
Advertise on podcast: EquipCast
Rating
4.9from
This podcast has
267 episodes
Language
EnglishPublisher
Archdiocese of OmahaExplicit
No
Date created
2020/04/06
Latest episode
2026/09/29
Average duration
46 min.
Release period
15 days
Description
Sharing your Catholic faith with family and friends can sometimes feel daunting. Where do I start? How do I make an impact? Welcome to EquipCast, a weekly podcast from the Archdiocese of Omaha. We want to support your faith journey and equip you with the tools to express your faith authentically in your everyday life. Each week, we’ll discuss practical advice and experiences from real people sharing their mission with the world. Each episode is filled with encouragement and inspiration so you can make an impact and make disciples in your own faith community. For more information and to stay connected with us, head to equip.archomaha.org/podcast/.
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Check latest episodes from EquipCast podcast
Underneath the Pectoral Cross | The Heart of Bishop William Joensen
2026/09/29
Today, I talk to Bishop William Joensen of the Diocese of Des Moines, IA. I wanted to step past the formal title so you could get to know the man behind the pectoral cross, and he certainly didn't hold back. Bishop Joensen gives us a transparent look into his life and faith, sharing how a pre-med path in Iowa unexpectedly led to the priesthood and what it was like taking the helm of a diocese just months before the pandemic hit. From some fun banter about Iowa-Nebraska rivalries to his honest reflections on leadership missteps, this episode offers a rare and refreshing look into the heart, humor, and wisdom of a bishop shepherding his flock with humility.
Episode Timeline:
[00:00] – Introduction
[04:14] – Pre-Med, Family Roots, and Discerning the Priesthood
[14:07] – Friendly Rivalries and the State of the U.S. Church
[22:09] – Pastoral Planning and 18 Months of Humble Inquiry
[28:40] – Offering the Unvarnished Truth of the Gospel
[34:01] – Respecting Subsidiarity in Parish Renewal
[40:28] – Navigating Demographic Shifts and Rural Reality
[47:56] – Episcopal Leadership, Prayer, and Learning from Missteps
Resources Mentioned
Making it Personal with Bishop William Joensen
Our Trusted Partners
Faith and Family Life Catholic Ministries (FFLCM) helps Catholic parishes and dioceses transform fragmented faith formation into an integrated, family-centered pathway of lifelong discipleship. Through the Pathways Formation suite, practical resources, leader formation, and ongoing accompaniment, they equip leaders to engage families, build sustainable teams, and cultivate faith that is lived at church and at home.
⭐️ Enjoying the Show?
If The EquipCast is helping you navigate the realities of parish leadership, please take 60 seconds to leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Your review helps other tired ministry leaders find these tools and realize they don’t have to walk this path alone!
Connect & Take the Next Step:
Grab Your Free Tools: Get the playbook that actually changes lives at EverydayEvangelization.org.
Bring This to Your Parish: Discover strategic training and accompaniment at Anchor Consulting.
Read the Book: Order your copy of A Clear Path: How to Make Missionary Disciples in Your Parish.
The EquipCast is powered by Everyday Evangelization in conjunction with Anchor Consulting, delivering practical evangelization strategies and parish ministry tools to help you leave your ministry better than you found it.
Copyright © 2026 Anchor Consulting. All rights reserved.
Partnering with the Holy Spirit
2026/09/22
God is at work in the hearts of the people around us. His Spirit is everywhere and perfectly working long before we show up. In fact, our job is simply to ask, "Holy Spirit, what are you doing?" We get to ask, listen, and participate in what He is already doing in the lives of others. That is why I decided to sit down with Eric Chow, Director of Ministry and Outreach for the Archdiocese of Vancouver. He is a seasoned missionary with extremely practical advice for parish hospitality and personal mission. And today, he encourages us to recognize the “proximate periphery”, the mission field hidden in our daily routines, workplaces, and families.
