web02.fireside.fm Mon, 13 Apr 2026 03:25:42 -0500 Fireside (https://fireside.fm) EquipCast - Episodes Tagged with “Church Revitalization” https://archomahaequip.fireside.fm/tags/church%20revitalization Tue, 10 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0500 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/. en-us episodic Encouragement and inspiration for sharing your catholic faith Archdiocese of Omaha 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/. no Archdiocese, Catholic Church, evangelization, evangelism, disciple Archdiocese of Omaha wabradley@archomaha.org Episode 209: OCIA - Rediscovering the Heart of Parish Life https://archomahaequip.fireside.fm/209 ee88d5c8-8b15-46b8-82aa-5e67d45c801f Tue, 10 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0500 Archdiocese of Omaha 209 OCIA - Rediscovering the Heart of Parish Life full Archdiocese of Omaha What if the ancient way of welcoming seekers is exactly what we’re missing? When Dr. Chris Burgwald, Chancellor for the Diocese of Sioux Falls, and I dug into the roots of OCIA, it struck me how much wisdom we’ve left sitting on the shelf. The early Church knew how to walk with people—slowly, personally, lovingly—and somewhere along the line, we traded that for efficiency. Dr. Burgwald shows why returning to this ancient, relational way of forming disciples isn’t nostalgia; it’s the key to helping people truly encounter Jesus and find a home in His Church again. 1:03:50 no What if the ancient way of welcoming seekers is exactly what we’re missing? When Dr. Chris Burgwald, Chancellor for the Diocese of Sioux Falls, and I dug into the roots of OCIA, it struck me how much wisdom we’ve left sitting on the shelf. The early Church knew how to walk with people—slowly, personally, lovingly—and somewhere along the line, we traded that for efficiency. Dr. Burgwald shows why returning to this ancient, relational way of forming disciples isn’t nostalgia; it’s the key to helping people truly encounter Jesus and find a home in His Church again. And what’s amazing is that this shift doesn’t just change the journey for newcomers—it transforms the entire parish. When we implement OCIA the way the Church actually envisions it, gifts surface, people step forward, and a culture of prayer and hospitality begins to grow. Communities rally around seekers, and in the process, everyone gets formed. One person’s “yes” becomes an invitation for an entire parish to rediscover its mission. [01:15] Meet Chris Bergal [12:23] Why People Are Converting [17:16] What Is OCIA? [22:34] Vatican II and Mission [25:22] Doing OCIA Well [30:20] Three Pillars of OCIA [37:50] Practical Parish Implementation [41:41] Parish Renewal and Activation [45:13] Handling Hard Situations [48:46] Not Assembly Line Discipleship [52:20] Model for All Formation [56:25] Teamwork and Leadership Models For more practical advice and experiences from real people sharing their mission with the world, go to https://equip.archomaha.org/podcast/. A Production of the Archdiocese of Omaha Editor: Taylor Schroll (ForteCatholic.com) OCIA, RCIA, parish renewal, Catholic discipleship, evangelization, accompaniment, catechumenate, parish transformation, Catholic conversion, making disciples, Catholic formation, church revitalization, missionary discipleship, Catholic leadership, parish ministry, welcoming seekers, ancient catechumenate, Church revival, Catholic podcast, EquipCast What if the ancient way of welcoming seekers is exactly what we’re missing? When Dr. Chris Burgwald, Chancellor for the Diocese of Sioux Falls, and I dug into the roots of OCIA, it struck me how much wisdom we’ve left sitting on the shelf. The early Church knew how to walk with people—slowly, personally, lovingly—and somewhere along the line, we traded that for efficiency. Dr. Burgwald shows why returning to this ancient, relational way of forming disciples isn’t nostalgia; it’s the key to helping people truly encounter Jesus and find a home in His Church again.

And what’s amazing is that this shift doesn’t just change the journey for newcomers—it transforms the entire parish. When we implement OCIA the way the Church actually envisions it, gifts surface, people step forward, and a culture of prayer and hospitality begins to grow. Communities rally around seekers, and in the process, everyone gets formed. One person’s “yes” becomes an invitation for an entire parish to rediscover its mission.

