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    <fireside:genDate>Wed, 01 Jul 2026 16:14:33 +0000</fireside:genDate>
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    <title>The EquipCast - Episodes Tagged with “Community Engagement”</title>
    <link>https://archomahaequip.fireside.fm/tags/community%20engagement</link>
    <pubDate>Tue, 09 Apr 2024 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
    <description>The EquipCast is your weekly playbook for practical evangelization and parish ministry tools. Hosted by Jim Jansen and powered by Everyday Evangelization, this show is built for diocesan directors, parish leaders, and everyday Catholics who are ready to stop the programmatic noise, break through the grind, and build a clear path to discipleship that actually changes lives. We’ve been talking about the New Evangelization for thirty years, yet church renewal often feels like an endless cycle of empty activity while generations continue to lose their faith. If you are tired of managing decline and spinning your wheels in the messy middle of ministry, you don’t have to carry the weight alone. Every week, we break the default of "doing more" to deliver honest conversations and real stories from people who are finally seeing their faith communities thrive. Hit subscribe, head over to EverydayEvangelization.org to grab your free tools, and discover how to leave your ministry better than you found it.</description>
    <language>en-us</language>
    <itunes:type>episodic</itunes:type>
    <itunes:subtitle>Practical Evangelization &amp; Parish Ministry Tools for Catholic Leaders</itunes:subtitle>
    <itunes:author>Jim Jansen | Everyday Evangelization &amp; Parish Ministry Tools</itunes:author>
    <itunes:summary>The EquipCast is your weekly playbook for practical evangelization and parish ministry tools. Hosted by Jim Jansen and powered by Everyday Evangelization, this show is built for diocesan directors, parish leaders, and everyday Catholics who are ready to stop the programmatic noise, break through the grind, and build a clear path to discipleship that actually changes lives. We’ve been talking about the New Evangelization for thirty years, yet church renewal often feels like an endless cycle of empty activity while generations continue to lose their faith. If you are tired of managing decline and spinning your wheels in the messy middle of ministry, you don’t have to carry the weight alone. Every week, we break the default of "doing more" to deliver honest conversations and real stories from people who are finally seeing their faith communities thrive. Hit subscribe, head over to EverydayEvangelization.org to grab your free tools, and discover how to leave your ministry better than you found it.</itunes:summary>
    <itunes:image href="https://media24.fireside.fm/file/fireside-images-2024/podcasts/images/2/2ac6479b-62cb-4adc-8a98-24d6a156cc99/cover.jpg?v=8"/>
    <itunes:explicit>no</itunes:explicit>
    <itunes:keywords>parish ministry tools, practical evangelization, church renewal, parish renewal, Clear Path to Discipleship, how to share your faith, Catholic discipleship framework, New Evangelization resources, parish leadership training, diocesan directors, parish leaders, Catholic pastors, priest ministry tools, everyday Catholics, Catholic ministry podcast, managing church decline, ministry burnout, how to make disciples, evangelization strategies, Everyday Evangelization, Jim Jansen</itunes:keywords>
    <itunes:owner>
      <itunes:name>Jim Jansen | Everyday Evangelization &amp; Parish Ministry Tools</itunes:name>
      <itunes:email>whitney.a.bradley@gmail.com</itunes:email>
    </itunes:owner>
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  <itunes:category text="Relationships"/>
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<item>
  <title>Phase 2: Discernment – How to Build a Clear Path of Discipleship</title>
  <link>https://archomahaequip.fireside.fm/143</link>
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  <pubDate>Tue, 09 Apr 2024 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
  <author>Jim Jansen | Everyday Evangelization &amp; Parish Ministry Tools</author>
  <enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/2ac6479b-62cb-4adc-8a98-24d6a156cc99/94cfa860-783f-475f-9ced-401f32da7bb3.mp3" length="61744826" type="audio/mpeg"/>
  <itunes:episode>143</itunes:episode>
  <itunes:title>Phase 2: Discernment – How to Build a Clear Path of Discipleship</itunes:title>
