EquipCast
Encouragement and inspiration for sharing your catholic faith
About the show
Sharing your Catholic faith with family and friends can sometimes feel daunting. Where do I start? How do I make an impact? Welcome to EquipCast, a weekly podcast from the Archdiocese of Omaha. We want to support your faith journey and equip you with the tools to express your faith authentically in your everyday life.
Each week, we’ll discuss practical advice and experiences from real people sharing their mission with the world. Each episode is filled with encouragement and inspiration so you can make an impact and make disciples in your own faith community. For more information and to stay connected with us, head to equip.archomaha.org/podcast/.
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Episodes and Blog Entries
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Episode 72: Pray Like a Missionary Disciple
Episode | November 23rd, 2021 | 42 mins 27 secs
I feel like God is constantly calling me to a deeper level of reliance on Him. As I seek to grow as a missionary disciple, so often, I think "I don't know what I'm doing!" And so, what does a missionary disciple do when they want to do the will of God but they don't feel entirely ready? Pray! Be in conversation with Jesus. Again, I want to bring you into a deeper conversation with one of our guests from the 2021 Pastoral Conference. Jessi Kary provides examples of how a missionary disciple prays, and just gives some really practical advice!
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Episode 71: A Ministry of Friendship
Episode | November 16th, 2021 | 49 mins 20 secs
Recently, the Archbishop hosted the 2021 Pastoral Conference. There he commissioned us, the people that he shepherds, to live out four habits of discipleship: Prayer, Compassion, Friendship, and Invitation. Today, I want to do a deep-dive with you on one of those habits: Friendship. What can a ministry of Friendship look like? Does it have to be complicated, or can it be simple, clear, and easy? Continue the Conversation to hear from about one of the friendships highlighted at the Pastoral Conference.
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Episode 70: The Black Catholic Experience
Episode | November 9th, 2021 | 43 mins 21 secs
I don't know if you have ever had the chance to visit St. Benedict the Moor. It's a very unassuming parish in North Omaha, but it has the distinct honor of being the only Black Catholic parish in all of Nebraska. When I visited with my family, we were perhaps the only white people in the room, and so it was obvious that we were new. The welcome that we were given was incredible. We were immediately made to feel right at home. Now, I ask you to reverse the situation. What does a black person think about when visiting a predominantly white parish? Their experience of these communities, whether good or bad, will always be imbued with the context that is race relations in America. And so, the deep question is really: What can we do to help race relations in the Archdiocese of Omaha? My guests today give some insight into their experience, and they offer a very simple answer to the question above... Pray, be friendly and come visit! 9am Sundays at St. Benedict the Moor.
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Episode 69: The Art of Small Groups
Episode | October 19th, 2021 | 43 mins 54 secs
I've noticed a trend over the past few years. People who are hungry for a vibrant parish community are consistently discerning themselves into small groups. There really is something about a small group that helps people to encounter the Lord in a powerful way and to connect with parishioners on a deeper level. The Holy Spirit is moving His Church toward renewal, and I'm willing to bet that small groups will have a large part in it! Tune in to hear some really practical advice on small groups.
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Episode 68: Hormone Genius
Episode | October 12th, 2021 | 36 mins 59 secs
In a previous EquipCast episode, we talked about the difference between having a ministry and an apostolate, between working for the Church and living out your own personal call to holiness. Today, I bring you an example of someone who has learned to integrate her faith with her profession. Teresa Kenney works as a Women's Health Practitioner, and she is known for her holistic approach to this often unexplored area of medicine. So, what does a woman's fertility have to do with evangelization? Tune in to hear how Teresa is able to bring her faith and Catholic Church's teachings into the secular world.
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Skill Demo 5: How to Prioritize Meeting New People
Episode | September 28th, 2021 | 10 mins 5 secs
A Skill Demo about how to meet new people might seem like a incredibly simple subject to tackle. Most of us probably feel like we this one in the bag. But did you know that the average American has not made a new friend in the last five years? And so, now is the moment for Catholics to step into that gap. As we seek to build missional communities, one of the best ways to start is by building relationships.
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Episode 67: Parish Renewal (Part 2)
Episode | September 21st, 2021 | 38 mins 27 secs
Last week, my guest, Tim Glemkowski, author of Made for Mission, talked to us about the importance of parish renewal. This week, he gets into the nitty-gritty. He talks practically about building a Clear Path to Discipleship in parishes, setting goals, leadership culture, and organizational health.
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Episode 66: Parish Renewal (Part 1)
Episode | September 14th, 2021 | 36 mins 34 secs
I’m sure you know… I talk A LOT about how Jesus calls us to be missionary disciples. And I’m also sure you know… parish renewal is HARD. So today, I talk with a friend, Tim Glemkowski, who’s book, Made for Mission, is one of the most practical guides to helping parish leaders wade through this process of renewal. I liked what he had to offer so much that we made this into two episodes! So, once you are done here, check out part 2.
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Episode 65: Meetings Stink
Episode | September 7th, 2021 | 43 mins 9 secs
I have something to confess. I used to be a (bad) meeting addict. If you know me, you know that I love being around people, communicating with them. So, you'd think meetings led by me would be great!
I'd like to think they are now, but I had to learn a few things first. So, if you've ever been in a meeting that was too long, boring, got in the way of you doing "the real work", or felt generally unimportant, then this episode is for you! -
Episode 64: Serving from the Heart
Episode | August 24th, 2021 | 39 mins 41 secs
Today I talk to one of my old friends from my time in FOCUS. We've had experience evangelizing in many different contexts, and we agree. The most difficult place to evangelize... is in your own heart. It can be scary to delve into our emotions and to hold our brokenness out to the Lord for healing. But, if we do this, then we can truly serve others from a place of love and relationship with Jesus. So join me in a conversation with Matt Simmons, a man who truly understands that the best expression of faith is to lay our hearts before the Lord and trust that He can heal them.
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Episode 63: Discipling Youth in School
Episode | August 10th, 2021 | 35 mins 49 secs
Students encounter the Lord at conferences like Steubenville, in adoration, or in retreat settings, but then, they are thrust back into the regular cadence of a secular life. Continuing to live out their faith without a community of support can be very difficult. And so, Skutt Catholic adopted discipleship groups, small groups led by adults who accompany these students. Today I talk to Quinlan Couri as she describes these groups and how she builds up the leaders, both student and adult.
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Episode 62: In School with Jesus
Episode | August 3rd, 2021 | 38 mins 33 secs
How do you start your day? Like many of you, I try to start mine in prayer and with the Lord in scripture. But teaching our children to do the same can be difficult. Today, I talk to Cheryl Drozd, a teacher who helps her students start every day in prayer and reading the scriptures. And, she says that the results are explosive: "God is working through me. It's His word and His Holy Spirit working. So, it's just a matter of trusting and letting God do His thing." Friends, the Word of God is alive, constantly new and reaching into our hearts. It's a vehicle for God to communicate himself. So it's not surprising that children love it so easily. Even if you feel like "I don't know the Bible well enough to teach", just open the scriptures and let God speak!