The Church Podcast (Christopher Wesley)

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.

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).

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 of Your Ministry Website and Email Marketing

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.

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.

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

Many of us can remember a time in ministry where our leader shared a movie clip or a song and tied it to the message of the Gospel. They stand out as powerful moments that many of us remember decades later.

In this episode, John and Chris discuss how influential the use of movie clips and songs can be in ministry when used well.

In this episode, Chris and John explore the question of whether we should shut down our parish ministry during the summer. They explore some of the reasons why keeping your ministry going during the summer can be a powerful tool for evangelization.

In this episode, we refer to Episode 32: Take a Vacation

Whether we know it or not, the culture of our parish and our parish staff determines our success or failure in our ministry. In this episode, John and Chris explore the importance of creating a healthy culture and some tips to enhance your collaboration with your colleagues.

When we don’t have a grasp of the bigger picture we tend to build ministries that are one dimensional and don’t reach the people in our mission field. In this episode, Chris and John discuss the initial steps to creating a ministry that is holistic with the ability to reach more people and bring them closer to Christ.

When it comes to crafting the ministry your parish needs requires a plan. That plan should help you determine what’s necessary to reach and achieve the vision. In this episode, Chris and John talk about the right questions to ask and the best moves to make to create an intentional and holistic ministry.

If you are going to build a healthy and sustainable ministry you will face some challenges. How you overcome them depends on your mindset and willingness to work as a team. In the final installment of this podcast series Chris and John talk about the best way to overcome the obstacles that get in the way of creating a holistic and intentional ministry.

Committee meetings with volunteers are practically a necessity in ministry, but can be frustrating and ineffective when not well managed. In this episode, Chris and John discuss the best practices for managing a volunteer committee in your parish so that they are effective and life-giving for you and your team.

In this episode we refer back to an episode on Leading Meetings Well.

Restored order of the Sacraments of Initiation continues to be a topic of discussion in many parishes and dioceses. But is it the solution to “The Confirmation Problem”?

In this episode, John and Chris discuss what the problem is, why restored order may or may not be the solution, and how leaders in ministry can address the problem in their own church.

In this episode, we refer to a previous episode we did on Confirmation, as well as an episode on empowering parents.

In this episode, we continue the conversation regarding Restored Order in the Church from a theological perspective. Chris and John are joined by Nick Wagner, who is the co-founder of Team RCIA. Together, we walk through the history of the sacraments and discuss how they came to be in the order that they currently in most of the western Church.

Nick lays out an argument as to why restored order of the sacraments is the way to go and discuss practical steps that leaders in the CHurch can take whether they are a restored order parish or not.

You can find out more about Nick Wagner and his ministry by visiting www.TeamRCIA.com.

In this episode, Chris and John explore the traps that lead to burn out in ministry and discuss strategies that help each of us stay healthy in our role as leader and minister in the Church.

In this episode, Chris shares his experience at the 1st annual Voice and Vision Dialogue: A National Summit for Ministries with Youth and Young Adults. This event was inspired by the Pope Francis’ post sydonal document called “Christ is Alive” (Christus Vivit).

Chris shares what went well, what went flat, and shares his excitement and energy for the future of this event and others like it.

Resources:

In this episode, we refer to quite a few previous episodes as well as a Pre-Conference document that was developed for the dialogue. All those links can be found below:

• Conference Website

• Conference pre-reading document

• The Church Podcast episode on Chris is Alive

• The Church Podcast episode on the V Encuentro

In this episode, Brenda Noriega from the Diocese of San Bernardino, California, joins us for a dialogue on pastoral juvenil and understanding the needs of Latino young people in the Church today. We break open the idea of generational differences and discuss how identity and popular piety play a role in ministry.

To find out more about Brenda Noriega, visit her Facebook page.

Providing feedback to your team is an essential component of management and leadership in the Church, yet we rarely do it effectively. In this episode, Chris and John share why regular and consistent feedback is important for your staff. We provide a simple formula that you can use as a way to be a more effective manager and leader.

Resources:

In this episode, we refer to a previous podcast episodes, which can be found below:

• Episode 77: Effective Use of One on One’s

• The Ideal Praise-to-Criticism Ratio from Harvard Business Review

The annual performance evaluation is an essential process for ministry leaders, yet too many people in ministry loathe them or find them ineffective. In this episode, Chris and John share strategies for implementing a performance evaluation process that is effective and fruitful to enhance your ministry.

