The EquipCast
Practical Evangelization & Parish Ministry Tools for Catholic Leaders
Displaying 7 items of The EquipCast with the tag "parish leadership".
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Episode 204: How to Break Your Clear Path (Part 2)
Episode | January 20th, 2026 | 44 mins 11 secs
accompaniment, archdiocese of omaha, building disciples, catholic, catholic evangelization, catholic ministry, catholic parish culture, church ministry strategy, clear path to discipleship, disciples, evangelism, evangelization, making disciples, missionary discipleship, parish leadership, parish renewal
What happens when we start trusting programs more than we trust people? Discipleship slows down—because programs don’t accompany anyone. People do. Programs support the mission, but people are the mission. In part two of this conversation on what really breaks a clear path to discipleship, we talk honestly about why great programming isn’t enough, how over commitment burns out your best leaders, and why accompaniment and simplicity matter more than adding one more initiative.
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Episode 203: How to Break Your Clear Path (Part 1)
Episode | January 13th, 2026 | 39 mins 5 secs
alpha evangelization, archdiocese of omaha, building disciples, catholic, catholic discipleship, catholic ministry, clear path to discipleship, conversion first leadership, disciples, evangelism, evangelization, evangelization strategy, making disciples, missionary discipleship, parish discipleship, parish leadership, parish renewal
Why do discipleship efforts that start with so much hope sometimes stall—or fall apart? In this episode, I sit down with coaches from our Parish Support Team to talk honestly about how Clear Paths to discipleship can break down—often before we even realize it’s happening. We walk through five common ways parishes unintentionally derail discipleship—and what faithful leaders can do differently. We talk about slowing down to listen to the Holy Spirit, why conversion has to come before strategy, and how real fruit grows through relationships, not just programs.
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Episode 199: Pilgrims of Hope: The Recipe for Lasting Parish Renewal with Julianne Stanz
Episode | November 11th, 2025 | 1 hr 7 mins
archdiocese of omaha, catholic, catholic ministry, catholic parish renewal, church change management, disciples, discipleship in action, evangelism, evangelization, faith-based leadership, julianne stanz, loyola press, making disciples, managing church change, ministry transformation, parish leadership, pastoral planning
What if the secret to transforming your parish isn’t doing more—but praying more deeply and trusting God to lead? We’ve seen it happen. The Diocese of Green Bay started small, rooted everything in prayer, and asked the Holy Spirit to guide them. The results were beyond what they imagined: seminarians doubled, schools flourished, and parishes once half-empty now overflow. In this episode, I talk with Julianne Stanz—a nationally recognized leader in evangelization whose own encounter with God set her on this path—about the real ingredients for lasting renewal. Together, we explore how prayer, vision, relationships, and simple, steady steps can turn hope into a movement. It’s not a program; it’s a way of life that lets God bring new life to His Church.
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Episode 191: Real Christian Unity: How to Have Ecumenical Conversations with More Mercy Apostolate
Episode | September 2nd, 2025 | 1 hr 4 mins
archdiocese of omaha, building community, catholic, catholic ministry, catholic podcast, church engagement, disciples, equipcast, evangelism, evangelization, evangelization strategies, faith formation, intentional hospitality, making disciples, missionary disciples, neighborhood ministry, outreach discernment, outreach events, outreach planning, parish leadership, parish ministry, parish renewal, pre-evangelization, relational outreach, small group outreach, spiritual accompaniment
Can real friendship heal division in the Church? When I sit with John 17, I’m struck that He was praying for a unity that’s visible, relational, and compelling—a unity that makes the world stop and notice that He was sent by the Father. That kind of unity shows up in real friendships, in shared service, in conversations where we seek truth together—not to win an argument, but to love each other well and grow together, even when we don’t see eye to eye. It’s messy, but it’s also where the Lord does His best work. In this episode of EquipCast, I sit down with Max Chapman and Jeremiah Zimmerman from the More Mercy apostolate to talk about what this looks like in real life. Max shares how praying with John 17 sparked a deep desire in him to build bridges with Christians from other traditions. What started as simple conversations turned into friendships that not only challenged him but also strengthened his Catholic faith. You’ll hear why unity isn’t just an ideal for theologians—it’s something we’re all called to live, one relationship at a time.
