November 27, 2025

135| How This Cathedral Parish’s Weekend Observation Sparked Real Results

50 minutes

In this episode, Melissa talks with Casey Phillips and Micah Johnson from the Cathedral of Christ the King in Lexington, Kentucky — the first cathedral to partner with Rebuilt. They share their honest, often funny journey from “closet Rebuilt meetings” to a thriving culture of hospitality, alignment, and mission. Hear how they moved from simply maintaining programs to forming disciples, the practical steps that followed their Weekend Observation, and the ripple effects they’re already seeing in new volunteers, stronger leadership, and even newcomers discovering faith.

👉 Grab our free Weekend Experience Evaluation to assess your parish weekends and unlock simple changes that make every Mass more welcoming and impactful. https://download.rebuiltparish.com/weekendevaluation

Key Takeaways

Start with curiosity. Their journey began by asking, “What’s it like for someone new walking into our parish?”

Fresh eyes reveal blind spots. The Weekend Observation gave clarity, affirmation, and a roadmap.

Hospitality matters. A welcome desk became a visible sign of welcome — and led to eight OCIA inquiries.

Vision casting changes everything. Positive picture > pushback from the “old guard.”

Unified message = unified mission. A parish-wide series launched their new mission statement and recruited volunteers.

Coaching creates accountability. Regular check-ins and goals kept the team aligned.

Relationships sustain momentum. Coaches provided encouragement, prayer, and friendship.

Immediate fruit. New volunteers, new engagement, and newcomers exploring faith.

It’s not about perfection. Trust the process and the Holy Spirit.

Renewal is worth it. A simple weekend visit became a catalyst for lasting growth.

Chapters

00:00 – Welcome & Episode Setup

00:22 – Meet Casey (Director of Evangelization)

01:09 – Meet Micah (Stewardship & Advancement)

02:16 – First Cathedral in Coaching

03:25 – Why Invite Rebuilt (Weekend Observation)

07:13 – First Impressions of the Observation Weekend

11:39 – What the Feedback Revealed

16:08 – Turning Feedback into Action

18:34 – Building a Real Welcome Desk

19:59 – Rethinking the Gift Shop for Hospitality

22:44 – Deciding to Start Coaching

27:42 – Early Fruit: OCIA Inquiries from the Desk

28:35 – Team Alignment & a Clear Mission Statement

32:16 – Launching a Unified Message Series

33:42 – Visible Impact & Outside Interest

34:35 – Coaching as Alignment & Accountability

36:00 – Personal Invitations that Recruit Volunteers

38:18 – Coaches as Partners & Friends

42:05 – Why a Weekend Observation Is Worth It

43:55 – Advice: Parish-Specific, Not One-Size-Fits-All

46:02 – Closing & Thanks

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Catholic parish renewal, Rebuilt Parish, Cathedral of Christ the King Lexington, weekend observation, parish coaching, hospitality ministry, welcome desk, unified message, mission statement, evangelization, discipleship, parish leadership team, Lexington diocese, parish growth, volunteer recruitment, parish alignment, Catholic podcast

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