In the release of the new Directory for Catechesis, Archbishop Rino Fisichella, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting New Evangelization, suggested that their are 3 obstacles to effective catechesis. In this episode, Chris and John delve into the 3 obstacles, name the implications for pastoral leaders, and, as a bonus, offer a fourth obstacle that must be overcome if our parishes are to be evangelizing in nature. This podcast episode refers to numerous references,...

In this episode, Chris and John explore the decline of priest vocations and Catholic marriages and attempt to understand some of the reasons for the decline. They explore three reasons that explain the decline and share some ideas of how to address it. One resource that was shared was the following book: Unrepeatable: Cultivating the Unique Calling of Every Person

In this episode, John and Chris share how to nurture the shift in mindset of apprentice based formation and ministry away from a model of catechesis as a “depository of facts.” Referenced in this episode is Episode #74 on the RCIA.

Learning and growing is an essential part of being a leader. In this episode, Chris and John discuss multiple ideas to intentionally grow as a leader in the Church so as to raise your ministry to new levels.

Social media has changed over the years and it’s not what it was 5 years ago. This requires us to change and adapt how we use social media in ministry. In this episode, John and Chris share their experience with social media and talk about the pros and cons of using it. For more information, visit some past episode we have recorded on the topic of social media: Episode 18: Judgment, Social Media, and Christ Episode 14: Effective Use of Social Media in Ministry Episode 13: Effective Use...

Volunteers are an essential aspect of Church ministry and require vision, clarity, and encouragement. In this episode, Chris and John explore how to best connect and manage your volunteers in your ministry, including scheduling regular One on One’s (1:1’s).

One on One’s (1:1’s) are an important and effective tool for all ministry leaders who supervise staff in their parish or Diocese and should be a standard part of management. In this episode, Chris and John explore the best practices of 1:1’s, their purpose, their structure, and why we must make 1:1’s a priority in our ministry.

In response to the 2018 synod on Young People, Faith, and Discernment, Pope Francis released a document on March 25, 2019, called “Christus Vivit” (Christ is Alive). In this episode, Chris and John break down the main themes of the document and talk about the practical applications this document has for those of us in church leadership. To find the document in its entirety, click here....

Chris shares about a time when he disagreed with his Pastor and what he learned from the experience. Disagreement is normal. In this episode, we explore ways in which we can have healthy disagreement with our Pastor and still work well together. For more great insight on how to handle blame check out this video from Dr. Brené Brown: Click HERE (https://youtu.be/RZWf2_2L2v8)

In this episode, Chris and John are joined by Diana Macalintal, who is the co-founder of the Team RCIA. We talk about the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults and how the RCIA is more like a process versus a program. Diana also explores how what is currently happening in your parish outside of the RCIA is a vital and integral part of sacramental preparation. You can find out more about Diana Macalintal at www.TeamRCIA.com. Check out her latest book, Your Parish is the Curriculum: RCIA in...

We are joined by pastoral leader and counselor Roy Petitfils as we talk about how pastoral leaders in the Church can respond to young people who are hurting. In this episode, we explore how 1 in 4 young people have anxiety and share practical ways that pastoral ministers can support youth as they experience trauma. Find out more about Roy Petitfels at https://roypetitfils.com/ and take a look at his latest book, Helping Teens With Stress, Anxiety, and Depression: A Field Guide for Catholic...

Alpha is an international ministry that provides free resources for your parish to develop intentional opportunities to form the faith of your parishioners and invite new people into your community. In this episode, Chris and John speak with Sarah Kaczmarek from Alpha USA to discuss the role Alpha can play in our evangelization and discipleship efforts. To find out more about Alpha, visit www.alphausa.org.

The transition of a pastor is never easy with the parish community. As a parish leader, you have a responsibility to the parish and the transition. In this episode, Chris and John talk about how you handle yourself in front of parishioners while dealing with a pastor transition.

Chris opens up and shares with John his experience of burnout in ministry and what he did to help him thrive in ministry. These tools can help each of us to thrive in ministry and avoid the danger of burn-out. To watch the webinar he did on this topic for the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry, click here (https://www.gotostage.com/channel/3137548062961020934). Chris also mentions the Monk Manual (https://www.monkmanual.com/) as a powerful tool for him. You can find out more here...

In this episode, Chris and John are joined by Robert Feduccia as we explore more fully the liturgy through the lens of evangelization. More specifically, we delve into liturgical music and the important role it plays in the rite and our spirituality. We reference Sacrosanctum conilium many times, as well as Sing To the Lord written by the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops. You can find out more about Robert Feduccia by following him on Twitter.

In the 21st century, your typical parishioner in the pew won’t tolerate low quality media presentations. We expect high quality and well produced multi-media. In turn, the beauty presented can lead to transformation and conversion. In this episode, Chris and John interview Eric Groth and Doug Tooke to discuss why using highly quality multi-media resources is a necessary aspect of our ministry. To find out more about Eric and Doug, visit www.ODBfilms.com (http://www.odbfilms.com).

If catechesis is a means to an end, then what is the purpose of catechesis? In this episode, Chris and John delve into the topic of catechesis and discuss its history, purpose, and what it points too.

Starting a new ministry job after being in a previous role in the church? Starting over is an awesome experience because of the experience you bring to the table. But, there are still things to consider as you start your first two years in ministry again. For more on this topic, read this article from Marathon Youth Ministry.

As a new minister in a church, your first two years can be exciting and scary at the same time. In this episode, Chris and John share some ideas about how you launch into your first two years of ministry.

In this episode, Chris and John interview Dr. Bob McCarty, project manager for the research “Going, Going, Gone.” Dr. McCarty shares with us the major findings of this study and what we as a parish might do in response to are young people living the Church. For more details and to purchase “Going, Going, Gone,” visit www.Catholicresearch.smp.org.