EquipCast

Do you feel a desire to share your faith but worry about coming across as pushy or insincere? I get it. When I go into a relationship with the motive to evangelize, it can be hard to feel genuine. That's why I want to …

How much can a simple act of kindness impact someone's life? How can your involvement in community initiatives create meaningful connections? If …

Ever wondered why prayer sometimes feels like you are talking to yourself? Do you ever look around at other leaders in your parish, thinking they've got it all figured out in the prayer department while you're …

How much does faith play a role in your professional life? Do you ever feel like you separate your “Christian self” from your “work self”? The …

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where your passion and vision are extremely compelling, but you're not the one calling the shots? Sometimes, our leaders might not tick all the boxes when it comes to vision, …

Do you ever feel like you don't have enough to give? Maybe there's debt to tackle, too many bills this month, or just not much left in the budget. But we know the Lord wants us to be generous! So, how can you increase …

Have you ever had a moment that deeply touched your soul, making you feel connected to God and changing your life? We often think of monumental …

Ever felt the exhilaration of God's presence when using your unique spiritual gifts? Can you imagine what it would be like to discover and unleash …

Have you ever felt alone even when you are in a crowd of people? Do you desire to be known and seen by a community that shares your values? Our …

In this fast-paced world, who doesn’t feel overwhelmed by busyness? There’s nothing quite so American as the stress we put on (and really, the stress caused by) doing more and thinking bigger. That’s why, today, I want …

How life-giving is the volunteer work that you do for your parish? Is it draining or invigorating? Hopefully, some of you responded, “Invigorating!” …

The call to evangelize has been consistent and increasingly urgent from our Church leaders for the past fifty plus years. When you hear that call, have you ever felt like you aren’t enough? Like you don’t have the …

Raise your hand if you feel confident that you can help your children develop a personal relationship with Jesus. If I could see you all, I bet there …

Why is sharing the source and summit of our faith rarely the first step to take when evangelizing? I want others to know and love Jesus. I know and …

We are all called to evangelize, but have you ever felt limited, feeling like you don’t have much to give? Perhaps you only have 1-2 free hours a week. Or you are only around “hard cases”, people who seem unlikely to …

July 1st is just around the corner, and with that comes a new experience of parish life for every person in the Archdiocese of Omaha. Many of us will …

Why is sharing our faith with the people closest to us sometimes the most difficult thing to do? We want the people we love to know the person we …

Are you completely satisfied with every aspect of your life? Most people dream about changing some aspect of their life, but we’re often held back by the fear and anxiety that come along with doing so. Change often …

Do you feel like the Lord is calling you to something new, but you simply don’t have the space or time in your schedule? Or are the good and restful …

I know so many of you who are listening, like me, are trying to serve the kingdom. But how often do our own health concerns keep us from doing the …

This year has brought a lot of ups and downs for the Archdiocese of Omaha. We, like many dioceses, are facing the reality of a declining number of …

Why wasn’t St. Thomas with the other apostles when Jesus appeared? I used to imagine that he was doing some mundane task like buying groceries. But, …

What keeps you from sharing your faith with others? Not enough time, knowledge, or energy? Perhaps it’s a fear of failure? Or maybe you imagine someone who evangelizes as having a skillset that you don’t. We know Jesus …

Father Flanagan, a Catholic priest, defied the norms of his time, founded Boys Town, and challenged the conventional approach to child care. His …

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. …

Ever poured your heart into planning an event, only to see the enthusiasm fade away soon after it ends, leaving you wondering what could have been …

How do we share the love of Jesus with someone who finds our beliefs contrary to their way of life? Accompaniment can be particularly tricky when we …

I hear so many people these days saying things like, “I feel the Lord calling me to share my faith with others.” But for so many of us, evangelization is new and daunting. So today, I invited Michael Hall, an expert in …

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. …

Did you know that since 1990 more than 400 new Catholic schools have opened in the United States? Unfortunately, during that same period there's been …

By now, you’ve probably heard about the Journey of Faith. This is the archdiocese’s name for pastoral planning, the process by which a diocese tries to properly allocate its resources when faced with changing …

I’ve told you before that I’m convinced small faith sharing groups will bring renewal to our Church. One of my favorite ways to get small groups …

In the world of evangelization, there is a lot of talk about how to reach families because the young family is often the most underserved demographic of our parishes. But how do we catch them when parents are so often …

Have you ever noticed that the unique story of one person can highlight a universal truth about humanity? I often ponder how the Lord uses the story of someone who is seemingly different from myself to teach me that …

I’m trying something new. My team and I have the privilege of working with leaders in parishes as they discern how to move their parish culture …

If you’ve had a chance to check out the Journey of Faith, you know there are many reasons we’ve entered a season of restructuring in our diocese. One of these reasons is that by 2033, we will have approximately 81 …

Whatever your ministry, whatever your background, I’m confident that today’s episode is for you. I’m confident because it is about the Gospel, and I’ve seen first-hand the power of the good news of Jesus.

