Tag: COVID-19 Catholic Church

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Episode 151: What Does our Post-COVID Recovery Plan Look Like?

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

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Episode 144: How To Recruit Volunteers Without Leaving The House

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:

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

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Episode 143: Re-Imagining Formation in a COVID World, Part 2

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.

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Episode 142: Re-Imagining Formation in a COVID World, Part 1

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 as 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.

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Episode 139: Reassessing Models of Parish Ministry in a COVID World

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.

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Episode 136: Planning for the “Fall”

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.

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Episode 135: Why Should We Open Back Up the Church for Mass? Part 2

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?

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Episode 134: Why Should We Open Back Up the Church for Mass? Part 1

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:

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Episode 132: What to do with the RCIA During Covid-19?

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:

Previous podcast with Nick: Restored Order from a Theological Perspective

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Episode 130: When the Church Doors Open Back Up…

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.

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