The EquipCast

Are you part of a dynamic team that truly leverages each member’s unique gifts? Building cohesive and effective teams is essential for parish renewal and vibrant ministry. When individuals are inspired and equipped to discover, discern, and live out their God-given mission, our parishes thrive. In this episode, I sit down with Matt Ingold of Metanoia Catholic, and he interviews me for his podcast,...

What’s the secret sauce to evangelization? Aside from the Holy Spirit, it's curiosity—genuinely wanting to know and understand the person in front of you. When you show sincere interest in someone's story, experiences, and thoughts, you create space for authentic connection. This curiosity builds trust and opens the door to deeper conversations where faith can be shared naturally. Evangelization i...

How can we help others shift from a maintenance mindset to a missional one? It starts with prayer and reflection but also requires creating an environment where people feel safe to explore new ideas and take risks. Encouraging continuous learning is key. By embracing new knowledge and experiences, we can deepen our faith and learn to live it out more fully. This journey of growth breaks down silos...

Do you ever get distracted while praying the rosary—or even, dare we say, find it boring? The rosary is a powerful tool to deepen your relationship with Jesus and Mary, a beautiful way to converse with God and invite His grace to transform your life. Join me for a Coach’s Corner where I share 12 practical tips to revolutionize your experience of the rosary and make it more meaningful than ever. [0...

Do you expect the miraculous from God? As believers, we are invited to trust in God's power and love, knowing He desires to move in our lives in profound and unexpected ways. Miracles are not confined to biblical times; they are a testament to God's ongoing presence in our world. When we step out in faith, we open the door for the Holy Spirit to work, transforming lives and communities. In this ep...

Is busyness subtly drowning out your ability to love God and love others? When we're constantly rushing from one task to the next, we lose the time and mental space to notice the needs of those around us, let alone build meaningful relationships with them. Our hurried lifestyles often turn our homes into mere refuges from the chaos instead of places of true connection and community. Today’s guest,...

Religious Education is broken, often feeling like a conveyor belt to the sacraments rather than a journey, accompanying individuals as they grow in faith. My guest, Janet Sobczyk, shares how she transformed that reality for her daughter Monica, a person with special needs, so she could receive the sacraments. Janet’s story offers powerful lessons for all Faith Formation programs: Individualized at...

Pope John Paul II tells us that “evangelization is the cornerstone of all pastoral action, the demands of which are primary, preeminent and preferential.” Yet, let’s be real—how often do we actually see this lived out in our parishes? Evangelization tends to take a back seat, overshadowed by other priorities, rarely making it into budgets or staffing plans. But here’s the truth: holiness and ortho...

One of the largest opportunities for evangelization is in our Catholic schools. But breaking into this mission field comes with its own struggles. Many parents are juggling so many responsibilities and pressures. They're dealing with work, family, and all the demands of modern life, which can make it hard to prioritize their faith journey. Plus, the church's efforts to engage them might not always...

Can young adults find their place in a faith community after college? Young adults often face the loss of their college community and the challenge of building new connections. They tend to feel isolated and unsure of how to integrate into a parish. Overcoming this involves actively seeking out parish activities, being open to making friends across different age groups, and finding ways to serve....

Have you ever wondered how to bring the Lord into your work, expanding your prayer life beyond personal devotion? In this episode, we explore missional prayer—prayer that aligns our hearts with the Holy Spirit, focusing on the transformation of our parishes and neighborhoods. It's about moving beyond inward devotion to intentional, outward-facing prayer for mission and evangelization. Discover how...

Ever wonder if your prayer life is making a difference? Look for the fruits. Are you experiencing more peace, patience, and love in your relationships? Do you feel more attuned to God’s presence and guidance in your daily life? Challenges can also be a signpost—when your prayer life is strong, you’re more likely to face difficulties with grace and clarity. But what about those times when it feels...

I was recently asked, "How do you share your faith without coming across as pushy?" It’s a big question—how can we invite people into a relationship with Jesus without making it feel manipulative? The answer is simple: We love. The core of the Great Commission—"go and make disciples"—is the call to love because God is love. If we let that love shape and transform us, we become agents of love in ou...