In this episode, we refer to the following podcast episodes:

• Episode 95: Providing Feedback to Your Staff

• Episode 77: Effective Use of One on One’s

Religious and ministry data suggests that one of the experiences that often lead to transformation and conversion of heart are service opportunities. In this episode, we explore the power of these experiences and how to go about setting up these opportunities in your ministry.

In this episode, we refer to the following resources that can help you get started:

• Catholic Charities

• Catholic Relief Services

• Just Five Days

• Young Neighbors in Action

• CRS’ Food Fast

• World Vision’s 30 Hour Famine

• 410 Bridge

• Nazareth Farm

In this episode, Chris and John share openly about the struggles parishes have regarding administrative tasks that leaders in ministry need to embrace. They suggest that, to create the thriving ministry parishes hope to create, they must develop a solid leadership and management foundation.

Resources:

In this episode, we refer to a few resources, including:

• Manager Tools

• It’s The Manager

Inspired by the book The Power of Moments by Chip and Dan Heath, John and Chris talk about being intentional about creating special moments in ministry that can be memorable. In addition, they share some specific ideas from the book that can be used in ministry

As we celebrate episode 100 of The Church Podcast, John and Chris look back at two years of ministry in the Church and name the significant events and experiences that have shaped the Church. Then, looking forward at the next 100 episode, Chris and John talk about what the future might bring for the Church and leaders in ministry.

We often begin developing faith formation opportunities in our parish without thinking through what it is we hope participants will gain from being involved. In this episode, Chris and John start with the end in mind and encourage leaders to discuss the spiritual habits they hope participants will develop in formation programs and use that as the starting point for developing your faith formation curriculum.

In this episode, we reference “Who Is that Teenager,” a resource developed by Chris through Marathon Youth Ministry.

We often begin developing faith formation opportunities in our parish without thinking through what it is we hope participants will gain from being involved. In this episode, Chris and John start with the end in mind and encourage leaders to discuss the spiritual habits they hope participants will develop in formation programs and use that as the starting point for developing your faith formation curriculum.

In this episode, we reference “Who Is that Teenager,” a resource developed by Chris through Marathon Youth Ministry.

At one point or another, we’ve all said that we don’t have enough resources to do ministry. That is likely to be true, and we need to be intentional about how we go about asking for resources, both from God and from our ministry leader.

In this episode, Chris and John explore this question and give practical guidance on how to move forward when we feel we don’t have enough resources in our ministry.

Youth ministry can’t grow unless the entire parish grows. Children’s ministry can’t grow unless the entire parish grows. Yet, too often, we sometimes put all of our efforts in our ministry without the understanding that what we do is collaborative. In this episode,

John and Chris share ideas and resources about how we go about breaking down ministry silos and working together as a whole to grow our entire parish.

In this Facebook Live episode, Chris and John address your questions. This week, we delve into how we can implement change in our parish and how we go about making non-Catholics feel welcome when the are invited to our parish youth ministry events.

Facebook Live episodes can also be found at the YM Transfer Facebook Page. Stay tuned for more Facebook Live episodes in the future.

Your staff and ministry organizational structure should be evaluated to make sure it matches the needs of your parish and allows you to achieve your ministry goals. In this episode, Chris and John explore some of the common traps or mistakes we fall into and share some ideas how we might reconfigure our staff structure to allow for more effective ministry.

In this episode, special guest Klarissa Chichioco shares about Theology of the Body. She delves into what it is and how to implement it into your ministry.

To learn more about Klarissa and her ministry, visit Echoes of Worth.

For more information about Theology of the Body, visit the Theology of the Body Institute.

Saying “no” is an essential part of being a leader in ministry. In this episode, Chris and John share their experience of saying “no” and how to effectively discern what we say “yes” to and what we say “no” to.

For more resources on this topic, check out the Monk Manual or visit the Marathon Youth Ministry Store and check out “Time Savers” and the “Annual Self Assessment.”

In part 1 of this Facebook Live episode, Chris and John talk with Neighborhood Evangelist and Youth Ministry Leader Tony Vasinda as he shares his journey of faith and how he has been led to evangelizing in a different way with his family.

He specifically shares how ministry, if it’s beautiful and true, but it doesn’t work in our parishes, then we should reconsider it.

You can find out more about Tony Vasinda and his ministry by visiting him on Twitter @TonyVasinda or visiting Patreon.com/HOBL.

