The Church Podcast

Christopher Wesley
  • 5.0 (20)
  • Religion
  • Updated Weekly

Each episode features conversations with people from various backgrounds, exploring the real side of ministry. We discuss insights and learnings from the local and national landscape, enriching our understanding of the ministry's impact.

  1. 1d ago

    Reimagining Faith Formation: Teach the Parents, Too | Patrick Donovan, Ep 073

    "Teach my children the prayers, but teach me how to pray." Patrick Donovan of the Diocese of Bridgeport on what parents are really asking the Church for. Dr. Patrick Donovan, director of the Institute for Catholic Formation for the Diocese of Bridgeport, talks about why innovation makes the Church nervous, what a survey of about 15,000 parents revealed, how the diocese is renewing faith formation parish by parish, and how Bishop Frank Caggiano is using short videos, an animated series and AI to reach families. Full show notes and resources: https://blog.marathonyouthministry.com/churchpodcast/episode-073-reimagining-faith-formation-teach-the-parents-too-with-patrick-donovan Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC307YUsy2980SICsZElRPGA CHAPTERS 0:00 Cold open: "family formation" as a hostage situation 0:54 Welcome and introduction 2:31 Meet Patrick Donovan 5:42 Why innovation makes the Church nervous 15:03 How Bishop Caggiano recruited him 17:54 A "womb to tomb" parish renewal process 23:01 What 15,000 parents said: "Teach me how to pray" 26:04 Bite-sized formation and a school without walls 32:13 Bishop Frank Teaches the Faith, an animated series 40:00 Using AI responsibly 48:04 What gives Patrick hope RESOURCES MENTIONED Formation Reimagined (Institute for Catholic Formation): https://formationreimagined.org/ Start with Sunday (home of Bishop Frank Teaches the Faith): https://startwithsunday.org/ The Face of Prayer (text PRAY to 55778): https://formationreimagined.org/the-face-of-prayer/ First Witnesses: https://firstwitnesses.org/ Ron Rolheiser, The Holy Longing: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0385494181?tag=04130706-20 (affiliate link) Ep 072, What Parents Really Want From Youth Ministry with Robert Feduccia: https://blog.marathonyouthministry.com/churchpodcast/episode-072-what-parents-really-want-from-youth-ministry-with-robert-feduccia CONNECT WITH PATRICK Formation Reimagined: https://formationreimagined.org/ Start with Sunday: https://startwithsunday.org/ MORE FROM MARATHON YOUTH MINISTRY M2GO: training videos, templates and resources for your ministry team: https://marathonyouthministry.com/ministry2go?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=church-podcast&utm_content=ep073 Ministry Coach: https://ministryally.app?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=church-podcast&utm_content=ep073 MYM store: https://marathonyouthministry.store?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=church-podcast&utm_content=ep073 The Church Podcast is a member of the NFCYM Podcast Network: https://nfcym.org/podcastnetwork/ More from the show: http://thechurchpodcast.org/ Recorded on Riverside (affiliate link): https://www.riverside.fm/?utm_campaign=campaign_5&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=rewardful&via=christopher-wesley Produced by Marathon Youth Ministry and Stephen Herrera of Be Well Creative: https://bewellcreative.co/ As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

