July 1st is just around the corner, and with that comes a new experience of parish life for every person in the Archdiocese of Omaha. Many of us will experience a reduction in mass times at our parishes, new uses for our parish structures, and interruptions to the routines that many of us hold precious. This disruption will be hard to process, so I wanted to talk to a pastor in our diocese who already has the experience of shepherding his people through these changes. Fr. James Keiter brings a supernatural hope and confidence in the Holy Spirit. He has seen the Lord proved everything he and is parishioners need to manage their new reality, and he says that even though it is counterintuitive, if we focus on making disciples rather than worrying about the changes, we will rediscover the joy of being Catholic. A Production of the Archdiocese of Omaha Editor: Taylor Schroll (ForteCatholic.com)

All of us have someone in our lives who has left the faith: a friend, sibling, son, daughter, or grandchild. If you are like me, this person (or let’s be honest, people) weighs heavy on your heart. So how do we evangelize adults like this? Today’s guest, Andre Regnier, gives insights from his years of experience as a missionary with Catholic Christian Outreach, Canada’s version of FOCUS. In particular, he says you should never underestimate the importance of a clear and simple invitation to follow Jesus. A Production of the Archdiocese of Omaha Editor: Taylor Schroll (ForteCatholic.com)

I don’t know about you, but I hate change. Change often marks the end of something, and so it brings with it the feeling of loss as well as uncertainty about the future. Living in a time of transition between the old and the new can be disorienting. So how do we keep our sense of stability and direction when the world seems to be shifting under our feet? Today’s guest, Tod Bolsinger, author of Tempered Resilience and Canoeing the Mountains, inspired me to see God loving me through the change and to use the Ignatian Examen as a tool for leading others through uncertain times. A Production of the Archdiocese of Omaha Editor: Taylor Schroll (ForteCatholic.com)

I’m going to depart from our usual content to talk to you about gardening tips for the Spring… All dad jokes aside, in today’s Coach’s Corner, I do want to talk about the art of pruning when there is an abundance of good things to do in our lives or ministries. When an activity or program doesn’t seem to fit anymore or when the Lord is simply calling us to put time and energy elsewhere, how do we say no? Especially when what we are saying no to is seemingly good? But I’ll take a note from my wife, Kim. Like her, let’s prune with reckless abandon so as to make way for new life that is healthier and stronger than it’s ever been. A Production of the Archdiocese of Omaha Editor: Taylor Schroll (ForteCatholic.com)

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 today, let’s talk about what Jesus wants for our health, and let’s find true freedom to live as God wants us to. Join me for Freedom of Body and Soul with Christina Diers. A Production of the Archdiocese of Omaha Editor: Taylor Schroll (ForteCatholic.com)

This year has brought a lot of ups and downs for the Archdiocese of Omaha. But the thing I come back to most in prayer? The victory is ours! In this Easter season, as we continue to face the decline of Christianity in our culture and in the number of people in our communities, let us remember: Jesus is risen! With this hope on my mind, I sat down with Archbishop Lucas for our yearly Easter reflection and asked him: • After so many years, how do you come to Easter with new eyes? • How would you share the Good News with someone who’s never met Jesus? • In a season where many are feeling discouraged, like we are in the garden with Jesus, how do you find hope? A Production of the Archdiocese of Omaha Editor: Taylor Schroll (ForteCatholic.com)

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. So, how do we help those in the same place as St. Thomas, the stubbornly disbelieving? Tune in to this week’s Coach’s Corner, St. Thomas & The Power of Belonging, to find out! A Production of the Archdiocese of Omaha Editor: Taylor Schroll (ForteCatholic.com)

Pope Francis is most known for telling us to love the poor and to share our faith. Many of you probably have a good handle on how to serve the poor, but what does sharing your faith look like? And can it feel natural to who each of us are as individuals? Today, I talk with Kelly Peklo and Matt Keller, participants in the Archdiocese Mentorship Program. They share their journey to understand God’s call to evangelize and how they made that call fit into their lives. They talk about learning to pray and to hear the Lord’s voice. And he wasn’t asking them to share their faith like a famous tele-evangelist or door-to-door salesman. He was calling them to use their unique strengths, to share His love with others, by simply being themselves. A Production of the Archdiocese of Omaha Editor: Taylor Schroll (ForteCatholic.com)