  <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
  <itunes:author>Jim Jansen | Everyday Evangelization &amp; Parish Ministry Tools</itunes:author>
  <itunes:subtitle>What does the Lord say about the plans you have for your parish? As you seek renewal for your parish community, are you intentionally asking for the Lord’s input? While many of us are prayerful individuals, praying collectively with a team about the strategy for becoming mission-oriented probably feels like uncharted territory. However, if we want to succeed, we must invite the Lord to be part of the process. In this second episode of the series How to Build a Clear Path of Discipleship, Fr. Damian Zuerlein, Dcn. Doug Lenz, and Ann Lenz from St. Frances Cabrini discuss how as they brought change to their community, they remained open to God's direction and surrendered to His will, even when faced with challenges and uncertainties. Their experiences reflect a deep sense of faith and openness to the Holy Spirit's guidance in their parish life.
</itunes:subtitle>
  <itunes:duration>42:46</itunes:duration>
  <itunes:explicit>no</itunes:explicit>
  <itunes:image href="https://media24.fireside.fm/file/fireside-images-2024/podcasts/images/2/2ac6479b-62cb-4adc-8a98-24d6a156cc99/episodes/9/94cfa860-783f-475f-9ced-401f32da7bb3/cover.jpg?v=2"/>
  <description>&lt;p&gt;What does the Lord say about the plans you have for your parish? As you seek renewal for your parish community, are you intentionally asking for the Lord’s input? While many of us are prayerful individuals, praying collectively with a team about the strategy for becoming mission-oriented probably feels like uncharted territory. However, if we want to succeed, we must invite the Lord to be part of the process.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;In this second episode of the series &lt;strong&gt;How to Build a &lt;a href="https://equip.archomaha.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/CP-Definitions-and-Phases-8.pdf" rel="nofollow noopener"&gt;Clear Path of Discipleship&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;, Fr. Damian Zuerlein, Dcn. Doug Lenz, and Ann Lenz from St. Frances Cabrini discuss how as they brought change to their community, they remained open to God's direction and surrendered to His will, even when faced with challenges and uncertainties. Their experiences reflect a deep sense of faith and openness to the Holy Spirit's guidance in their parish life.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Here’s what to expect from this episode:&lt;br&gt;
[06:37] How St. Frances Cabrini embraced Discernment and Renewal&lt;br&gt;
[14:35] The Power of Community and Creativity in Faith&lt;br&gt;
[18:30] Taking Leaps of Faith: Stories of Discernment and Action&lt;br&gt;
[27:04] Navigating Change and Finding Purpose&lt;br&gt;
[29:30] The Role of the Holy Spirit in Guiding the Community&lt;br&gt;
[38:43] Reflections and Advice for Faith Communities&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;For more on the Clear Path, read the book, &lt;a href="https://www.amazon.com/Clear-Path-Missionary-Disciples-Parish/dp/B0CHL7DB58" rel="nofollow noopener"&gt;A Clear Path to Discipleship&lt;/a&gt;: How to Make Missionary Disciples in Your Parish&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;For more practical advice and experiences from real people sharing their mission with the world, go to &lt;a href="https://equip.archomaha.org/podcast/" rel="nofollow noopener"&gt;https://equip.archomaha.org/podcast/&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;A Production of the Archdiocese of Omaha&lt;br&gt;
Editor: Taylor Schroll (ForteCatholic.com) &lt;/p&gt;
</description>
  <itunes:keywords>Parish renewal, church leadership, spiritual discernment, community engagement, faith-based storytelling, discipleship journey, mission-driven strategy, Christian community building, hospitality culture, prayerful leadership, clear path to discipleship</itunes:keywords>
  <content:encoded>
    <![CDATA[<p>What does the Lord say about the plans you have for your parish? As you seek renewal for your parish community, are you intentionally asking for the Lord’s input? While many of us are prayerful individuals, praying collectively with a team about the strategy for becoming mission-oriented probably feels like uncharted territory. However, if we want to succeed, we must invite the Lord to be part of the process.</p>