Episode Timeline:
[00:00] – Introduction to Eric Chow
[01:32] – Eric's personal conversion
[04:50] – Lessons from Catholic Christian Outreach
[05:46] – Understanding the mission field in Vancouver
[11:29] – What parish hospitality could look like
[17:07] – The origins and mission of the Proclaim movement
[20:22] – Reaching the proximate periphery right in front of you
[27:09] – Prophetic listening and partnering with the Holy Spirit
[29:35] – Why outreach to the furthest away comes first
[32:51] – Balancing personal mission with the call to holiness
[36:31] – Living as a radical disciple while working professionally for the Church
[42:49] – Passing on a missional mindset to our children
[47:02] – A hopeful vision for the future of the Church
[49:16] – Simple steps to start praying for and reaching your mission field
Resources Mentioned
Proclaim
⭐️ Enjoying the Show?
If The EquipCast is helping you navigate the realities of parish leadership, please take 60 seconds to leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Your review helps other tired ministry leaders find these tools and realize they don’t have to walk this path alone!
Connect & Take the Next Step:
Grab Your Free Tools: Get the playbook that actually changes lives at EverydayEvangelization.org.
Bring This to Your Parish: Discover strategic training and accompaniment at Anchor Consulting.
Read the Book: Order your copy of A Clear Path: How to Make Missionary Disciples in Your Parish.
The EquipCast is powered by Everyday Evangelization in conjunction with Anchor Consulting, delivering practical evangelization strategies and parish ministry tools to help you leave your ministry better than you found it.
Copyright © 2026 Anchor Consulting. All rights reserved.
Inside the USCCB | What's Comes After the Eucharistic Revival?
2026/09/15
Seeing the people we love walk away from Jesus is one of the hardest parts of living the faith today. So I sit down with David Spesia, Executive Director for Evangelization and Catechesis at the USCCB, to talk about the massive shift happening across the country as the US bishops unite around one single priority: seeking and saving the lost. We dive into the quiet fruit of the Eucharistic Revival and talk about how to keep your eyes fixed squarely on Jesus, even when human flaws and institutional friction threaten to pull you off track.
Episode Timeline:
[00:00] – Introduction
[02:41] – Personal Encounters and Intellectual Conversion
[07:45] – Lessons from Teaching High School Religion
[16:12] – Navigating Diocesan Leadership and Building Collaboration
[22:00] – Behind the Scenes of the National Eucharistic Revival
[33:40] – Measuring Long-Term Fruits of Spiritual Renewal
[40:01] – The USCCB Mission Directive to Seek and Save the Lost
[44:03] – Evangelical Discernment and Evaluating Ministry Fruitfulness
[51:41] – Loving the Church as Christ's Body Amidst Human Brokenness
Resources Mentioned
Living as a Missionary Disciple (PDF)
Companion to the Handbook on the Catechetical Accompaniment Process
⭐️ Enjoying the Show?
If The EquipCast is helping you navigate the realities of parish leadership, please take 60 seconds to leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Your review helps other tired ministry leaders find these tools and realize they don’t have to walk this path alone!
Connect & Take the Next Step:
Grab Your Free Tools: Get the playbook that actually changes lives at EverydayEvangelization.org.
Bring This to Your Parish: Discover strategic training and accompaniment at Anchor Consulting.
Read the Book: Order your copy of A Clear Path: How to Make Missionary Disciples in Your Parish.
The EquipCast is powered by Everyday Evangelization in conjunction with Anchor Consulting, delivering practical evangelization strategies and parish ministry tools to help you leave your ministry better than you found it.
Copyright © 2026 Anchor Consulting. All rights reserved.
Are You Managing Programs or Making Disciples? | Solving the Parish Puzzle with Christina Semmens
2026/09/08
Parish renewal can feel like trying to assemble a massive puzzle without having the picture on the box to reference. Bringing your parish back to life isn't about running another program. It's an act of loving accompaniment, and Jesus is already in the work with us. Christina Semmens joins me today to talk about how putting the right leadership pieces in place creates a simple, relational way to wake up our parish communities and make disciples who thrive.