Today, I’ve got a story for you! It’s about Omaha’s own (God willing) future saint, Fr. Edward Flanagan. If you’ve seen the 1938 biopic on his life, you might think you know all about him. However, Boys Town’s Historian, Thomas Lynch, shares a wealth of stories that are sure to inspire. Fr. Flanagan was ahead of his time with the changes he introduced. He revolutionized the care for orphans and other wards of the state. He integrated people of different ethnicities and religions into one community. And, he had a personal devotion to the Lord which caused him to always meet hatred with love. A Production of the Archdiocese of Omaha Editor: Taylor Schroll (ForteCatholic.com)

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. So how did this community reinvent itself in less than 7 years? The parish leaders embraced a relationship with the Holy Spirit. They made it a priority to notice individuals, to notice their gifts, and to invite those gifts to be used in specific ways. They now have a culture of invitation. Every parishioner knows they should be reaching out to others, drawing the community together and to the person of Christ. A Production of the Archdiocese of Omaha Editor: Taylor Schroll (ForteCatholic.com)

We all have experience planning events. In the family setting, I’m talking weddings, vacations, and holiday gatherings. Many of you, I’m sure, also have experience planning an event for your parish. Oftentimes, the Lord puts something on your heart. Perhaps you noticed a need that wasn’t being met, and so to address the problem, you and a few others planned an event. At first, the work went well, but eventually, after a few months or years, you start to notice that the event is no longer making an impact. Either people aren’t coming any more, or they leave unchanged. What can be done? Tune in for a 10 minute episode, where I give tips to ensure that the events you are involved in make a difference. A Production of the Archdiocese of Omaha Editor: Taylor Schroll (ForteCatholic.com)

Today I talk to Fr. Sean Kilcawley of the Diocese of Lincoln. Over the years, the Lord has called him into ministry with people who struggle with addiction and/or question their identity. He has made a career out of answering the question: What would it be like to make it safe for people to name the difficult things in their hearts? Specifically, we dig into the topic of gender identity. Fr. Kilcawley gives practical guidance on how to talk to people about this topic. (Spoiler: We should ask more questions than make arguments.) He also challenges us to be connected to Jesus because our life experiences and connection with the Lord give us the grace to walk with others. A Production of the Archdiocese of Omaha Editor: Taylor Schroll (ForteCatholic.com)

I hear so many people these days saying things like, “I feel the Lord calling me to share my faith with others.” But for so many of us, evangelization is new and daunting. Today, I invited, Michael Hall to discuss his book "Intentional Accompaniment". Michael works for Catholic Christian Outreach which is an incredible ministry based in Canada. He has taken their tools and techniques for evangelization and applied them to the everyday settings of parish and family life. And, he makes it easy! Michael provides some fantastic baby steps for sharing one’s faith more boldly and fruitfully. Michael's book- https://store.cco.ca/products/intentional-accompaniment CCO Website- https://store.cco.ca A Production of the Archdiocese of Omaha Editor: Taylor Schroll (ForteCatholic.com)

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 response be? References: Vatican document on Pastoral Planning (https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2020/07/20/200720a.html) A Production of the Archdiocese of Omaha Editor: Taylor Schroll (ForteCatholic.com)

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 Rome, and so we discuss what the Church teaches about our Catholic schools. We go over the history of how participation in our schools has decreased, the importance of a partnership with parents, and the five essential marks of Catholic schools. Catholic schools have a beautiful mission to evangelize, so for anyone who loves schools and loves the mission of the Church, this episode is for you! A Production of the Archdiocese of Omaha Editor: Taylor Schroll (ForteCatholic.com)

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 of 11, and Kathy has been through pastoral planning three times. This could have left her hardened and bitter, but instead, she views her Catholic faith as something that transcends the physical location of a church and is confident that Jesus is with them no matter where they worship. She has found hope through her faith and community and by embracing the transformative power of Jesus. A Production of the Archdiocese of Omaha Editor: Taylor Schroll (ForteCatholic.com)

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. Want to check out a training to see if Live Lent Together is right for you? Go to ArchOmaha.org/Lent A Production of the Archdiocese of Omaha Editor: Taylor Schroll (ForteCatholic.com)

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 is the mother, and she is often staving for connection and community. So today, we tell you stories of connecting with the young, busy moms and how that has led to evangelizing the family. A Production of the Archdiocese of Omaha Editor: Taylor Schroll (ForteCatholic.com)

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 there are gifts in everyone that need to be shared. A Production of the Archdiocese of Omaha Editor: Taylor Schroll (ForteCatholic.com)

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 disciples”, but it is the foundation of everything we do. Tune in for a 10 minute episode on Getting the Most Out of Mass. A Production of the Archdiocese of Omaha Editor: Taylor Schroll (ForteCatholic.com)