<p>In this second episode of the series <strong>How to Build a <a href="https://equip.archomaha.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/CP-Definitions-and-Phases-8.pdf" rel="nofollow noopener">Clear Path of Discipleship</a></strong>, Fr. Damian Zuerlein, Dcn. Doug Lenz, and Ann Lenz from St. Frances Cabrini discuss how as they brought change to their community, they remained open to God's direction and surrendered to His will, even when faced with challenges and uncertainties. Their experiences reflect a deep sense of faith and openness to the Holy Spirit's guidance in their parish life.</p>

<p>Here’s what to expect from this episode:<br>
[06:37] How St. Frances Cabrini embraced Discernment and Renewal<br>
[14:35] The Power of Community and Creativity in Faith<br>
[18:30] Taking Leaps of Faith: Stories of Discernment and Action<br>
[27:04] Navigating Change and Finding Purpose<br>
[29:30] The Role of the Holy Spirit in Guiding the Community<br>
[38:43] Reflections and Advice for Faith Communities</p>

<p>For more on the Clear Path, read the book, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Clear-Path-Missionary-Disciples-Parish/dp/B0CHL7DB58" rel="nofollow noopener">A Clear Path to Discipleship</a>: How to Make Missionary Disciples in Your Parish</p>

<p>For more practical advice and experiences from real people sharing their mission with the world, go to <a href="https://equip.archomaha.org/podcast/" rel="nofollow noopener">https://equip.archomaha.org/podcast/</a>.</p>

<p>A Production of the Archdiocese of Omaha<br>
Editor: Taylor Schroll (ForteCatholic.com)</p>]]>
  </content:encoded>
  <itunes:summary>
    <![CDATA[<p>What does the Lord say about the plans you have for your parish? As you seek renewal for your parish community, are you intentionally asking for the Lord’s input? While many of us are prayerful individuals, praying collectively with a team about the strategy for becoming mission-oriented probably feels like uncharted territory. However, if we want to succeed, we must invite the Lord to be part of the process.</p>

<p>In this second episode of the series <strong>How to Build a <a href="https://equip.archomaha.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/CP-Definitions-and-Phases-8.pdf" rel="nofollow noopener">Clear Path of Discipleship</a></strong>, Fr. Damian Zuerlein, Dcn. Doug Lenz, and Ann Lenz from St. Frances Cabrini discuss how as they brought change to their community, they remained open to God's direction and surrendered to His will, even when faced with challenges and uncertainties. Their experiences reflect a deep sense of faith and openness to the Holy Spirit's guidance in their parish life.</p>

<p>Here’s what to expect from this episode:<br>
[06:37] How St. Frances Cabrini embraced Discernment and Renewal<br>
[14:35] The Power of Community and Creativity in Faith<br>
[18:30] Taking Leaps of Faith: Stories of Discernment and Action<br>
[27:04] Navigating Change and Finding Purpose<br>
[29:30] The Role of the Holy Spirit in Guiding the Community<br>
[38:43] Reflections and Advice for Faith Communities</p>

<p>For more on the Clear Path, read the book, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Clear-Path-Missionary-Disciples-Parish/dp/B0CHL7DB58" rel="nofollow noopener">A Clear Path to Discipleship</a>: How to Make Missionary Disciples in Your Parish</p>

<p>For more practical advice and experiences from real people sharing their mission with the world, go to <a href="https://equip.archomaha.org/podcast/" rel="nofollow noopener">https://equip.archomaha.org/podcast/</a>.</p>

<p>A Production of the Archdiocese of Omaha<br>
Editor: Taylor Schroll (ForteCatholic.com)</p>]]>
  </itunes:summary>
</item>
<item>
  <title>Reviving a Dying Parish: How Embracing a Culture of Invitation Breathed Life into St. Frances Cabrini</title>
  <link>https://archomahaequip.fireside.fm/114</link>
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  <pubDate>Tue, 07 Mar 2023 04:00:00 -0600</pubDate>
  <author>Jim Jansen | Everyday Evangelization &amp; Parish Ministry Tools</author>
  <enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/2ac6479b-62cb-4adc-8a98-24d6a156cc99/3111f739-461d-4834-8ee2-217e6d7488d3.mp3" length="78627219" type="audio/mpeg"/>
  <itunes:episode>114</itunes:episode>
  <itunes:title>Reviving a Dying Parish: How Embracing a Culture of Invitation Breathed Life into St. Frances Cabrini</itunes:title>
  <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
  <itunes:author>Jim Jansen | Everyday Evangelization &amp; Parish Ministry Tools</itunes:author>
  <itunes:subtitle>St. Frances Cabrini, one of our oldest and most historic parishes, was dying. And if its story followed the usual pattern, it would be closed. Instead, the parish is not only growing, but its people are thriving. How did this community reinvent itself in less than 7 years? The parish leaders embraced a relationship with the Holy Spirit, allowing the him to guide their initiatives. Then, they started small, fostering intentional relationships, recognizing and inviting people to participate, and They now have a culture of invitation. Every parishioner knows they should be reaching out to others, drawing the community together and to the person of Christ.
</itunes:subtitle>
  <itunes:duration>54:15</itunes:duration>
  <itunes:explicit>no</itunes:explicit>
  <itunes:image href="https://media24.fireside.fm/file/fireside-images-2024/podcasts/images/2/2ac6479b-62cb-4adc-8a98-24d6a156cc99/episodes/3/3111f739-461d-4834-8ee2-217e6d7488d3/cover.jpg?v=1"/>
  <description>&lt;p&gt;St. Frances Cabrini, one of our oldest and most historic parishes, was dying. And if its story followed the usual pattern, it would be closed. Instead, the parish is not only growing, but its people are thriving. How did this community reinvent itself in less than 7 years? &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;The parish leaders embraced a relationship with the Holy Spirit, allowing the him to guide their initiatives. Then, they started small, fostering intentional relationships, recognizing and inviting people to participate, and They now have a culture of invitation. Every parishioner knows they should be reaching out to others, drawing the community together and to the person of Christ.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;In this episode, you will learn:&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;How significant intentional relationships and personal invitations are for community engagement.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;How communal prayer and diverse perspectives can nurture a dynamic parish culture.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;How simple acts like personal invitations and communal meals can foster connections and a sense of belonging.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;The importance of allowing the Holy Spirit to guide and shape community efforts.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;