It …

The victory is ours; through Jesus, the battle is won! (1 Corinthians 15:57)

I know this to be true, but does it ever feel like the battle for your own heart and mind is on-going?

Today, I talk with Jessica Navin …

JPII once said in a homily “As the family goes…so goes the whole world in which we live.” As I continue to beat the drum for missional communities, …

The conversation today might at first feel like a niche topic. I talk to Fr. Tom Fangman about how he learned to let go and start working with an administrative assistant. Now, if you aren’t a pastor or a CEO, you might …

In a post-Roe world, the ministries that support mothers and children are more necessary than ever. In Omaha, we have a few homes for pregnant women, …

As you know, the culture has been rapidly changing around us, and as a result, the Church is diminishing in size. If we want our parishes to flourish …

We’ve all had the experience of drinking from a firehose of information. At seminars or retreats where this happens, I often hear people say things like, “It’s overwhelming…but all the information is good!” And it’s …

Our lives are busy. If you are like me, every day, there are demands on your time. I have obligations as a father, as a full-time employee, and as a …

Is it important to "win" at ministry work? Should we set goals, run after them, and measure them? It's probably no surprise that my answer to this is …

What is the Lord doing for you in prayer?

As many of us know, life comes with suffering. Our daily struggles can so easily rattle us and disrupt our peace. This, then, creeps into the way we interact with God.

Today, …

The culture is changing around us, and the things that used to grow the parish community no longer do. If we want to continue drawing others to …

I know…I know! Talking about Lent in August feels like it should be in one of those “It’s too early for Christmas” memes. You guys know, I get really …

The buzz phrase "Meet people where they are!" has been around for a while now. Pope Francis often concretizes this in a call to go out and be with those who are suffering. While many of us are no stranger to caring for …

This week I talk to a friend in the Diocese of Houma Thibodaux. If you couldn't tell by the hard to pronounce spelling, that's in Louisiana. There, …

As much as I would like them to, our episodes on stewardship do not do as well as our episodes on evangelization. We are so used to thinking about …

The end to abortion is here! ...Legally...at the federal level.

While we should celebrate a major victory in the fight against abortion, the work …

Let's talk about productivity. There is this lie that is a two-edged sword in the Christian world. For some, getting tasks done does not come naturally, and so it can rob them of the peace that comes with a relationship …

The Archdiocese's Big Goal, each parish in the Archdiocese of Omaha will be a missional community, has three characteristics: collaborative …

With the Journey of Faith underway, the words “flourishing” and “missional community” have become buzzwords in our diocese. Many good people have been asking, “Wait…ARE we a missional community? What does it even mean …

Making the shift towards becoming a missional community, whether that's in a parish or a ministry, often means taking steps into the unknown. It means opening ourselves to new the things that God desires for us, and as …

As the archdiocese goes through the pastoral planning process called Journey of Faith, I'm sure you've heard some of the statistics. One of the most striking is: Since 2003, Mass attendance in the archdiocese has …

I’ve got a program this is going to change hearts and transform lives! It builds relationships, causes conversions, and could be a real blessing to …

One thing the pandemic taught me is that people are starving for friendship. It is unfortunately easy to go through life making surface level connections with people but not to form the deep bonds of true friendship. We …

He is risen! He is risen indeed! Are you convinced that Jesus’s death and resurrection can have a profound impact on your life and on the lives of others? If yes, are you comfortable and confident sharing that good news …

“We are an Easter people, and Alleluia is our song!” This season is meant to have a lasting effect on our lives, so today, I invite you to pause and reflect. Archbishop Lucas gives his insights on the resurrection and …

As disciples, we are called to "give back" or to steward the gifts that we have been given by God. I'd be very surprised if this was a new concept to any of you. 

However, an area where most of us are less comfortable …

Danny Leger, cofounder of Hope of the Poor, walks us through how to talk to the homeless.