[01:15] Meet Chris Bergal
[12:23] Why People Are Converting
[17:16] What Is OCIA?
[22:34] Vatican II and Mission
[25:22] Doing OCIA Well
[30:20] Three Pillars of OCIA
[37:50] Practical Parish Implementation
[41:41] Parish Renewal and Activation
[45:13] Handling Hard Situations
[48:46] Not Assembly Line Discipleship
[52:20] Model for All Formation
[56:25] Teamwork and Leadership Models

For more practical advice and experiences from real people sharing their mission with the world, go to https://equip.archomaha.org/podcast/.

A Production of the Archdiocese of Omaha
Editor: Taylor Schroll (ForteCatholic.com)

]]> What if the ancient way of welcoming seekers is exactly what we’re missing? When Dr. Chris Burgwald, Chancellor for the Diocese of Sioux Falls, and I dug into the roots of OCIA, it struck me how much wisdom we’ve left sitting on the shelf. The early Church knew how to walk with people—slowly, personally, lovingly—and somewhere along the line, we traded that for efficiency. Dr. Burgwald shows why returning to this ancient, relational way of forming disciples isn’t nostalgia; it’s the key to helping people truly encounter Jesus and find a home in His Church again.

And what’s amazing is that this shift doesn’t just change the journey for newcomers—it transforms the entire parish. When we implement OCIA the way the Church actually envisions it, gifts surface, people step forward, and a culture of prayer and hospitality begins to grow. Communities rally around seekers, and in the process, everyone gets formed. One person’s “yes” becomes an invitation for an entire parish to rediscover its mission.

[01:15] Meet Chris Bergal
[12:23] Why People Are Converting
[17:16] What Is OCIA?
[22:34] Vatican II and Mission
[25:22] Doing OCIA Well
[30:20] Three Pillars of OCIA
[37:50] Practical Parish Implementation
[41:41] Parish Renewal and Activation
[45:13] Handling Hard Situations
[48:46] Not Assembly Line Discipleship
[52:20] Model for All Formation
[56:25] Teamwork and Leadership Models

For more practical advice and experiences from real people sharing their mission with the world, go to https://equip.archomaha.org/podcast/.

A Production of the Archdiocese of Omaha
Editor: Taylor Schroll (ForteCatholic.com)

]]> Episode 181: The Four Ways Forward: Becoming an Apostolic Parish in a Post-Christian World with Susan Windley-Daoust https://archomahaequip.fireside.fm/181 e69022a0-6207-4c91-9c6c-274f3252cf08 Tue, 29 Apr 2025 00:00:00 -0500 Archdiocese of Omaha 181 The Four Ways Forward: Becoming an Apostolic Parish in a Post-Christian World with Susan Windley-Daoust full Archdiocese of Omaha Parish renewal is the buzzword of the moment—and with it comes an overwhelming array of resources and ministries. So how do you cut through the noise to find what will truly help your parish move forward? In today’s episode, I talk with Susan Windley-Daoust, author of The Four Ways Forward: Becoming an Apostolic Parish in a Post-Christian World. Susan encourages us to focus on renewal models that prioritize: Radical hospitality, Small group discipleship, Mission refocus, Signs and wonders. Look for resources that align with these key principles and have a proven track record. Engage your parish leadership team in discernment, and don’t be afraid to start small—what matters most is finding what genuinely supports your parish’s growth in missionary identity. 1:07:02 no Parish renewal is the buzzword of the moment—and with it comes an overwhelming array of resources and ministries. So how do you cut through the noise to find what will truly help your parish move forward? In today’s episode, I talk with Susan Windley-Daoust, author of The Four Ways Forward: Becoming an Apostolic Parish in a Post-Christian World (https://www.osvcatholicbookstore.com/the-four-ways-forward-becoming-an-apostolic-parish-in-a-post-christian-world.html). Susan encourages us to focus on renewal models that prioritize: * Radical hospitality * Small group discipleship * Mission refocus * Signs and wonders Look for resources that align with these key principles and have a proven track record. Engage your parish leadership team in discernment, and don’t be afraid to start small—what matters most is finding what genuinely supports your parish’s growth in missionary identity. Want more practical insights? Tune in now! [04:10] The Call to Evangelization [19:11] Challenges in Modern Parishes [28:30] The Four Ways Forward [33:50] Respecting Individuality in Evangelization [34:18] The Power of First Proclamation [37:16] Embracing Small Groups for Spiritual Growth [43:36] Mission Refocus and Organizational Health [50:49] Elevating Signs and Wonders [58:32] Encouragement for Evangelization [01:03:15] The Mark 5:19 Project Don’t forget to check out Susan’s book (https://www.osvcatholicbookstore.com/the-four-ways-forward-becoming-an-apostolic-parish-in-a-post-christian-world.html) and the Mark 5:19 Project (https://mark519project.org/)! For more practical advice and experiences from real people sharing their mission with the world, go to https://equip.archomaha.org/podcast/. A Production of the Archdiocese of Omaha Editor: Taylor Schroll (ForteCatholic.com) parish renewal, church revitalization, Susan Windley-Daoust, The Four Ways Forward, apostolic parish, radical hospitality, small group discipleship, mission refocus, signs and wonders, evangelization strategies, church growth, faith community, Catholic Church, spiritual renewal, podcast episode, Equipcast, parish transformation, missionary identity, church leadership, practical insights Parish renewal is the buzzword of the moment—and with it comes an overwhelming array of resources and ministries. So how do you cut through the noise to find what will truly help your parish move forward?