Episode Timeline:
[00:00] – Introduction
[02:00] – Christina’s Journey from Military Leadership to Parish Renewal
[10:00] – What Discipleship Culture Actually Looks Like in a Parish
[15:00] – Moving Beyond Event-Based Evangelization
[19:00] – Customized CPR and Holistic Formation
[25:00] – Waking Up the Walking Dead in Our Pews
[28:00] – Best Practices vs. Quick-Fix Silver Bullets
[34:00] – Eliminating Communication Blind Spots & Building Two-Way Dialogue
[44:00] – A 4-Step Apprenticeship Model for Coaching Leaders
[52:00] – Practical Steps to Begin When You Feel Overwhelmed
Resources Mentioned
The Catholic Leadership Puzzle
ChristinaSemmens.com
⭐️ Enjoying the Show?
If The EquipCast is helping you navigate the realities of parish leadership, please take 60 seconds to leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Your review helps other tired ministry leaders find these tools and realize they don’t have to walk this path alone!
Connect & Take the Next Step:
Grab Your Free Tools: Get the playbook that actually changes lives at EverydayEvangelization.org.
Bring This to Your Parish: Discover strategic training and accompaniment at Anchor Consulting.
Read the Book: Order your copy of A Clear Path: How to Make Missionary Disciples in Your Parish.
The EquipCast is powered by Everyday Evangelization in conjunction with Anchor Consulting, delivering practical evangelization strategies and parish ministry tools to help you leave your ministry better than you found it.
Copyright © 2026 Anchor Consulting. All rights reserved.
Evangelization Hot Take | Choose Your Local Parish
2026/09/01
Adam Stephenson, our guest from the episode "Knocking on Doors", joins me for a walk where he gives his hot take on evangelization: you should stick to the parish in your own backyard. He argues that parish shopping keeps us at arms length from the real work of evangelization, while staying local invites us to love the people God has placed right in front of us. And I agreed with him…for the most part. Tune in for a mini-sode on why you should (or shouldn’t) belong to the parish whose geographic boundaries you live in.
Episode Timeline:
[00:00] – Introduction
[00:32] – The Hot Take: Geographic Parish Boundaries
[00:56] – Why Proximity Matters for Loving Your Community
[02:29] – Modern Disorientation and the Loss of Neighborhood Faith
[04:29] – Valid Exceptions for Stepping Away from Your Local Parish
[06:49] – Accompanying "Dying" Parishes and the Mission Field
[09:21] – How to Supplement Your Spiritual Life Outside Parish Walls
⭐️ Enjoying the Show?
If The EquipCast is helping you navigate the realities of parish leadership, please take 60 seconds to leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Your review helps other tired ministry leaders find these tools and realize they don’t have to walk this path alone!
Connect & Take the Next Step:
Grab Your Free Tools: Get the playbook that actually changes lives at EverydayEvangelization.org.
Bring This to Your Parish: Discover strategic training and accompaniment at Anchor Consulting.
Read the Book: Order your copy of A Clear Path: How to Make Missionary Disciples in Your Parish.
The EquipCast is powered by Everyday Evangelization in conjunction with Anchor Consulting, delivering practical evangelization strategies and parish ministry tools to help you leave your ministry better than you found it.
Copyright © 2026 Anchor Consulting. All rights reserved.
Overcoming Ministry Burnout | Restoring Order to Your Family and Mission
2026/08/25
You leave work at five, but your brain stays parked at the office. You sit with your family, yet mentally you carry the entire parish on your back as if saving everyone depends on you. When evangelization becomes a task we tackle with our own strength, we burn out, our programs flop, and our homes suffer. This week, Hannah Keisling, Evangelization Coordinator at St. Vincent de Paul in Omaha, joins me to share how putting God first, family second, and ministry third gave her the freedom to stop forcing outcomes. We unpack why no program works without real accompaniment, how to surrender the urge to carry it all yourself, and what happens when you let the Holy Spirit do the heavy lifting.
