EquipCast - Episodes Tagged with “Divine Renovation”

Episode 171: Transform Your Parish: Fr. James Mallon on Evangelization, Discipleship, and Church Growth

Archdiocese of Omaha — Tue, 14 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -0600

Pope John Paul II tells us that “evangelization is the cornerstone of all pastoral action, the demands of which are primary, preeminent and preferential.” Yet, let’s be real—how often do we actually see this lived out in our parishes? Evangelization tends to take a back seat, overshadowed by other priorities, rarely making it into budgets or staffing plans. But here’s the truth: holiness and orthodoxy aren’t enough on their own to renew a parish.

This week, I sit down with Fr. James Mallon, the author of Divine Renovation, to talk about how we can create parishes that inspire a commitment to Christ and cultivate a dynamic, engaged faith community. We dive into what it takes to make evangelization the heart of parish life, break through cultural barriers, and build leadership teams that lead with purpose.

[03:08] Father James Mallon's Journey: From Ordination to Evangelization
[08:13] The Role of Evangelization in Parish Transformation
[11:38] Practical Steps to Prioritize Evangelization
[21:08] Defining Evangelization: What It Is and What It Isn't
[31:54] The Role of the Baptized in Evangelization
[33:52] Transforming Parishes into Missionary Outposts
[36:05] Challenges and Success Stories
[40:37] Building Effective Leadership Teams
[52:31] Insights from Diocesan Leadership
[58:17] Keys to Continued Growth in Parish Renewal
[01:02:57] The Power of the Holy Spirit

Also, check out Fr. Mallon’s current parish OLG Dartmouth, Divine Renovation Ministry YouTube channel, and the Divine Renovation website.

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 169: Praying with Purpose: Expect God to Speak About Your Mission with Hannah Vaughan-Spruce

Archdiocese of Omaha — Tue, 10 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -0600

Have you ever wondered how to bring the Lord into your work, expanding your prayer life beyond personal devotion? In this episode, we explore missional prayer—prayer that aligns our hearts with the Holy Spirit, focusing on the transformation of our parishes and neighborhoods. It's about moving beyond inward devotion to intentional, outward-facing prayer for mission and evangelization.

Discover how coming together as a community to seek God's guidance and power can bring about renewal and fruitfulness in our mission. Learn to pray with a purpose, trusting that God wants to work through us to reach those who don’t yet know Him.

Join me as I talk with Hannah Vaughan-Spruce, Executive Director of Divine Renovation UK, who shares her insights on:

[01:50] Hannah's Faith Journey
[06:25] Introduction to Divine Renovation
[15:43] Mission Inspired Prayer
[28:25] The Role of Prayer in Parish Meetings
[31:53] The Importance of Expecting God to Speak
[36:14] Unique Features of Missional Prayer
[45:33] Implementing Missional Prayer in Parishes
[50:04] Building a Culture of Prayer in Parishes

Check out the Genesis Compass!

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 32: Missional Amnesia

Archdiocese of Omaha — Tue, 29 Sep 2020 06:00:00 -0500

Have you ever used a Catholic buzz word like missionary disciple or missional church and received blank looks in return? It’s a surprising experience, but the reality is many Catholics still don’t know what the word missional means. It used to be that missionaries were the people who traveled to Africa, and the Church in America grew because Catholics had big families. Our biggest problem used to be caring for all of the people who came to the Church’s doorstep, but now, we find ourselves trying to proclaim the Gospel to a world that doesn’t know much about who Jesus is or what the Church is really about. Many of us even know a family member or friend who has walked away from the faith, but it’s often difficult for us to believe that this is part of a larger cultural trend. However, the reality is that the city of Omaha is among the top 30 most secular or “post-Christian” cities in the US. Collectively, we have missional amnesia. We’ve forgotten that we are called to go and make disciples. We lack an imagination around what a missional church looks likes because, until recently, we haven’t had to be one. So, what do you say to someone who asks what a missional church is? Tune in to hear Fr. Lorig and Jim Jansen's musings on this topic.

[00:57] What Does It Mean to Be a Missional Community?
[01:42] The Unstuck Church and Church Lifecycle
[03:06] The Importance of Being Missional
[04:34] Challenges of Modern Evangelization
[06:37] The Call to Evangelize
[09:58] The Role of Holiness in Mission
[19:48] Strategies for Effective Evangelization
[23:38] The Challenge of Missionary Work
[24:28] Pope Francis' Perspective on Mission
[25:12] Reaching People Outside the Church
[26:16] The Problem with RCIA
[27:58] Evangelization Programs vs. Strategy
[29:13] Empowering Parishioners for Mission
[32:37] Creating a Missional Community
[36:28] Innovative Ideas for Outreach
[41:01] Practical Steps for Parish Staff and Families
[47:28] Conclusion and Call to Action