&lt;p&gt;For more practical advice and experiences from real people sharing their mission with the world, go to &lt;a href="https://equip.archomaha.org/podcast/" rel="nofollow noopener"&gt;https://equip.archomaha.org/podcast/&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;A Production of the Archdiocese of Omaha&lt;br&gt;
Editor: Taylor Schroll (ForteCatholic.com) &lt;/p&gt;
</description>
  <itunes:keywords>Community Engagement, Effective Communication, Building Connections, Cabrini Community, Youth Engagement, Leadership Development, Intentional Community Building, Catholic Parish Dynamics, Spiritual Growth, Youth Empowerment, Interpersonal Relationships, Collaborative Ministry, Young Adult Involvement, Catholic Faith Community, Sharing Spiritual Gifts, Prayer and Reflection, Multi-generational Faith, Empathy and Understanding, Discipleship Journey, Inclusive Faith Practice</itunes:keywords>
  <content:encoded>
    <![CDATA[<p>St. Frances Cabrini, one of our oldest and most historic parishes, was dying. And if its story followed the usual pattern, it would be closed. Instead, the parish is not only growing, but its people are thriving. How did this community reinvent itself in less than 7 years? </p>

<p>The parish leaders embraced a relationship with the Holy Spirit, allowing the him to guide their initiatives. Then, they started small, fostering intentional relationships, recognizing and inviting people to participate, and They now have a culture of invitation. Every parishioner knows they should be reaching out to others, drawing the community together and to the person of Christ.</p>

<p>In this episode, you will learn:</p>

<ul>
<li>How significant intentional relationships and personal invitations are for community engagement.</li>
<li>How communal prayer and diverse perspectives can nurture a dynamic parish culture.</li>
<li>How simple acts like personal invitations and communal meals can foster connections and a sense of belonging.</li>
<li>The importance of allowing the Holy Spirit to guide and shape community efforts.</li>
</ul>

<p>For more practical advice and experiences from real people sharing their mission with the world, go to <a href="https://equip.archomaha.org/podcast/" rel="nofollow noopener">https://equip.archomaha.org/podcast/</a>.</p>

<p>A Production of the Archdiocese of Omaha<br>
Editor: Taylor Schroll (ForteCatholic.com)</p>]]>
  </content:encoded>
  <itunes:summary>
    <![CDATA[<p>St. Frances Cabrini, one of our oldest and most historic parishes, was dying. And if its story followed the usual pattern, it would be closed. Instead, the parish is not only growing, but its people are thriving. How did this community reinvent itself in less than 7 years? </p>

<p>The parish leaders embraced a relationship with the Holy Spirit, allowing the him to guide their initiatives. Then, they started small, fostering intentional relationships, recognizing and inviting people to participate, and They now have a culture of invitation. Every parishioner knows they should be reaching out to others, drawing the community together and to the person of Christ.</p>

<p>In this episode, you will learn:</p>

<ul>
<li>How significant intentional relationships and personal invitations are for community engagement.</li>
<li>How communal prayer and diverse perspectives can nurture a dynamic parish culture.</li>
<li>How simple acts like personal invitations and communal meals can foster connections and a sense of belonging.</li>
<li>The importance of allowing the Holy Spirit to guide and shape community efforts.</li>
</ul>