Episode Timeline:
[00:00] – Introduction
[06:39] – Transitioning Roles and the Grief of Leaving Youth Ministry
[18:38] – Why Programs Fail Without Real Accompaniment
[22:52] – Parish-Wide Programs vs. Personal Apostolates
[34:27] – Recognizing the Warning Signs of Ministry Overload
[41:08] – Rebuilding Mental Boundaries Between Work and Family
[50:45] – Grounding Your Daily Mission in Scripture and Named Prayer
Resources Mentioned
St. Vincent de Paul Church - Omaha
⭐️ Enjoying the Show?
If The EquipCast is helping you navigate the realities of parish leadership, please take 60 seconds to leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Your review helps other tired ministry leaders find these tools and realize they don’t have to walk this path alone!
Connect & Take the Next Step:
Grab Your Free Tools: Get the playbook that actually changes lives at EverydayEvangelization.org.
Bring This to Your Parish: Discover strategic training and accompaniment at Anchor Consulting.
Read the Book: Order your copy of A Clear Path: How to Make Missionary Disciples in Your Parish.
The EquipCast is powered by Everyday Evangelization in conjunction with Anchor Consulting, delivering practical evangelization strategies and parish ministry tools to help you leave your ministry better than you found it.
Copyright © 2026 Anchor Consulting. All rights reserved.
Hearing God’s Voice | How to Move from One-Sided Prayer to Intimacy with Jonna Schuster
2026/08/18
Imagine a standing coffee date with a friend who talks at you the entire time, looks at their watch, and then says, “Gotta go! This was great!” You’d walk away feeling pretty unsatisfied. The level of intimacy we can reach is limited when conversation remains one-sided. But, too often, we treat our prayer lives the exact same way. We focus on how well we said our prayers instead of stopping to listen to what God wants to say back.
This week, Jonna Schuster, author of Hearing God's Voice, joins me to talk about listening prayer. We dive into its theological foundations, the four primary "languages" God uses to communicate, and how learning to hear His voice shifts our daily mission from a heavy burden into a rest-filled collaboration.
Episode Timeline:
[00:00] – Introduction
[01:21] – Jonna's origin story
[08:34] – What inspired Hearing God's Voice
[14:00] – The scriptural foundation for listening prayer
[18:00] – The 4 languages of God: seeing, hearing, feeling, and thinking
[24:41] – Receiving God in the mode of the receiver
[27:58] – Physical vs. emotional feelings in prayer
[35:01] – Asking God for practical solutions and wisdom
[39:33] – Overcoming the biggest obstacles to hearing God
[46:56] – How listening prayer complements Catholic devotions
[50:50] – Moving from performance anxiety to rest and intimacy
[53:02] – What church renewal looks like when prayer becomes the norm
[59:01] – Where to begin and how to find Jonna's work
Resources Mentioned
CatholicRevivalMinistries.com
Hearing God's Voice
⭐️ Enjoying the Show?
If The EquipCast is helping you navigate the realities of parish leadership, please take 60 seconds to leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Your review helps other tired ministry leaders find these tools and realize they don’t have to walk this path alone!
Connect & Take the Next Step:
Grab Your Free Tools: Get the playbook that actually changes lives at EverydayEvangelization.org.
Bring This to Your Parish: Discover strategic training and accompaniment at Anchor Consulting.
Read the Book: Order your copy of A Clear Path: How to Make Missionary Disciples in Your Parish.
The EquipCast is powered by Everyday Evangelization in conjunction with Anchor Consulting, delivering practical evangelization strategies and parish ministry tools to help you leave your ministry better than you found it.
Copyright © 2026 Anchor Consulting. All rights reserved.