Why is it so hard to prioritize evangelization? I want to love God, love my neighbor, and introduce others to Jesus, but life often gets in the way. In today’s Coach’s Corner, I’m here to offer some encouragement. When I focus on what Jesus truly asks of me—giving my heart to him in prayer and helping others draw closer to him—everything else falls into place. Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed or...

Being holy is hard, and most of the people I look up to – the saints – lived extraordinary lives. But St. Therese taught us that sanctity is possible through her “little way”. Today, I want to introduce you to another “little way” – that of Servant of God Michelle Duppong. She lived what I like to call “the little way of evangelization” to the point that I almost didn’t hire her as a FOCUS mission...

Does your parish actively encourage parishioners to engage in the Church’s mission to "go and make disciples" (Matt 28:19)? The Evangelization Formation step of the Clear Path equips disciples by guiding them to work with the Holy Spirit—the primary agent of evangelization—while surrounding them with a supportive community of missionary disciples who uplift and strengthen one another. It also prov...

Most parishes form their people in the faith, but do they truly teach individuals how to pray, help them understand and actively engage with the sacraments, and guide them in making practical, moral changes in the daily lives? Developing the habits of a disciple can be challenging, and it happens most effectively within a community where people support and challenge one another to grow as follower...

Does your parish have Alpha, Christ Life, a parish retreat, or some other initiative that creates an opportunity for people to hear about Jesus, reflect on their faith, and take a step towards a real and lasting relationship with him? The Clear Path step Conversion Moment is designed to help individuals encounter Jesus and make a personal decision to follow Him by offering a clear proclamation of...

Do you have a way to introduce your non-practicing friends and family members to your faith community that doesn’t involve inviting them to Mass or other gatherings that might make them feel isolated? Does your parish offer a space where you can meet and build trusting relationships with those distant from their faith? The Clear Path step Relational Outreach is designed for just that. My guests, K...

Do you believe that God continues to work even when you don’t? In my own life, I’ve struggled with the idea that rest has to be earned, that I can only rest once everything on my to-do list is checked off. But the Christian vision is different. God’s work doesn’t stop when we rest. In fact, our rest is a testament to our trust in His ongoing work. Join me as we explore the beauty of working from r...

Small groups are vital for parish renewal—you might even be part of one yourself. But is your small group thriving and growing, or is it feeling a bit stagnant? Do you find it challenging to reach beyond the usual participants? And most importantly, are your small groups truly helping people grow in their faith journey? Today, I chat with Michael Hall, author of Intentional Accompaniment and a sea...

Have you ever been asked for help but then felt like you were just giving unwanted advice? It’s tough to know how to make your words count. On my team, we use an approach called coaching that focuses on active listening to really support and empower the clergy and lay leaders we work with. We’ve also found that this method can make you a better friend. Today, I bring you a live coaching session wi...

Is it okay to set boundaries in ministry work? How do we balance being “all things to all people” (1 Cor 9:22) with the need for personal limits? Today’s guest believes that not only is it okay to establish boundaries—it’s essential. Join me as I sit down with John Gencarelli, Director of Youth and Adult Evangelization at St. Phillip Neri-Blessed Sacrament & Holy Name Parishes in Omaha. John o...

Do you find it hard to maintain enthusiasm for evangelization? You’re not alone. Many of us in ministry face moments of profound fatigue and discouragement. But let me share something with you: the key to reigniting that passion lies in rediscovering the love and hope gifted by God which first called us to this mission. Today, I bring you the wisdom of Fr. John Riccardo, founder of Acts XXIX and T...

Do you ever feel overwhelmed by trying to be perfect? I mean, Jesus did tell us to “be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Mt. 5:48), and Paul certainly took this seriously as he gladly “spent and consumed himself for souls” (2 Cor 12:15). But sometimes, I think the pursuit of perfection leaves behind God’s plan for our lives. In fact, living a holy life might mean embracing the imperfect...