<p>For more practical advice and experiences from real people sharing their mission with the world, go to <a href="https://equip.archomaha.org/podcast/" rel="nofollow noopener">https://equip.archomaha.org/podcast/</a>.</p>

<p>A Production of the Archdiocese of Omaha<br>
Editor: Taylor Schroll (ForteCatholic.com)</p>]]>
  </itunes:summary>
</item>
<item>
  <title>Coach's Corner 2: Closing Churches</title>
  <link>https://archomahaequip.fireside.fm/cc2</link>
  <guid isPermaLink="false">4084704b-64d3-4b67-836f-d96d3740853d</guid>
  <pubDate>Tue, 07 Feb 2023 04:00:00 -0600</pubDate>
  <author>Jim Jansen | Everyday Evangelization &amp; Parish Ministry Tools</author>
  <enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/2ac6479b-62cb-4adc-8a98-24d6a156cc99/4084704b-64d3-4b67-836f-d96d3740853d.mp3" length="12291918" type="audio/mpeg"/>
  <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
  <itunes:author>Jim Jansen | Everyday Evangelization &amp; Parish Ministry Tools</itunes:author>
  <itunes:subtitle>Did you know that in July of this year more than 20 parishes in our diocese will cease having Sunday Mass? Maybe one of these parishes is your own. The cessation of Sunday Mass will be one of the hardest events for faithful Catholics to process. It feels like the death of a loved one. However, this is not the first time God's people have had to deal with their worship in a particular place coming to an end. I’d like to offer lessons from the past. Why is this happening and what should our response be?
</itunes:subtitle>
  <itunes:duration>8:16</itunes:duration>
  <itunes:explicit>no</itunes:explicit>
  <itunes:image href="https://media24.fireside.fm/file/fireside-images-2024/podcasts/images/2/2ac6479b-62cb-4adc-8a98-24d6a156cc99/episodes/4/4084704b-64d3-4b67-836f-d96d3740853d/cover.jpg?v=1"/>
  <description>&lt;p&gt;Did you know that in July of this year more than 20 parishes in our diocese will cease having Sunday Mass? Maybe one of these parishes is your own. The cessation of Sunday Mass will be one of the hardest events for faithful Catholics to process. It feels like the death of a loved one. However, this is not the first time God's people have had to deal with their worship in a particular place coming to an end. I’d like to offer lessons from the past. Why is this happening and what should our response be?&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;References:&lt;br&gt;
&lt;a href="https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2020/07/20/200720a.html" rel="nofollow noopener"&gt;Vatican document on Pastoral Planning&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;A Production of the Archdiocese of Omaha&lt;br&gt;
Editor: Taylor Schroll (ForteCatholic.com) &lt;/p&gt;
</description>
  <itunes:keywords>Archdiocese of Omaha, Church closures, Missionary identity, New evangelization, Christian witness, Church growth strategies, Cultural transformation, Faith renewal</itunes:keywords>
  <content:encoded>
    <![CDATA[<p>Did you know that in July of this year more than 20 parishes in our diocese will cease having Sunday Mass? Maybe one of these parishes is your own. The cessation of Sunday Mass will be one of the hardest events for faithful Catholics to process. It feels like the death of a loved one. However, this is not the first time God's people have had to deal with their worship in a particular place coming to an end. I’d like to offer lessons from the past. Why is this happening and what should our response be?</p>

<p>References:<br>
<a href="https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2020/07/20/200720a.html" rel="nofollow noopener">Vatican document on Pastoral Planning</a></p>

<p>A Production of the Archdiocese of Omaha<br>
Editor: Taylor Schroll (ForteCatholic.com)</p>]]>
  </content:encoded>
  <itunes:summary>
    <![CDATA[<p>Did you know that in July of this year more than 20 parishes in our diocese will cease having Sunday Mass? Maybe one of these parishes is your own. The cessation of Sunday Mass will be one of the hardest events for faithful Catholics to process. It feels like the death of a loved one. However, this is not the first time God's people have had to deal with their worship in a particular place coming to an end. I’d like to offer lessons from the past. Why is this happening and what should our response be?</p>

<p>References:<br>
<a href="https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2020/07/20/200720a.html" rel="nofollow noopener">Vatican document on Pastoral Planning</a></p>

<p>A Production of the Archdiocese of Omaha<br>
Editor: Taylor Schroll (ForteCatholic.com)</p>]]>
  </itunes:summary>
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