Archdiocese Of Omaha Podcasts

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…

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 Christ…

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…

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 calli…

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,…

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 w…

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…

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 Prog…

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 introdu…

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 mad…

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 other…

Ash Wednesday is here - which means Lent has begun! Archbishop George J. Lucas expands upon the holy season. "Rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the Lord, your God. For gracious and merciful is he." - Book of Joel We should not ritualize Lent, but find our own meaning and purpose. What is Jesus offering you? Listen!…

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, w…

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 …

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 dea…

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 si…

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 t…

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 b…

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…

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.…

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 …

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. B…

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 min…

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…

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 d…

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 su…

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 …

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 i…

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 Mini…

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 mi…

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 …

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, scrip…

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 wa…

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 t…

The buzz phrase "Meet people where they are!" has been around for a while now. Pope Francis often concretizes this in a call to go out and be with those who are suffering. While many of us are no stranger to caring for the physical needs of others, we know that the spiritual poverty of the United States is where the greatest need lies. So, how do w…

This week I talk to a friend in the Diocese of Houma Thibodaux. If you couldn't tell by the hard to pronounce spelling, that's in Louisiana. There, they also have a Parish Support Team tasked with helping pastors and parishes become missional communities. I've looked to them for more than a year now as an example for my team. One of the most surpri…

As much as I would like them to, our episodes on stewardship do not do as well as our episodes on evangelization. We are so used to thinking about stewardship as just giving money to keep the lights of our parish on. While this kind of generosity is good, a cultivating a Culture of Generosity takes so much more. In fact, we know, through parables s…

The end to abortion is here! ...Legally...at the federal level. While we should celebrate a major victory in the fight against abortion, the work has really just begun. If we want to end abortion, not just make it illegal, then we have to change minds and hearts. Today's guest, Katherine Burow, tells us "A lot of people are pro-choice because they'…

Let's talk about productivity. There is this lie that is a two-edged sword in the Christian world. For some, getting tasks done does not come naturally, and so it can rob them of the peace that comes with a relationship with God. On the other hand, we often deeply feel the urgency that comes with a call from God causing us to "over produce" or to w…

The Archdiocese's Big Goal, each parish in the Archdiocese of Omaha will be a missional community, has three characteristics: collaborative leadership, a clear path to discipleship, and a culture of generosity. I believe we can't talk about these enough. So today, I have another episode on the clear path to discipleship for you. In many ways, the c…

With the Journey of Faith underway, the words “flourishing” and “missional community” have become buzzwords in our diocese. Many good people have been asking, “Wait…ARE we a missional community? What does it even mean for an entire parish to be missional?” We have a definition: an outward looking group of disciples, under the care of a pastor, sent…

The 2022 priesthood ordination is happening Saturday, June 4, 2022 at St. Cecilia Cathedral. Two amazing transitional deacons will be ordained in the Archdiocese of Omaha. The episode is divided into 3 parts: (1) Archbishop Lucas talking about the importance of priestly vocations, (2) both transitional deacons explaining their experience throughout…

Making the shift towards becoming a missional community, whether that's in a parish or a ministry, often means taking steps into the unknown. It means opening ourselves to new the things that God desires for us, and as silly as it might sound, good meetings are important to discerning the steps to following his will. But, have you ever had the expe…

As the archdiocese goes through the pastoral planning process called Journey of Faith, I'm sure you've heard some of the statistics. One of the most striking is: Since 2003, Mass attendance in the archdiocese has declined by 42%. This is more than a number; it's souls. Who comes to mind when you think about that reality? A friend? Neighbor? Sibling…

I’ve got a program this is going to change hearts and transform lives! It builds relationships, causes conversions, and could be a real blessing to your parish, BUT there’s a catch… Program’s aren’t silver bullets, and they can’t survive in a vacuum. A program that works has: a goal for success a target audience that isn’t defined by age or state o…

One thing the pandemic taught me is that people are starving for friendship. It is unfortunately easy to go through life making surface level connections with people but not to form the deep bonds of true friendship. We can be surrounded by people and yet feel so very alone. And so, today I bring you Austin Casselberry, a person that I like to call…

We are full swing into the Easter season. The Most Rev. George J. Lucas explains how Catholics can better experience and encounter the Lord in his Resurrection. He also explains the upcoming feast days in the liturgical calendar. And yes, Pentecost is Sunday, June 5! A production of the Archdiocese of Omaha Hosts: Most Rev. George J. Lucas & Jimmy …