In part 2 of this Facebook Live episode, Chris and John continue to talk with Neighborhood Evangelist and Youth Ministry Leader Tony Vasinda as he shares his journey of faith and how he has been led to evangelizing in a different way with his family.

He specifically shares how ministry, if it’s beautiful and true, but it doesn’t work in our parishes, then we should reconsider it.

You can find out more about Tony Vasinda and his ministry by visiting him on Twitter @TonyVasinda or visiting Patreon.com/HOBL.

Nothing can affect the morale and culture of your parish staff than not effectively managing underperforming staff. In this episode, Chris and John break open how to address the underperformance of your staff and how to guide and coach your team to meet and exceed expectations.

In this episode, we reference two previous podcasts which will be beneficial to implementing these strategies:

• Effective Use of One-on-One’s

• Implementing an Effective Performance Evaluation Process

Parish leaders often bemoan the lack of giving, mass attendance, volunteerism, or (insert other expectation here). We complain because we have expectations of parishioners that parishioners don’t have of themselves.

In this episode, John and Chris talk about the importance of developing and communicating clear expectations of what it means to be a member of our Catholic parish.

At the heart of Diocesan ministry is service to their parishes and schools. In this episode, Chris and John discuss the role of Diocesan ministry and how they can best support parishes and schools.

At the same time, we share ideas for parish and school leaders on how to connect with their Diocesan structure.

Do people feel welcome in your church? That is a question that all ministry leaders need to ask themselves. In this archive episode of The Church Podcast, Chris and John explore strategies for being intentional about developing a ministry of hospitality.

Sherry Weddell, in her great book Forming Intentional Disciples, suggests that we have raised Catholics who are “sacramentalized, but not evangelized.” Wow! Powerful statement!

In this archived episode, Chris and John begin the first episode of a series looking at sacramental preparation programs and how we can evangelize as well as sacramentalize. At the center of this conversation is this idea that Weddell shares:

“If our pastoral practice is to be life changing, then we must be acutely aware that the reception of a valid sacrament and the fruitful reception of sacramental grace are two different but related issues. Validity means that the sacrament was truly bestowed and the intended grace made truly present to the person receiving the sacrament. But validity does not guarantee that the grace made available has been actively received and is bearing fruit in that person’s life.” –pg. 99

All too often, parishes look like a revolving door of staff members being hired and then moving on. Turnover of staff is of tremendous concern and thwarts effective ministry.

In this episode, John and Chris share how parish leaders and pastors might go about stopping the constant turnover that can often plague parishes.

In this episode, we refer to 2 previous podcast episodes:

• Hiring In Ministry

• Managing Underperforming Staff

In this episode, special guest, Katherine Angulo, shares what thriving ministry looks like and how we can prepare our young lay leaders and priests to be successful in ministry and to have longevity in their roles.  Katherine is the Program Director for Thriving in Ministry Initiatives at the McGrath Institute at Notre Dame University.

She also shares about her experience leading the Bishop D’Arcy Program in Priestly Renewal and what our priests are experiencing in the 21st Century Church.

In this episode, Chris and John delve into the question of parish staff working on Sunday. Sunday is when our parishes impact the most people. There is an argument to be made that Sunday needs to be a work day for parish staff.

John and Chris dive into some things to consider when making a decision about this important question.

Do you have an idea? A vision? A way to do ministry differently? And you wonder, is your pastor supportive?

In this episode, Chris and John share a 4-step strategy to get your pastor’s support about how to move your ministry forward.

John and Chris debate how to best tackle the email problem many in ministry have. John suggests that we should all respond to emails within 24 business hours and Chris pushes back, naming that not all emails take priority.

In this episode, they share strategies about how to effectively manage your email and be responsive to the needs of your ministry.

In this episode, Chris and John break open the National Certification process for Lay Ecclessial Ministers in the United States and explore it’s pro’s and con’s.

Find out more about the National Certification Process by checking out this page on the USCCB website.

In this episode, we also refer back to Episode 41: Is Getting a Graduate Degree Worth It?

“Good youth ministry leads to readiness for Confirmation. Confirmation does not lead to involvement in youth ministry.”

In this episode, Chris and John explore the intersection of youth ministry and the sacrament of Confirmation, and how effective comprehensive youth ministry prepares young people well for Confirmation.

