,300 closed beta testers. Managing that group became a masterclass in listening, prioritizing and implementing user input — including a major roadmap change to launch a night mode far earlier than planned (due to user demand).
To ensure sustainability, we introduced a subscription model anchored by premium audio studies — a proven, high-value format beloved by Ascension’s audience. This decision drove strong adoption and financial stability from launch.
The result: a stable, extensible platform designed for millions, ready to evolve as Ascension’s mission grows.
BUILT ON TRUST
A Partnership That Moved With Purpose
This project was powered by a true partnership. From day one, we worked closely with Ascension — moving fast, iterating often and staying aligned around a shared vision. Real-time input from Facebook groups and closed beta testers kept us grounded in what users actually needed.
CAPACITY, COVERED
Engineered to Handle the Rush
We engineered the system to handle massive daily traffic spikes without inflating infrastructure costs. STRV’s backend architecture delivers minimal server bills and the flexibility to support even larger audiences.
FROM DOWNLOAD TO DEVOTION
A Habit Worth Keeping
This is beyond an app — it’s a daily ritual for thousands. Now one of the most downloaded Catholic reference apps in the world, it’s become a go-to companion for learning, reflection and spiritual growth.
OUTCOME
STRV helped transform a centuries-old tradition into a seamless, AI-powered digital experience.
What began as a Bible app is now a full-scale faith companion, woven into the daily routines of many. It’s a testament that timeless values and modern technology can thrive together when built with care, purpose and a foundation made to last.