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How to Choose (Part 4): Relational Outreach
Episode | August 26th, 2025 | 56 mins 39 secs
archdiocese of omaha, building community, catholic, catholic evangelization, catholic ministry, catholic outreach ideas, catholic podcast, disciples, equipcast, evangelism, evangelization, evangelization training, faith formation, intentional hospitality, making disciples, missionary disciples, neighborhood ministry, outreach discernment, outreach strategies, parish engagement, parish leadership, parish ministry, parish renewal, relational ministry, relational outreach, small group ministry
What if your parish’s most “welcoming” events are actually pushing people away? In this episode, I sit down with the team to unpack the surprising truth about relational outreach—and why it’s often the last step parishes build, even though it’s the first step many people need. We talk about what makes outreach truly relational (hint: it’s not donuts after Mass), how to create spaces where people feel like they belong before they believe, and why introverts might just be your parish’s secret evangelization weapon. If you’ve ever wondered how to reach people who’ve drifted from the Church—or never really connected in the first place—this one’s for you.
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How to Choose (Part 1): Conversion Moment
Episode | August 5th, 2025 | 1 hr 20 secs
alpha program, archdiocese of omaha, bilingual ministry, catholic, catholic evangelization, catholic ministry, catholic parish strategy, catholic podcast, catholic retreats, catholic small groups, christlife, clear path ministry, conversion moment, discernment in ministry, disciples, evangelism, evangelization, evangelization tools, faith formation, hospitality in ministry, making disciples, missionary discipleship, parish leadership, parish renewal, spiritual conversion, unity in diversity
Need help choosing steps on the Clear Path of Discipleship that fit your community? Today, we dive into the heart of missionary transformation: the conversion moment. I sit down with my team to unpack why these moments matter—and how they’re changing lives in real time. You’ll hear unforgettable stories (like a bartender who became a parish secretary) and see how ministries like Alpha, ChristLife, and parish retreats are helping people truly encounter Jesus. But this isn’t just about programs. It’s about creating space for people to meet Jesus—and letting that encounter ripple out into the life of your parish. We talk about what’s working, what’s not, and how to choose a format that actually fits your community. We also get real about the challenges—and the surprising opportunities—of doing this in diverse or bilingual settings. If you're trying to figure out where to start, or wondering how to take your next step toward a more missionary parish, this episode is for you. Get ready to think big—and start small.
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Episode 178: Measuring Faith: How Data and Devotion Are Revitalizing Sacred Heart Parish
Episode | March 18th, 2025 | 50 mins 29 secs
archdiocese of omaha, building vibrant parishes, catholic, catholic discipleship, catholic ministry, catholic podcast, church growth strategies, church leadership insights, confession habits, disciples, equipcast, eucharist devotion, evangelism, evangelization, faith community, faith-filled community, father jamie zarse, leadership teams, making disciples, marriage enrichment, mass attendance, measuring spiritual progress, ocia growth, parish generosity, parish leadership, parish renewal, parish success stories, parish transformation, prayer warriors, rosary devotion, sacred heart parish, scriptural prayer, shawnee kansas, spiritual habits, transforming parishes
What does it take to build a thriving, faith-filled parish? In this episode, I sit down with Father Jamie Zarse, pastor at Sacred Heart Parish in Shawnee, Kansas, to unpack his vision for renewing his parish—starting with a team of prayer warriors and leaders—and the spiritual habits that are transforming his community. From deeper devotion to the Eucharist and the Rosary to more frequent confession and scripture-based prayer, these simple yet powerful practices are sparking real change. Mass attendance is up by 18%, generosity is growing with an additional $408,000 in tithing, and parishioners are coming alive in their faith. Father Jamie also reveals why measuring spiritual progress and forming strong leadership teams are key to sustaining this momentum. He shares how his leadership team, a mix of staff and dedicated volunteers, meets weekly to ensure they are always working on the most important things. They even use innovative tools like QR code surveys during Mass to track engagement in key spiritual habits.