In this episode, we refer to these previous podcast episodes:

• Rebuilding the Sacrament of Confirmation (Part 1)

• Rebuilding the Sacrament of Confirmation (Part 2)

• Will Restored Order Fix the Confirmation Problem?

We are all broken people. And God mends all brokenness. In this episode, Chris and John explore the role of brokenness in our lives, how we can embrace it, and how we can use our brokenness in our ministry to help heal other broken people.

Ministry leaders need to be intentional about setting goals for their ministry. In this episode, John and Chris share how that looks in parish ministry and how it is connected with growing your parish and planning the budget.

In this episode, we refer to these previous podcast episode:

• The Joys of Budgeting

In this episode, John and Chris interview Joshua Miller, Executive Director for the Inscape Center for Personal Vocation. Josh shares with us why exploring our core motivations is essential to understanding and nurturing our personal vocation.

You can check out this resources shared on our podcast episode by clicking on the links below:

• Unrepeatable: Cultivating the Unique Calling of Every Person (book)

• InscapeVocations.com

In this episode, Chris and John break open ideas on how we can still evangelize and catechize our communities even when extraordinary events, like Covid-19 (Coronavirus) happen. More specifically, we talk about your communication strategies, online giving, continuing formation, and pastoral outreach during this unprecedented time.

In this episode, John and Chris continue our conversation about creative strategies for ministering during the Coronavirus crisis. Specifically, we share ideas to be calm and proactive, managing and leading your staff while working from home, and thinking pastoral about the needs of your parishioners.

In all likelihood, your parish will take a financial hit as Masses are cancelled. In this episode, Chris and John break open the idea of communicating and encouraging giving strategies beyond giving in the offertory basket, as well as looking at the budget to see where there are costs savings now that your Church campus is closed.

Covid-19 has redefined the realities of the Domestic Church at home, especially since we cannot gather together on church grounds.

In this episode, special guest Paul Canavese shares strategies and resources for building up the church at home and empowering parents to take a lead on passing on a legacy of faith to their families.

Find out more about Paul and The Pastoral Center by visiting their website: http://PastoralCenter.com and https://www.growingupcatholic.com/.

In this episode, Chris and John are joined by Rich Curran, Executive Director for the Parish Success Group, as we discuss the need to take care of ourselves and our colleagues as we continue our Covid-19 adventure.

And they will open back up. When they do, what is your plan?

In this episode, Chris and John explore some ideas and questions to discern as we prepare to welcome people back on to our Church campuses, with the hope of not only getting people to come, but keeping them with us over the long-term.

And they will open back up. When they do, what is your plan?

In this episode, Chris and John explore some ideas and questions to discern as we prepare to welcome people back on to our Church campuses, with the hope of not only getting people to come, but keeping them with us over the long-term.

In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Josh Packard, Executive Director of the SPringtide Research Institute as we discuss the reality of loneliness in 13 to 25 year olds and how parishes and ministries can respond to this trend.

For more information on this study, please visit:

• Website: https://www.springtideresearch.org/

• To purchase the book: https://www.springtideresearch.org/belonging/

• Or connect with them on social media @WeAreSpringtide

In this episode, we are joined by Diana Macalintal and Nick Wagner from Team RCIA as we discuss how to go about the sacraments of initiation during Covid-19 and when we open the doors back up.

We answer the question of when to celebrate the sacraments, what to do with the Elect right now, and what a year-around model of RCIA could look like.

To find more information about Diana, Nick, and their ministry, and hear previous podcast episodes with them, visit:

• Covid-19 Resource page for RCIA

• Sample Calendar for celebrating the Sacraments post Covid-19

• Previous podcast with Diana: Looking at the RCIA Through a Different Lens

Previous podcast with Nick: Restored Order from a Theological Perspective

In this episode, Chris and John explore the importance of engaging in non-Catholic resources to help expand our leadership within a Catholic setting. We specifically talk about books, authors, experiences, and podcasts that have helped us become better Catholic ministry leaders.

Many parishes and dioceses have been asking the question, “how?” when it comes to opening back up for Masses. Not as many parish leaders have asked the question, “why?”

In this two-part episode, Chris and John explore 3 “why’s” parishes might resume Masses and delve into critical questions that all parishes should be asking before they determine whether they should or should not open back up for liturgy.

In this episode, we refer back to these podcast episodes:

• When The Church Doors Open Back Up

• A Vision of Tithing During a Crisis

In the second part of this two-part episode, Chris and John continue their discussion as to asking the question “why” we should open back up the doors of the Church for Mass. Many leaders have asked the question “how” but not as many have asked the question, why?

