EquipCast
Encouragement and inspiration for sharing your catholic faith
Displaying all 2 Episode of EquipCast with the tag “transforming parishes”.
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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.
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Episode 175: From Comfort Zones to Mission: Transforming Parish Mindsets Through Lifelong Learning
Episode | February 18th, 2025 | 1 hr 1 min
archdiocese of omaha, catholic, catholic ministry, church culture change, church education, church leadership, church mission, continuous learning, disciples, evangelism, evangelization, faith development, faith growth, fr. dave belt, lifelong learning, making disciples, mission-driven leadership, mission-oriented church, parish community, parish transformation, pastoral council, st. stephen the martyr, team building, transforming parishes
How can we help others shift from a maintenance mindset to a missional one? It starts with prayer and reflection but also requires creating an environment where people feel safe to explore new ideas and take risks. Encouraging continuous learning is key. By embracing new knowledge and experiences, we can deepen our faith and learn to live it out more fully. This journey of growth breaks down silos, builds stronger relationships, and fosters a vibrant, mission-oriented community. Join me as I sit down with Fr. Dave Belt, Pastor of St. Stephen the Martyr in Omaha, to discuss the transformative power of learning. He shares personal stories, effective team-building practices, and insights on fostering a sense of purpose and mission, Discover how helping others see their efforts as part of something larger and more meaningful can inspire a dynamic, responsive, and Gospel-rooted Church—the Church that God is calling us to be.