A Production of the Archdiocese of Omaha

If I were to sit you down and say, “You are about to experience a big life change”, what would be your first reaction? Does the word “change” invoke …

As a director at the Archdiocese, I'm given free stuff all the time. Typically, we're talking sample materials for the latest evangelization or catechetical program. I pass these along to one of my staff to review, and …

Do you know your parish's vision statement? If you are like me, your answer might be, "Uh...it's in the bulletin?"

And if you've been around the …

One of my favorite parts of the Archdiocesan Vision is the call to Live Mercy. I've had friends from Hope of the Poor on the show before, and their stories about their work in Mexico are inspiring. But today, I want to …

Today, I get to sit down with staff from the Diocese of Wichita, a diocese known for its stewardship. A long time ago, they realized that Time, Talent, and Treasure had become synonymous with church chores and duty. But …

By now, you probably know that I love small groups! I've even gone so far as to claim that small groups will be one of the major things that bring renewal to our Church.

So today, I want to pause for a moment with …

JPII once said that "Ecclesial movements…represent one of the most significant fruits of that springtime in the Church which was foretold by the …

This week, we celebrate one of the richest traditions in the Archdiocese of Omaha, our Catholic Schools. And we do it by ...sending our children to …

Do you ever feel like a stranger in your own parish community? The larger our parishes grow, the harder it can be to feel known.

If our goal is to continue to bring people to Jesus, and thus, to grow our parishes, we …

If you have been listening to the EquipCast for a while, you know that the Clear Path to Discipleship is one of the Key Characteristics of a Missional Church. Even though I've talked about this characteristic a lot, I …

Adam Ybarra was far from the prefect evangelist when, as a newly initiated FOCUS missionary, he inherited Curtis Martin's bible study group. In fact, …

If the title of our podcast, the EquipCast, wasn’t obvious enough, I think it is incredibly important to equip lay people as leaders for mission. But have you ever tried to teach someone a new skill and had them fall …

It's not popular to be Christian. And I don't know about you, but sometimes that makes it hard for me to be vulnerable. Sharing my beliefs and …

I feel like God is constantly calling me to a deeper level of reliance on Him. As I seek to grow as a missionary disciple, so often, I think "I don't know what I'm doing!"

And so, what does a missionary disciple do …

Recently, the Archbishop hosted the 2021 Pastoral Conference. There he commissioned us, the people that he shepherds, to live out four habits of discipleship: Prayer, Compassion, Friendship, and Invitation.

Today, I …

I don't know if you have ever had the chance to visit St. Benedict the Moor. It's a very unassuming parish in North Omaha, but it has the distinct …

I've noticed a trend over the past few years. People who are hungry for a vibrant parish community are consistently discerning themselves into small groups.

There really is something about a small group that helps …

In a previous EquipCast episode, we talked about the difference between having a ministry and an apostolate, between working for the Church and …

A Skill Demo about how to meet new people might seem like a incredibly simple subject to tackle. Most of us probably feel like we this one in the bag. But did you know that the average American has not made a new friend …

Last week, my guest, Tim Glemkowski, author of Made for Mission, talked to us about the importance of parish renewal. This week, he gets into the nitty-gritty.

He talks practically about building a Clear Path to …

I’m sure you know… I talk A LOT about how Jesus calls us to be missionary disciples.

And I’m also sure you know… parish renewal is HARD.

So today, I talk with a friend, Tim Glemkowski, who’s book, Made for Mission, is …

I have something to confess. I used to be a (bad) meeting addict. If you know me, you know that I love being around people, communicating with them. …

Today I talk to one of my old friends from my time in FOCUS. We've had experience evangelizing in many different contexts, and we agree. The most …

Students encounter the Lord at conferences like Steubenville, in adoration, or in retreat settings, but then, they are thrust back into the regular …

How do you start your day? Like many of you, I try to start mine in prayer and with the Lord in scripture. But teaching our children to do the same …

The rate of culture change in the last 20 years has been swift. This has created a gap in how well adults are able to relate to the youngest in our …

This is the first time in a many years that no priests were ordained in our diocese, and it's during times like these that people throw around the phrase "vocations crisis".

I'm sure the idea that there is a vocations …

Growing as a missional community often means taking steps into the unknown. It means opening ourselves to the newness that God desires for us, and this often includes changing our habits, our processes, or even our …

Imagine if you were defined by the worst thing you ever did, the worst moment of your life. Jesus came to preach freedom to captives. He offers mercy, healing, and miracles to those who just reach out in faith. For most …

We talk a lot on this podcast about evangelization and mission. I can cast vision all day long, but the reality is…actually going on mission is scary.

