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 parts of your life being neglected because you are hanging on to old habits or commitments? Cutting back to the most essential things can be difficult. This is why in today’s Coach’s Corner I focus on the art of pruning—shedding what no longer serves us to make room for growth and abundance. By drawing parallels between the natural world and our liv...
Apr 25, 2023•11 min
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 promptings of the Holy Spirit? Sometimes, I feel weak intellectually, spiritually, and even physically. And when I stop to ponder how my physical health affects my mental/spiritual health and vice versa, I’m not surprised. I mean, God made us integrated beings, body and soul. So, let’s talk about what Jesus wants for our health, and let’s find true fr...
Apr 18, 2023•44 min•Ep. 118
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 people in our pews and a culture that is less and less Christian. With this desolating reality in mind, I keep coming back in prayer to one major consolation: Jesus is risen! The victory is ours! In this Easter episode, I sit down with Archbishop Lucas for our yearly reflection and ask about his hope. We discuss the significance of Easter, delving int...
Apr 11, 2023•40 min•Ep. 117
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, if we read the passage carefully, it’s likely he was absent because he didn’t want to be with the other apostles. Jesus could have appeared at any time; if Thomas was only “gone to the store”, he could have waited. Additionally, Thomas’s response to the news of the resurrection is stubborn (and maybe a tad obnoxious) disbelief. In today’s Coach’s Co...
Mar 28, 2023•12 min
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 wants us to “go and make disciples”, so it stands to reason that he wants us to go just as we are. Today, I talk with Kelly Peklo and Matt Keller, graduates of the Archdiocese Mentorship Program. They share their journey to understand God’s call to evangelize and how they made tha...
Mar 21, 2023•55 min•Ep. 116
Father Flanagan, a Catholic priest, defied the norms of his time, founded Boys Town, and challenged the conventional approach to child care. His dedication and vision led to the creation of a space where children could come to live as a family, receive education, and be guided with love and compassion. The impact of Boys Town reverberated across America and the world, influencing child care systems and emphasizing kindness, equality, and love. This episode not only recounts Father Flanagan's jou...
Mar 14, 2023•43 min•Ep. 115
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. Instead, the parish is not only growing, but its people are thriving. How did this community reinvent itself in less than 7 years? The parish leaders embraced a relationship with the Holy Spirit, allowing the him to guide their initiatives. Then, they started small, fostering intentional relationships, recognizing and inviting people to participate, and T...
Mar 07, 2023•54 min•Ep. 114
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 done differently? Let's dive into the art of event planning and execution together, unveiling five simple yet impactful tips to create events that resonate and nurture spiritual growth. Today, we'll explore how to: Embrace the 40-20-40 rule, strategically dividing your time for optimal planning, execution, and follow-up. Plan for the “Now what?”, ensu...
Feb 28, 2023•10 min
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 find ourselves called to walk with someone whose behaviors may not align with Church teachings. But we know the transformative power of God’s love and should not keep it to ourselves. So how do you walk the fine line between accompaniment and accommodation with someone like this? Today, I talk with Fr. Sean Kilcawley of the Diocese of Lincoln. Over ...
Feb 21, 2023•58 min•Ep. 113
Ever felt the weight of wanting to share your faith but not knowing where to start? Trust me, I’ve been there. When I first dipped my toes into evangelizing, I stumbled through it, making more than my fair share of blunders. But you know what changed the game for me? Learning to lean on the Holy Spirit and building genuine connections that sparked meaningful conversations about faith. Now, let’s be real, most of us aren’t born experts at this stuff. That’s why I’m thrilled to bring you an episod...
Feb 14, 2023•53 min•Ep. 112
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. The cessation of Sunday Mass will be one of the hardest events for faithful Catholics to process. It feels like the death of a loved one. However, this is not the first time God's people have had to deal with their worship in a particular place coming to an end. I’d like to offer lessons from the past. Why is this happening and what should our respon...
Feb 07, 2023•8 min
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 a net loss of more than 760 Catholic schools. We now have fewer total students in Catholic schools in the United States then we did in 1930 despite the fact that the Catholic population has tripled since then. I got a chance to sit down with Archbishop J. Michael Miller, CSB. He served as the secretary for the Congregation for Catholic Education in...
Jan 31, 2023•59 min•Ep. 111
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 demographics, population shifts, and the decreasing availability of priests. That all sounds very clinical, but at the heart of it, we know that the people of our diocese will experience loss. So today, I bring you Kathy Slusarski. She is a born and raised Nebraskan, widow, and grandmother ...
Jan 24, 2023•46 min•Ep. 110
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 started in a parish is through Live Lent Together. This initiative of the Archdiocese of Omaha allows people who are new to the work of evangelization to take a first step into mission. I’ve also seen it bear great fruit in the lives of participants. Today, I bring you three stories of Live Lent Together small groups and the fruit of shared faith. P.S. ...