    Reimagining Faith Formation: Teach the Parents, Too | Patrick Donovan, Ep 073

  2. Sep 29

    What Parents Really Want From Youth Ministry | Robert Feduccia, Ep 072

    "If the church could help me get beyond the one-word answer with my son, I would come to everything you did." Robert Feduccia shares what marginally engaged parents really want from the Church. Robert Feduccia, president of EQ Saints, listened to Catholic parents from San Diego to Boston who drop their kids off but aren't at Mass on Sunday. He shares the assumptions that research overturned, how he runs a parent-teen night that gets families talking, why the classroom has become the "source and summit" of parish life, and why we need to answer the "so what" of the Eucharist. Full show notes and resources: https://blog.marathonyouthministry.com/churchpodcast/episode-072-what-parents-really-want-from-youth-ministry-with-robert-feduccia Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3-fVOpoiHE CHAPTERS 0:00 Welcome and introduction 1:58 Meet Robert Feduccia 9:41 Who stays Catholic, and why 15:16 Listening to marginally engaged parents 18:36 What parents actually want from church 24:14 A parent-teen night that works 34:20 Why parishes fall short 39:55 The "so what" of the Eucharist 51:11 Trade an adversarial posture for empathy 54:35 Robert's hope for the Church RESOURCES MENTIONED EQ Saints: https://eqsaints.com/ Springtide Research Institute, Catholic Edition 2021: https://springtideresearch.org/product/catholic-edition-2021 Search Institute, 40 Developmental Assets: https://searchinstitute.org Joseph Ratzinger, Eschatology: Death and Eternal Life: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0813215161?tag=04130706-20 (affiliate link) CONNECT WITH ROBERT https://eqsaints.com/ rfeduccia@eqsaints.com MORE FROM MARATHON YOUTH MINISTRY M2GO: training videos, templates and resources for your ministry team: https://marathonyouthministry.com/ministry2go?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=church-podcast&utm_content=ep072 Ministry Coach: https://ministryally.app?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=church-podcast&utm_content=ep072 MYM store: https://marathonyouthministry.store?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=church-podcast&utm_content=ep072 The Church Podcast is a member of the NFCYM Podcast Network: https://nfcym.org/podcastnetwork/ More from the show: http://thechurchpodcast.org/ Recorded on Riverside (affiliate link): https://www.riverside.fm/?utm_campaign=campaign_5&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=rewardful&via=christopher-wesley Produced by Marathon Youth Ministry and Stephen Herrera of Be Well Creative: https://bewellcreative.co/ As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

    What Parents Really Want From Youth Ministry | Robert Feduccia, Ep 072

  3. Sep 22

    Episode 071 – The Long Way to Authenticity with Carlos Perez

    In this episode of The Church Podcast, Christopher sits down with Carlos Perez, Marathon Youth Ministry's merchandise and branding lead and a former student of Christopher's youth ministry. Carlos shares how a spontaneous "yes" to running livestream equipment during the pandemic turned into a decade-long relationship with Christopher, and how questions he couldn't shake as a middle schooler eventually grew into a confident, lived-out Catholic faith. From altar serving and Quo Vadis retreats to a formative and challenging trip to SEEK in St. Louis, Carlos traces the moments that moved his faith from head knowledge to something internalized. Together, Christopher and Carlos explore what young Catholics are really searching for in an age of social media and AI — namely authenticity — and why so many are being drawn back toward tradition, reverence, and things like the Traditional Latin Mass. They also discuss the cultural pressure around fundraising in Hispanic households, the value of unplugging from phones on retreat, and how Marathon Youth Ministry's new merchandise line is meant to carry that same message of authenticity forward. For more visit https://thechurchpodcast.org

    Episode 071 – The Long Way to Authenticity with Carlos Perez

  4. Sep 15

    Episode 070 – Giving Teens the Pen: Forming Young Leaders with Marisally Santiago

    In Episode 070 of The Church Podcast, I sit down with Marizoli Santiago to discuss empowering young leaders in the Church. Marizoli shares her journey from graphic design to youth ministry, emphasizing the importance of giving teens the opportunity to lead and create their own ministries. We explore her innovative program, Why Copy?, which encourages youth to find their voice and actively participate in the Church. Marizoli highlights the significance of listening to diverse perspectives within the community and creating inclusive spaces that foster growth and unity. Join us as we delve into practical strategies for engaging young people and transforming parish life.