How do I recognize the people in my life that are ready to hear …

When you imagine yourself Living Mercy, what comes to mind first? Do you think of the saints who gave up everything for a life of poverty or service to the sick? Does that seem impossible or very far from reach?

Today, …

On a scale of 1-10, how missional would you say your parish is?

In October 2020, the Archbishop launched the Big Goal that “Each parish in the …

We are back with our monthly Skill Demo! This time, Chris Sommers, Director of Human Resources, gives us practical advice on how to handle performance issues. I know many of you are not managers, but much of her advice …

Have you ever struggled to pass on your faith to your children?

I know I'm not alone when I say that talking about the faith in an age appropriate way to my children is hard. When they are young, just getting the …

Sometimes the idea of discerning God’s will can daunting. Sifting through the emotions, desires, and the high and low points of each day, and then listening for God’s voice in the midst of it all, can at times be an …

Preparation for the sacrament of marriage used to happen at the dinner table. The best preparation came from the family that you grew up in. …

A very real obstacle to changing culture and building a missional church is my own ability to stay organized. I can set all of the lofty goals that I …

Have you noticed? Talking to your neighbor about faith has gotten harder over the past few decades. For our grandparents, it was enough that they taught daily devotions to their children by example. And our experience …

“And he gave some as apostles, others as prophets, others as evangelists, others as pastors and teachers, to equip the holy ones for the work of …

Happy Easter! I pray that you receive all the graces God has on offer during this season.

As St. Paul says, "if Christ has not been raised, then our …

This episode is a Skill Demo, videoed and produced for our Equip website. We've cut and posted it here on our podcast, but if you'd like to see the …

When I hear the word stewardship, I think of money...and I bet most of you do as well. But stewardship is more than fundraising and fundraisers. A good steward connections people with the mission and ministries of the …

How well do you know your neighbors? Do you want them to know Jesus and be his disciples?

The Thresholds of Evangelization give us a mental …

Have you ever been on a mission trip? Chances are, if you have, that you went to a different state or even a different country.

On today’s EquipCast, I talk with Hope of the Poor. While they do have a ministry to the …

I've been on many teams throughout my career with FOCUS and at the Archdiocese. One thing I've learned is that for a team to be truly collaborative, …

Have you ever wondered about the difference between a ministry and an apostolate? Until recently, I hadn’t. These words seem like synonyms, and …

Do you meet resistance when you talk about your pro-life beliefs? Do you find it hard to understand why anyone would be in favor of abortion? The …

Have you ever had something important happen in your life and had no one to share it with? Did you know that the average American hasn’t made a …

Part 2 of our talk with Michael Gormley. This time he talks about the parish as a school of discipleship and how all evangelization must prioritize …

Michael Gormley of Catching Foxes fame gives us his thoughts on adult evangelization and how parishes should prioritize the kerygma.

A Production of …

Jim and Fr. Lorig discuss an outsider friendly event, an opportunity for parishioners to introduce those they care about to the idea of faith without …

With Thanksgiving upon us, I wanted to give you the chance to reflect on the ways gratitude can lead us to "live mercy". In today's episode, I sit down with Dcn. Tim McNeil, the Chancellor for the Archdiocese, as he …

A few years ago, the Archbishop’s Listening Sessions revealed that most of his people desired unity for the Archdiocese. This was so beautiful to …

As a leader, have you ever had this experience: The Lord places something important on your heart and you are ready to run the race for Him, but no one around you has developed the personal vision and conviction to run …

Did you know that the leading edge of the baby boomers will turn 75 next year? If the majority of our population is now retired and in their twilight …

This week, we went more in-depth on The Big Goal by asking Fr. Scott Hastings to break down the 3 Key Characteristics of a Missional Community: …

Two years ago we rolled out the Vision and Priorities for the Archdiocese of Omaha. One Church: Encountering Jesus, Equipping Disciples, and Living …

Do you have an ache in your heart? Do you see something in your family, your finances, your ministry, etc. that should be different? What do you …

On the EquipCast, I spend a lot of time emphasizing the leadership skills of a missionary disciple. But this week, we spoke to Fr. Kizito, a missionary from Nigeria to our own diocese, and he reminded us that one basic …

Have you ever used a Catholic buzz word like missionary disciple or missional church and received blank looks in return? It’s a surprising …

How do you practice the “everyday preaching” that Pope Francis calls us to without being weird? I’ve grappled with this question throughout my life. …

We spend a lot of time on the EquipCast talking about reaching the lost and that parishes must be outward focused in order to grow. But I hear from many of you, "What about the already converted? We can't leave them …

As a leader in your parish, it is easy to get bogged down with the day-to-day work of maintaining the parish. But if you have a heart like Fr. Lorig, you want to “major in the mission” instead of the maintenance.