In the second part of this two-part episode, Chris and John continue their discussion as to asking the question “why” we should open back up the doors of the Church for Mass. Many leaders have asked the question “how” but not as many have asked the question, why?

As parishes are caught up in the requirements for opening the Church back up for Mass, we can’t forget that we still need to plan for the Fall.

In this episode, Chris and John discuss how to plan for the new ministry year while dealing with the ambiguity of what the Fall might look like. We explore the opportunity that has been given to us to be creative, provide new and more effective ministry, and still be adaptive and nimble as we embrace an uncertain future.

"I do not share the fear they put on when they and their children leave their homes every day” -Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, Archdiocese of Chicago

Dr. Ansel Augustine joins Chris and John in this episode to break open the topic of racism and justice in our communities. Stemming from his experience as a Black Catholic in a Black community, Dr. Augustine shares small and practical ways that parish leaders can discuss racism in our ministries, noting that it will be uncomfortable for us.

As Dr. Augustine says, “Jesus calls us to do the right thing, not the easy thing.”

Catholic resources on race that were mentioned in the podcast episode can be found here:

• “Open Wide Our Hearts: the Enduring Call to Love” - a pastoral letter against racism by the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops

• “Brothers and Sisters to Us” - Pastoral Letter on Racism, USCCB

• Racial Justice and the Catholic Church, Bryan Massingale

• The African American Catholic Youth Bible, Saint Mary’s Press

• Sesame Street Town Hall on Racism

• “When They See Us” - Netflix Series

• “13th” - Netflix Film

Special guest Dr. Leonard deLorenzo joins co-hosts Chris and John as they explore the definition of Co-Responsibility in the Catholic Church and its implications for parishes and dioceses.

Lenny shares new forms of shared leadership that allow the faithful to live out their baptismal call as co-responsible for the mission of evangelizing the world.

Lenny is a faculty member at the University of Notre Dame and is part of the team at the McGrath Institute for Church Life, which is hosting a summer series on Called and Co-Responsible: Summer Seminars for Church Life Renewal.

He is also the author of many books, including his latest release, A God Who Questions.

Rich Curran, Executive Director of the Parish Success Group, joins Chris and John for a conversation around the future of the Catholic Church in a COVID and post-COVID world.

Rich argues that parishes will need to reassess their models and ministries to adapt to the new culture we are in, including looking at how we offer Mass, rethinking programmatic offerings, and shaking up old models that will not work moving forward.

Well functioning pastoral and finance councils are necessary if a Church is to be successful. In this episode, Chris and John talk about why inviting members to be on your council is much more effective than having an election process.

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, including:

• Don’t ‘blackmail’ kids into coming to church, archbishop says [article]

• Will Restored Order Fix the Confirmation Problem? [podcast]

• Restored Order from a Theological Perspective [podcast]

As it becomes more clear that COVID will continue to impact Catholic parishes and Dioceses in the United States, we have to continue to plan for our ministries from a point of realism. We cannot plan formation like we have in the past.

In this 2-part episode, Chris and John continue to explore creative ideas for formation to children, youth, and adults in this continually ambiguous time. This includes considering formation in hybrid models that includes onsite, in homes, and digitally.

We reference this video from the Thrive Conference in this podcast.

As it becomes more clear that COVID will continue to impact Catholic parishes and Dioceses in the United States, we have to continue to plan for our ministries from a point of realism. We cannot plan formation like we have in the past.

In this 2-part episode, Chris and John continue to explore creative ideas for formation to children, youth, and adults in this continually ambiguous time. This includes considering formation in hybrid models that includes onsite, in homes, and digitally.

We reference this video from the Thrive Conference in this podcast.

The circumstances of today don’t allow us to connect with parishioners like we usually do. We limited Masses irregular face-to-face interaction; we have to rethink how we are recruiting and invite volunteers into ministry.

In this episode, Chris shares how we can effectively recruit volunteers when we can’t do it face-to-face.

In this episode, we reference:

• Chris’ blog post on Marathon Youth Ministry;

• Volunteer Job Description Templates

PSG’s master class on Recruiting, Training, and Sustaining Volunteers For Missionary Discipleship

To stay balanced and effective as a minister, vacation is an important tool for each of us to embrace. Yet, too many of us don’t take a vacation. Ministry takes energy and work. As ministers, we should be intentional about how we relax and rejuvenate so that we come back to our ministry more energized and focused.