In today’s episode, I talk with Susan Windley-Daoust, author of The Four Ways Forward: Becoming an Apostolic Parish in a Post-Christian World. Susan encourages us to focus on renewal models that prioritize:

  • Radical hospitality
  • Small group discipleship
  • Mission refocus
  • Signs and wonders

Look for resources that align with these key principles and have a proven track record. Engage your parish leadership team in discernment, and don’t be afraid to start small—what matters most is finding what genuinely supports your parish’s growth in missionary identity.

Want more practical insights? Tune in now!

[04:10] The Call to Evangelization
[19:11] Challenges in Modern Parishes
[28:30] The Four Ways Forward
[33:50] Respecting Individuality in Evangelization
[34:18] The Power of First Proclamation
[37:16] Embracing Small Groups for Spiritual Growth
[43:36] Mission Refocus and Organizational Health
[50:49] Elevating Signs and Wonders
[58:32] Encouragement for Evangelization
[01:03:15] The Mark 5:19 Project

Don’t forget to check out Susan’s book and the Mark 5:19 Project!

For more practical advice and experiences from real people sharing their mission with the world, go to https://equip.archomaha.org/podcast/.

A Production of the Archdiocese of Omaha
Editor: Taylor Schroll (ForteCatholic.com)

]]> Parish renewal is the buzzword of the moment—and with it comes an overwhelming array of resources and ministries. So how do you cut through the noise to find what will truly help your parish move forward?

In today’s episode, I talk with Susan Windley-Daoust, author of The Four Ways Forward: Becoming an Apostolic Parish in a Post-Christian World. Susan encourages us to focus on renewal models that prioritize:

  • Radical hospitality
  • Small group discipleship
  • Mission refocus
  • Signs and wonders

Look for resources that align with these key principles and have a proven track record. Engage your parish leadership team in discernment, and don’t be afraid to start small—what matters most is finding what genuinely supports your parish’s growth in missionary identity.

Want more practical insights? Tune in now!

[04:10] The Call to Evangelization
[19:11] Challenges in Modern Parishes
[28:30] The Four Ways Forward
[33:50] Respecting Individuality in Evangelization
[34:18] The Power of First Proclamation
[37:16] Embracing Small Groups for Spiritual Growth
[43:36] Mission Refocus and Organizational Health
[50:49] Elevating Signs and Wonders
[58:32] Encouragement for Evangelization
[01:03:15] The Mark 5:19 Project

Don’t forget to check out Susan’s book and the Mark 5:19 Project!

For more practical advice and experiences from real people sharing their mission with the world, go to https://equip.archomaha.org/podcast/.

A Production of the Archdiocese of Omaha
Editor: Taylor Schroll (ForteCatholic.com)

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