If …

We all know that there is no silver bullet, no one program that will completely renew our parishes.Even the best programs fail if our parishioners …

How long do you think it takes to change the culture of a parish? While we know that change ultimately takes time, it’s often easy to look for a …

I experienced a second conversion when I was a FOCUS missionary. I loved making friends and developing a relationship. And I loved the more catechetical moments where I was able to teach someone about the faith or teach …

I had the privilege of sitting down with Jeff Cavins to talk about his latest book, the Activated Disciple. And while he shared so many important truths, I feel like he really shared a bit of himself. Every insight …

I was blessed to encounter Jesus in a deeper way in college, but not all people, and certainly, not all cradle Catholics have had this opportunity. …

Fr. Lorig and Fr. Dan Andrew both possess GallupStrengths that make them very natural leaders. They love to dream about the future and to figure out how to help people move into that new vision. But is leadership …

Moving a parish from maintenance to mission is easier said than done. You can have all the best programs and all the best people on staff, but the …

Have you ever heard the old adage: A pastor should never change anything in his first year…except his socks and underwear? Well, we think you can’t …

Imagine with me a parish where Religious Education is no longer simply content found in a book, a subject to be picked up once a week on Wednesdays. Imagine instead a parish where Religious Education is centered around …

Have you heard a compelling presentation of the gospel that transformed your life? The power of our own conversions has led us to the belief that every parish needs a Conversion Engine. Join Andy Dejka and I (Jim …

Pope Francis once said, “We are not living in an era of change but a change of era”. We think that this new era looks a lot like the Apostolic Age. …

Dr. Ashton, Superintendent of Catholic Schools, and Fr. Jeff Lorig are known for their impassioned conversations...about school tuition. Yes, school …

We are living in a unique moment in Church history, the transition into a post-Christendom era. It is disorienting and new. While the mission of the …

One thing is for sure, the digital church is not going away. Many have tasted its potential and while our buildings begin to open up, our online …

As a young associate, Fr. Lorig asked Fr. (now Bishop) Hanefeldt, “As a priest, am I supposed to tithe?” Fr. Hanefeldt responded, “You know? The more I give, the more I receive.” While he didn’t directly answer the …

Evangelization has been a buzzword in the Church for the past few decades, but many of us still don’t know what it means. It conjures up images of knocking on doors and standing on street corners. We know it’s necessary …

Sometimes the consumer culture of the United States creeps into our parish life. When this happens, the ideal parishioner becomes the loyal customer …

Whenever Jesus calls someone to be a disiple, he doesn't stop at "follow me", he says, "and I will make you fishers of men." We cannot separate the …

Doing leadership doesn’t mean doing everything, and delegation doesn’t mean giving away tasks. Leadership means giving your superpowers to someone else.

Most of us realize that everything we’re going through now will probably have long term effects on the culture and the Church. What hopes do you have …

Everyone is crazy about best practices. Conventional wisdom says if you want to be successful at anything, particularly in ministry, you need to …

On the Wednesday after schools shut down due to the Coronavirus, Christine French was in a continuous stream of webinars and on-line meetings. She …

In the midst of the pandemic, what does Church life look like? Mark Nelson shares the lessons that he has learned working at St. Gerald’s and serving on their Servant Leadership Team.

Special Guest: Mark Nelson.

Accompaniment is the current buzzword that many speak about passionately. Jen and Jim unpack the word. Then, they challenge us to 1) intentionally and consistently journey with a number of people, and 2) equip others to …

Without a Sunday collection, parishes are wondering how to ask for money in order to keep the lights on and pay the staff. Shannan’s advice, “It’s …

In a world where it is as easy to switch parishes as it is to switch the channel or click another link, Blair Bonczynski and David Hazen give their advice on how to rise above the noise and make a real connection with …

We’ve always said, “It’s not about the building.” So if it’s not about building, then where does church happen? And where can it happen now? Join Calvin Mueller and Andy Dejka for Friday’s EquipCast as they discuss …

On today’s Equip Cast, Craig Dyke and Jim Jansen will explain how you can help families stay faithful and perhaps even grow more faithful during this …