  5. Sep 8

    Episode 069 – Rediscovering Synodality with Bob McCarty

    In this episode of The Church Podcast, Christopher sits down with Bob McCarty, longtime Catholic ministry consultant, author, and former Executive Director of the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry (NFCYM). Bob spent 10 years in parish and school youth ministry in Philadelphia, 14 years leading the youth office for the Archdiocese of Baltimore, and 19 years as Executive Director of NFCYM before stepping away in 2016 — a move he calls his "recalibration" rather than a retirement. Since then he's worked as a ministry consultant (he prefers "animator") and co-authored Going, Going, Gone: The Dynamics of Disaffiliation in Young Catholics. Together, Christopher and Bob unpack what synodality actually means, why it's less a new program than a name for practices ministry leaders have used for years, and what synodal leadership looks like in contrast to clericalism. They talk through concrete examples — from parish-wide listening groups to a single question at the family dinner table — and get into the virtues, and the chaos, that synodal leadership requires. For more visit our show notes at https://thechurchpodcast.org

    Episode 069 – Rediscovering Synodality with Bob McCarty

  6. Sep 1

    Episode 068 – Hospitality, Community First Village, and 14 Years of Youth Ministry with Lori Nava

    In this episode of The Church Podcast, Christopher sits down with Lori Nava, youth minister at St. Ignatius Martyr Catholic Church in Austin, Texas, through the NFCYM Podcast Network. Lori shares how she came to ministry almost by accident, trading a culinary arts career for a role she wasn't originally looking for, and how that same love of food and hospitality has shaped the way she leads teens and families today. She also opens up about her nearly nine years as a resident missional at Community First! Village, a supportive housing community for people transitioning out of homelessness, and how that experience has shaped her as both a minister and a disciple. Together, Christopher and Lori explore the connection between hospitality and evangelization, what it means to build a sustainable ministry that outlasts you, and how collaboration across parish ministries and pastoral support have shaped St. Ignatius's growth. This conversation is a warm, grounded look at how food, community, and presence can carry the weight of real ministry. For more visit the show notes at https://thechurchpodcast.org

  7. Aug 25

    Episode 067 – Faith and Justice, One and the Same with Maggie Smith

    In this episode of The Church Podcast, Christopher sits down with Maggie Smith, Vice President of Good Faith, formerly known as the Center for Faith Justice. Maggie shares her journey from being a Justice Works participant as a high schooler to leading the organization she once served through as a young adult — including the research project, the rebrand from Center for Faith Justice to Good Faith, and the Lilly Endowment-funded "Next Level" initiative that reshaped how the organization walks with young people beyond a single week in the summer. Together, Christopher and Maggie explore why faith and justice can't be separated, how Good Faith builds theological reflection into every service experience, the challenge of forming young people as true protagonists rather than passive participants, and how becoming a parent has shaped the way Maggie thinks about handing faith down to her own children. This conversation is an honest, hope-filled look at what it means to keep faith and works tied together — in ministry, in family life, and in the wider Church. For more visit us at https://thechurchpodcast.org

    Episode 067 – Faith and Justice, One and the Same with Maggie Smith

  8. Aug 18

    Episode 066: Say Less, Ask More with Annie Grandell

    In this episode of The Church Podcast, Christopher sits down with Annie Grandell, Senior Director of YDisciple for NET Ministries and co-host of the YDisciple Podcast through the NFCYM Podcast Network. Annie shares an update on her ministry journey — seven years at NET Ministries after previous roles at the Augustine Institute and twelve years as a parish youth minister — along with the news that YDisciple is translating its entire library into Spanish, including Christopher's own "Seasons" lectionary-based Bible study for middle schoolers. Together, Christopher and Annie explore why trust, not belief, is the real gap facing the Church today, how the "savior complex" undermines ministry leaders, and why the simple discipline of asking questions — rather than filling silence — is one of the most powerful tools for evangelization. They also dig into practical leadership habits like the EOS "clarity break" and the wisdom of focusing on one thing at a time instead of trying to fix everything at once.

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5
out of 5
20 Ratings

About

Each episode features conversations with people from various backgrounds, exploring the real side of ministry. We discuss insights and learnings from the local and national landscape, enriching our understanding of the ministry's impact.

Information

  • Creator
    Christopher Wesley
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2026
  • Episodes
    157
  • Rating
    Explicit

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