In this episode, John and Chris share best practices when it comes to taking the vacation you deserve.

This summer has been like no other. With social distancing and ministry being totally upended, many ministry leaders are rightfully tired.

In this episode, Chris and John share strategies to find rest and to rejuvenate so that we can continue to bring our best to our ministry.

In this episode, we begin a series on the topic of developing and managing a parish council. In this first episode, we address the purpose of a parish council and why every parish needs one.

In this second episode on parish councils, we begin to discuss how to structure a council so that it is functional and set up for success. We share specifically how many members should be on the council, what the term limits look like, how often they should meet, and what should be in the agenda.

John and Chris continue their conversation on structuring your Pastoral Council. In this episode, we focus in on developing sub-committees to help enhance your parish and to set up your parish from success and growth.

Join us for our upcoming master class on Leveraging and Structuring Pastoral and Finance Councils for Parish Growth. Begins October 20, 2020.

In this episode, we refer back to the following podcast episodes:

• Leading Meetings Well

• Effective Use of One on Ones

The reopening of our churches has been slow. Numbers in the pew and faith formation are much lower than expected? Are they coming back?

Some data suggests that they aren’t ready to come back to church. So what are we to do? How do we rise to the occasion?

In this episode, Chris and John discuss the opportunity that has arisen because of COVID and suggests some further strategies as it becomes clear that people will not be coming back in the same numbers as they were in February 2020.

In this episode, we refer briefly to the previous podcast episodes with Doug Tooke:

• Episode 21: The Realities of Rural Ministry

• Episode 68: Using Multi-Media Tools in the 21st Century Ministry

Since COVID began, Catholic parishes have been a force in the digital space. As COVID begins to loosen up, it is becoming clear that our shift to digital needs to become a permanent part of our ministry efforts.

But what does that look like?

In this episode, we begin to explore exactly what that looks like and what are some of the first steps we can take to get there.

For a sample job description click HERE

In this episode, Chris and John discuss strategies to create more effective communication within your parish staff. In so doing, you intentional begin to create more effective external communication.

In this episode, we refer back to the following resources:

• Episode #10: Leading Meetings Well

• Books by Patrick Lencioni

Evangelization in a post-COVID church needs to be re-energized. Here we discuss that the opportunity to evangelize is high as people are dealing with so many traumatic issues in their lives. How do we meet them where they are at so that they recognize that God is there for them?

In this episode, we refer back to the following resources:

• Small Groups from Scratch: A Church Podcast Series

• Neighborhood Evangelization with Tony Vasinda

In this episode, Chris shares how we managed to keep 80% of his pre-COVID young people involved in his parish youth ministry by being innovative. He walks through his process of focusing on evangelization and outreach, while developing a new subscription based model of formation that invites young people to engage in small groups throughout the year.

Specifically, Chris shares in detail what his “subscription box” looks like that he gives to all families engaged in youth ministry.

SUBSCRIPTION KITS INCLUDE:

• Something fun (e.g., candy, youth ministry gear)
• Sacramentals (e.g., rosary, prayer rocks)
• Journal & Pen
• Content for reflection and discipleship
• Something seasonal

In this episode, we refer back to the following resources:

• Small Groups from Scratch: A Church Podcast Series

• Rebuilding Youth Ministry

It may be October, but now is the time that we should be planning for Advent and Christmas in this interesting year of 2020.

In this episode, we are joined by special guest Rich Curran from Parish Success Group to talk about the steps we should all be taking in preparation for this special season as we plan for a hybrid Mass experience.

In this episode, we reference Fr. Bob Chorey’s daily reflection as a tool to try during Advent.

As we enter into a more polarized society both in the secular and religious realm, the need for the Church to step in with an open heart and a listening mind is crucial. In this episode, we discuss how our parishes can walk the fine line of sharing truth while doing it in a trusting and open setting where dialogue and discussion are encouraged and welcomed.

In this episode, we refer back to the following podcast episode:

• Judgement, Social Media, and Christ

The first week of a new employee starting a new job is one of the most critical times. The first week can often set them up for success in your ministry. Therefore, it’s important to have an intentional plan for onboarding your new hire.

In this episode, Chris and John walk through what the first day and the first week should look like for your new staff member so that they can thrive in their new ministry under your leadership.