Jan 17, 2023•44 min•Ep. 109
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 busy with work, their children’s extracurricular activities, and all the craziness that just comes with growing a family? The answer: Begin with moms. Over the years, my lovely wife, Kim, and I have found ourselves ministering to mothers. This has taught us that the heart of family...
Dec 13, 2022•47 min•Ep. 108
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 we’re not so different after all. Today, I talk with Kathy Miklas about her work at QLI, a world-class rehabilitation center in Omaha. She shares with us her story of staring a faith sharing group with her clients and of how, through listening, she has come to the conviction that the...
Dec 06, 2022•44 min•Ep. 107
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 toward mission. This has brought a multitude of topics to my attention that could be aired on the EquipCast. And so, today, I bring you the Coach’s Corner where we break down important topics to help equip you and your team for mission in your church, in your family, and in your ministry. This episode’s topic might not immediately scream “equipping disci...
Nov 29, 2022•10 min
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 priests, and currently, there are 136 parishes. If we want to keep our priests from the inevitable burnout, something needs to change. But, what is the average layperson to do? Today I speak with Katie Keller, the local coordinator for the Seven Sisters Apostolate. This is a group of w...
Nov 22, 2022•34 min•Ep. 106
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 revolutionizes lives, marriages, and ministries. So, whether you are involved in a parish ministry, a ministry of mercy, or just the daily ministry to your own family, I encourage you to tune in. This episode will help you share the core gospel message in a clear and explicit way as well as ...
Nov 15, 2022•58 min•Ep. 105
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 about what’s really at the root of spiritual warfare, or the enemy’s attempt to steal our faith. She provides practical tips for noticing the trajectory of our thoughts and using scripture to defend ourselves. And while there is no silver bullet, she shows how easy it can be to let the ...
Nov 08, 2022•43 min•Ep. 104
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, I’d like to go deeper and look at the foundation of these communities: the family. Did you know that 85-90% of Catholics in the pews on Sunday are from intact families? If we want to fight the current diminishment of the Church, we must pay attention to this trend. Today, my guest, J.P. De Gance, tells us about his ministry, Communio. They help paris...
Nov 01, 2022•48 min•Ep. 103
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 ask, “How can this possibly apply to me?” The reality is we all, at times, try to hold on to control when we don’t need to. The surrender necessary to let go as well as the ability to learn to trust another individual is a lesson for everyone. It’s often even a conversion of hear...
Oct 25, 2022•37 min•Ep. 102
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, and today, I’d like to highlight one: Mater Filius. Julie Mainelli and Stacy Floersch tell us stories that exemplify the power of prayer, teamwork, and a ministry of presence. They are a witness of a Church that embodies love. And even though you may not be called to care for women and children the way these ladies have, I’m confident that their ex...
Oct 18, 2022•59 min•Ep. 101
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 again, we must heed the call to become missional communities. The Archbishop has started the Journey of Faith for this very reason. However, if you have ever experienced change before, then you know it’s not all butterflies and rainbows. Even happy changes (moving off to college, getting married, etc.) come with moments of grief. In fact, it’s impo...
Oct 11, 2022•59 min•Ep. 100
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 true, all the information is good. But, how much of it sticks? Today, we are finishing our series on The 7 Practices of Effective Ministry with the adage “teach less for more”. Tune in today to hear from, Jen Moser, our Leadership Formation Specialist. Over the years, she has learned...
Sep 27, 2022•44 min•Ep. 99
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 faithful parishioner. If I say yes to every good idea that comes my way, then I won’t have time for the most important things. So, how does one choose? Today, I pull another teammate in front of the microphone to talk about how to “narrow the focus”. The overabundance of good things to say yes to is not just a problem in our daily lives, it also sho...
Sep 20, 2022•38 min•Ep. 98
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 a resounding "YES!" Today, I pull Whitney, the producer, in front of the microphone to talk about what she calls her "extreme need for clarity". Her drive for clarity makes our team goals sharper and our wins easier to achieve. And, yes, winning is not everything, but when we do clarify what winning looks like, our team is more effective at the rea...
Sep 13, 2022•45 min•Ep. 97
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, I bring you the story of Jill Ruskamp. She has built a personal manifesto around her prayer, collecting moments of inspiration, scripture passages, words from God, and key memories. Not only does it bring her peace in the middle of suffering, but it has also become a great tool for ...
Sep 06, 2022•46 min•Ep. 96
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 Jesus, we must change the way we walk with people in the secular world. For most of us (dare I say ALL of us), this means venturing into the unknown. We are in uncharted territory and must figure out our way forward. Making this shift towards becoming a missional community means opening ourselves to the newness that God desires for us. It involves changi...
Aug 30, 2022•16 min
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 excited about the impact small groups can have on a parish, so I just couldn’t wait to share this story with you! Sacred Heart, a parish in Omaha, was able to use their Live Lent Together initiative to both bring parish leaders together and to reach the peripheries. After listening, I hope you consider growing Live Lent Together at your parish. A P...
Aug 23, 2022•42 min•Ep. 95
