EquipCast

Episode Archive

Episode Archive

167 episodes of EquipCast since the first episode, which aired on October 7th, 2019.

  • Skill Demo 9: How to share the gospel through your testimony.

    Episode  |  April 26th, 2022  |  13 mins 31 secs

    He is risen! He is risen indeed! Are you convinced that Jesus’s death and resurrection can have a profound impact on your life and on the lives of others? If yes, are you comfortable and confident sharing that good news with others? Jesus has changed my life, and I want others to have that same experience. However, it took me a long time to feel comfortable sharing the gospel, and it took a lot of practice to share it well. How do I reflect on the work Jesus is doing in my life and share it in a way that is intentional but not forced?
    Jen Moser, breaks down the answer in 13 minutes.

  • Episode 85: Happy Easter!

    Episode  |  April 19th, 2022  |  24 mins 42 secs

    “We are an Easter people, and Alleluia is our song!” This season is meant to have a lasting effect on our lives, so today, I invite you to pause and reflect. Archbishop Lucas gives his insights on the resurrection and his desire for each of us to experience the grace of Easter personally.

  • Episode 84: More Blessed to Give

    Episode  |  April 5th, 2022  |  38 mins 42 secs

    As disciples, we are called to "give back" or to steward the gifts that we have been given by God. I'd be very surprised if this was a new concept to any of you. 

    However, an area where most of us are less comfortable is development. Asking a person directly for money is a difficult conversation without the right perspective and tools. 

    Today's guest, Chris Kuetemeyer, is a profession in the world of development and a former FOCUS missionary. He understands that to ask for money, he needs to first invite people into the mission of the Church. When he sits down with a doner, he invites them to be a partner in a ministry. The donor may not be doing the physical work, but they are responsible for that work even happening. This inclusion makes all the difference.

  • Skill Demo 8: How to talk to the poor

    Episode  |  March 29th, 2022  |  8 mins 44 secs

    Danny Leger, cofounder of Hope of the Poor, walks us through how to talk to the homeless.

  • Episode 83: Make Change Easier to Experience

    Episode  |  March 22nd, 2022  |  43 mins 52 secs

    If I were to sit you down and say, “You are about to experience a big life change”, what would be your first reaction? Does the word “change” invoke dread or excitement?

    No matter who you are, a priest, a parish staff member, or an engaged parishioner, you know that bringing about change can be very difficult. Deciding on and implementing a new program is often the easy part. Helping parishioners shift their attitudes and habits is where it gets tricky.

    So, if you’ve ever experienced change and it didn’t go so well, then this episode is for you! Kay Doyle is an expert at change management, and she applies her wisdom to parish life.

  • Episode 82: Religious Ed that's Tailored to YOUR Needs

    Episode  |  March 15th, 2022  |  1 hr 5 mins

    As a director at the Archdiocese, I'm given free stuff all the time. Typically, we're talking sample materials for the latest evangelization or catechetical program. I pass these along to one of my staff to review, and if it's good, I might see it again.

    A few months ago, I received a box that looked beautiful like it came out of a pottery barn catalog, and it said "Mend" on the top. I walked it down to Jodi Phillip's office (our Catechetical Specialist) fully intending to hand it off. But when I realized that it was brimming with hands-on activities that could help me teach my son about the sacrament of reconciliation...I took it home.

    Transmitting the faith to our children is so difficult with the culture actively working against us, and this box give me some tools to have intentional conversations with my family.

    I tell you this today because Faith and Family Life Catholic Ministries provide more than boxes for the sacraments. They really understand what it means to accompany families, and they want to help parishes do this well. They are more devoted to the process of catechesis than they are to a particular program. And so, whether you work for a parish or you are parent wanting a great resource for your children/grandchildren, I invite you to check them out!

  • Episode 81: Workable Vision (Statements)

    Episode  |  March 8th, 2022  |  43 mins 54 secs

    Do you know your parish's vision statement? If you are like me, your answer might be, "Uh...it's in the bulletin?"