Knocking on Doors | Practical Outreach for Parish Renewal
2026/08/11
What happens when a priest in a cassock and a layman with a clipboard start walking their neighborhood boundaries? Join me, Jim Jansen, as I sit down with Father Jeff Loseke and Adam Stephenson from St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Gretna, Nebraska, to talk about how they took on neighborhood outreach. Instead of waiting for people to walk through their church doors, they exported their parish database into Google Maps and started showing up on front porches. From active parishioners and homebound seniors to those who haven't set foot in a church in decades, they found that personal connection opens doors to healing old wounds and bringing people back to the sacraments. Whether you're responsible for every soul within your parish boundaries or you simply want to be a better neighbor, this conversation will help you turn a walk down the street into an encounter with Jesus.
Episode Timeline:
[00:00] – Introduction
[00:01:46] – Guest Introductions & St. Charles Borromeo’s Rapid Growth
[00:07:59] – Moving from a "Mega-Parish" Mindset to Neighborhood Ministry
[00:12:46] – Mapping Parishioners and Neighborhood Boundaries with Simple Tech
[00:18:34] – The Routine: Door-to-Door Walks, Prayer Booklets, and Door Hangers
[00:24:53] – Balancing Introversion vs. Extroversion in Doorstep Evangelization
[00:29:54] – Training Parish Missionaries and Mobilizing Intercessors
[00:32:30] – Starting the Fuse: Non-Threatening Bridges and Low-Barrier Invitations
[00:44:31] – Fitting Neighborhood Outreach into the Overall Parish Mission & Clear Path
[00:51:40] – Vision for the Future: Empowering Lay Responsibility and Local Presence
[01:00:27] – Final Encouragements for Pastors, Staff, and Introverted Leaders
Resources Mentioned
St. Charles Borromeo
Sent Evangelization
The Art of Neighboring by Dave Runyon
⭐️ Enjoying the Show?
If The EquipCast is helping you navigate the realities of parish leadership, please take 60 seconds to leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Your review helps other tired ministry leaders find these tools and realize they don’t have to walk this path alone!
Connect & Take the Next Step:
Grab Your Free Tools: Get the playbook that actually changes lives at EverydayEvangelization.org.
Bring This to Your Parish: Discover strategic training and accompaniment at Anchor Consulting.
Read the Book: Order your copy of A Clear Path: How to Make Missionary Disciples in Your Parish.
The EquipCast is powered by Everyday Evangelization in conjunction with Anchor Consulting, delivering practical evangelization strategies and parish ministry tools to help you leave your ministry better than you found it.
Copyright © 2026 Anchor Consulting. All rights reserved.
The EquipCast is back!
2026/08/04
The EquipCast is back!
After a few months away, I am excited to kick off a new chapter for The EquipCast. In this quick 3-minute teaser, I share a bit of my own story from this past spring, express my deep gratitude to the Archdiocese of Omaha, and share where we are heading next. Moving forward, The EquipCast is an independent production powered by EverydayEvangelization.org. While the platform is new, our mission remains exactly the same. We are here to give you practical tools, honest conversations, and encouragement for the messy work of parish renewal. You don't have to carry the weight of ministry alone.
👉 Resources & Tools: Visit EverydayEvangelization.org to access specialized tools to help train your team and guide your church renewal strategy.
Note: The EquipCast is an independent production powered by EverydayEvangelization.org and is no longer affiliated with the Archdiocese of Omaha.
Can you afford to say yes to God? How to fund the mission.
2026/04/28
Can you afford to say yes to God? I know that question might make you uncomfortable—because it’s made me uncomfortable. We talk a lot about trust, about saying yes to the Lord, about living on mission… but when it comes to finances, security, and taking care of our families, it can feel like the cost is just too high. In today’s episode of The Equip Cast, I sit down with Peter Levesque Xavier to talk honestly about what happens when we stop asking, “Can I afford this?” and start asking, “Lord, do I trust You?” This conversation is about freedom, healing our relationship with money, and discovering that God is already providing a way for His mission—and your yes—to be possible.
[02:55] Peter’s faith journey
[04:15] Facing support raising
[06:03] Providence and stewardship
[10:11] Trust dividends in mission
[13:11] Healing through partnership
[16:47] Economic downturn resilience
[19:10] Biblical roots of support
[22:19] Church history and laity
[28:11] Apostolic times today
[28:57] Why start Xavier Mission Fund
[31:49] Spotting the Need
[33:08] Launching Xavier Mission Fund
[33:55] Growth and New Partnerships
[35:29] Catholic Schools Vertical
[38:09] Fair Pay for Teachers
[42:25] Parish Roles and Admin Hurdles
[46:14] Success Stories Fight Club Catholic
[50:51] New Ministries and Priest Support
[57:50] What Church Leaders Should Know
[01:01:18] Call to Mission and Next Steps
[01:03:58] How to Connect and Closing
Check out Xavier Mission Fund.
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)
What Would You Do for Your Child? The Story of Tom Vander Woude
2026/04/21
What would you do if the person you loved most was in danger—and there was no time to think? Today on the Equip Cast, I sit down with Chris Vander Woude to tell the story of a quiet, faithful father who answered that question with his life. Tom Vander Woude wasn’t famous. He wasn’t flashy. He was a husband, a dad, a farmer, a Navy pilot—and a man who spent his life showing up in ordinary ways. Until one extraordinary moment, when he gave everything to save his son Joseph. In this conversation, you’ll hear how a hidden life of prayer, love, and fatherhood prepared Tom for heroic sacrifice—and why his story is stirring hearts around the world today, even to the point that the Church is considering opening a cause for canonization. This is a story about love, courage, faith, and what it really means to live your life as a gift.
[01:45] Chris’s faith journey
[04:23] Introducing Tom Vanderwoude (Chris’s father)
[09:00] Joseph is born (Down syndrome)
[11:59] How Joseph changed the family
[15:32] Cultural reflection on special needs & abortion
[16:22] Tom’s philosophy: no limitations on Joseph
[17:34] Tom gives his life for Joseph
[23:20] Community response & funeral
[26:17] Long term impact of Tom’s story
[29:21] Possible cause for canonization
[39:52] The Tom Vanderwoude Guild
[44:21] How Joseph has been affected
[45:51] Tom’s hidden life: prayer & marriage
[50:44] Encouragement to take a leap of faith
[51:41] How to connect & learn more
Check out the Tom Vander Woude Guild.
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)
Coach’s Corner 29: A Book Review of Spousal Prayer by Deacon James Keating
2026/04/14
Can love in marriage really last?
I believe it can—and not because we’re strong enough or compatible enough, but because God meets us there. Staying in love isn’t something we just grit our teeth and manage. It’s something we learn through prayer. Prayer with the Lord shapes our hearts, and that same habit of prayer teaches us how to truly behold, listen to, forgive, and love our spouse.
In this Coaches Corner, I review the book Spousal Prayer by Deacon James Keating. It’s a small, powerful book that connects marriage and prayer in a way that’s both deep and incredibly practical. We talk about why young people fear staying in love, how prayer brings us into the reality of love, and why marriage itself can become a living, breathing prayer. Whether you’re married, preparing couples, or walking with families in ministry, this episode is meant to equip you—and remind you that lasting love is not only possible, it’s sacramental.
[00:13] Book - Spousal Prayer
[01:05] Why This Book Works
[02:09] Three Chapters Overview
[03:06] Behold Listen Repent
[03:36] Prayer Depth and Beauty
[04:34] Practical Art Prayer
[06:11] Love Prayer and Reality
[08:44] Forgiveness and Healing
[09:25] Appendix ARRR Method
[09:44] Who Should Use This
[10:33] Final Quote and Wrap
[11:29] Share Your Thoughts
Check out the book Spousal Prayer.