    And if you've been around the Church long enough and you've seen various ineffective vision statements, you might think that they are just corporate jargon. (And they very much can be!)

    But Proverbs 29:18 says "Where there is no vision, the people perish." And Jesus himself left us with a vision statement, "Go and make disciples!" (Matt 28:19)

    So what do we mean by vision? And how can we make sure that it's not just more of the same jargon? 

    Join me for the answers!

  • Episode 80: Least of My Brethren

    Episode  |  March 1st, 2022  |  41 mins 19 secs

    One of my favorite parts of the Archdiocesan Vision is the call to Live Mercy. I've had friends from Hope of the Poor on the show before, and their stories about their work in Mexico are inspiring. But today, I want to bring it closer to home.

    Least of My Brethren serves the homeless in the Omaha & Council Bluffs metro. This ministry was started by parishioners of St. Patrick's Parish in Gretna, and when they talked about their work with the community, it grew exponentially. They now find homes for 400 homeless people a year; that's 8 people a week. And they have 75-100 volunteers a month, mostly from local parishes.

    While the growth is amazing, the stories of the relationships they build are even better. This group is a real testament to the fact that love works; compassion changes lives.

  • Episode 79: Only 10% of My Heart?

    Episode  |  February 22nd, 2022  |  44 mins 31 secs

    Today, I get to sit down with staff from the Diocese of Wichita, a diocese known for its stewardship. A long time ago, they realized that Time, Talent, and Treasure had become synonymous with church chores and duty. But as Audrey tells us, "We don't want something FROM you; we want something FOR you."

    Specifically, we want you to have a relationship with Jesus and to grow in your faith. Stewardship is only meaningful when it comes from the heart of a disciple because only then it is the fruit of gratitude which comes from knowing Jesus.

  • Episode 78: From Being in a Small Group to Leading One

    Episode  |  February 15th, 2022  |  38 mins 13 secs

    By now, you probably know that I love small groups! I've even gone so far as to claim that small groups will be one of the major things that bring renewal to our Church.

    So today, I want to pause for a moment with Kendra Meuret. She went from being in a small group simply because she was longing for friendship. to leading a small group because she recognized other people needed what she had found.

    Here experience is ordinary, and so hopefully, will inspire those of you who just want to take a first step toward being a Missionary Disciple.

  • Episode 77: Ecclesial Movements - How they make disciples.

    Episode  |  February 8th, 2022  |  41 mins 26 secs

    JPII once said that "Ecclesial movements…represent one of the most significant fruits of that springtime in the Church which was foretold by the Second Vatican Council." When you think of these movement, you might think of FOCUS or Communion and Liberation.

    But one of the Archdiocese's best kept secrets is the ecclesial movements that are making disciples in our spanish speaking communities. They are beautiful examples of disciples evangelizing their communities.

    Today, I talk to Mirna Chich-Price, who spoke at the 2021 Pastoral Conference, about her experience with Jovenes Para Cristo (Youth for Christ).

  • Schools: Your Partner in Mission

    Episode  |  February 1st, 2022  |  42 mins 18 secs

    This week, we celebrate one of the richest traditions in the Archdiocese of Omaha, our Catholic Schools. And we do it by ...sending our children to class in their pajamas.

    But really, while the celebrations may at times seem a bit silly, Catholic Schools are more often than not the primary expression of the parish's mission to make disciples. Unfortunately, the fact that the parish and the school share this mission is often forgotten. Or worse, the burden to catechize is misplaced, and schools are blamed when children grow up and do not remain faithful.

    While catechizing parents (and through parents, children) is the role of the parish, schools can be an powerful partner in this work.

    Today, I talk to Vickie Kauffold, Superintendent of Catholic Schools, as she discusses ways that schools can support their parishes in the mission to make disciples.