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)
Life as an Evangelization Coordinator: How Accompaniment Transforms a Community
2026/03/24
Today, we begin a series where I talk to Evangelization Coordinators from across our archdiocese. You’ll hear the honest stories, hard-won wisdom and quiet ways God is moving through the people helping to lead parish renewal from the ground up. In this first episode, Renee Eames of the St. Joseph Family of Parishes, shares what the role looks like day-to-day. Her warm wisdom reminds us that evangelization isn’t about big programs or perfect strategies—it’s about people. It’s about staying close to Jesus in the small moments, letting your heart be softened, and choosing unity when division would be easier. Her story reveals how simple everyday faithfulness—prayer, presence, and quiet accompaniment—can quietly renew a community. This conversation is a reminder that God works through every relationship, every interruption, and every act of love toward the person right in front of you.
[00:00] Meet Renee Ames
[01:20] Renee Background Story
[06:52] Small Town Life
[11:10] Family Of Parishes
[13:20] New Evangelization Role
[22:49] Keeping Eternity First
[28:08] Prayer As The Root
[32:08] Launching Alpha Locally
[35:48] Teamwork and Formation
[38:23] Back To The Fundamentals
[41:41] Workplace Evangelization
[46:04] Unity Through Hard Talks
[49:53] Patience For Long Fruits
[51:21] Practical Advice And Sendoff
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)
Inside Jim’s Inbox – Q&A 1
2026/03/17
Welcome to the very first episode of Inside Jim’s Inbox, a new Q&A series where I open up the real questions you send—about faith, fear, evangelization, ministry, and everything in between—and we walk through them together. In this kickoff episode, I’m sharing the questions I hear most often: What even is evangelization? Do I know enough to share my faith? How do I deal with the fear of rejection? Along the way, I’ll offer simple, hopeful ways to see evangelization not as expert level work, but as sharing what God has done in your life one honest, hope-filled conversation at a time.
We’ll also look at the questions parishes ask all the time: how to invite volunteers in a way that honors their gifts, and how to set healthy boundaries so that ministry strengthens you instead of draining you. My prayer is that this first episode feels like a welcoming doorway into a series where your questions guide the journey.
[00:51] What is evangelization?
[02:23] Do I know enough to share my faith?
[04:00] How do I overcome the fear of rejection?
[07:49] How do I get volunteers for our ministry?
[09:56] How do I keep healthy boundaries in my ministry?
[11:51] Next steps
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)
OCIA - Rediscovering the Heart of Parish Life
2026/03/10
What if the ancient way of welcoming seekers is exactly what we’re missing? When Dr. Chris Burgwald, Chancellor for the Diocese of Sioux Falls, and I dug into the roots of OCIA, it struck me how much wisdom we’ve left sitting on the shelf. The early Church knew how to walk with people—slowly, personally, lovingly—and somewhere along the line, we traded that for efficiency. Dr. Burgwald shows why returning to this ancient, relational way of forming disciples isn’t nostalgia; it’s the key to helping people truly encounter Jesus and find a home in His Church again.
And what’s amazing is that this shift doesn’t just change the journey for newcomers—it transforms the entire parish. When we implement OCIA the way the Church actually envisions it, gifts surface, people step forward, and a culture of prayer and hospitality begins to grow. Communities rally around seekers, and in the process, everyone gets formed. One person’s “yes” becomes an invitation for an entire parish to rediscover its mission.
[01:15] Meet Chris Bergal
[12:23] Why People Are Converting
[17:16] What Is OCIA?
[22:34] Vatican II and Mission
[25:22] Doing OCIA Well
[30:20] Three Pillars of OCIA
[37:50] Practical Parish Implementation
[41:41] Parish Renewal and Activation
[45:13] Handling Hard Situations
[48:46] Not Assembly Line Discipleship
[52:20] Model for All Formation
[56:25] Teamwork and Leadership Models
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)
Podcast reviews
Read EquipCast podcast reviews
jmkohle 2023/01/09
Excellent!
These topics hit home, bring insight and practical steps, light a fire and inspire faith growth within our parishes in all the best ways. Keep it up!...
RoboTriceratops 2022/02/03
Jim is literally a mensch
I mean, he’s the real deal. What else can I say. An authentic disciple
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