Staying on Mission is a challenge regardless of circumstance, but even more so in the midst of personnel changes.

Life happens in the midst of ministry efforts, and the time will come when vital members of our team have to leave due to a variety of reasons—spouse job relocation, the need to care for an aging parent, or sadly, due to the unexpected death of a loved one.

In the midst of that change, it is vitally important to engage with the situation with compassion, clarity and courage so as to not only help your community be able to stay on mission, but to ensure the transition is as easy as it can be for everyone involved.

Watch now to hear the specifics of how to engage with compassion, clarity and courage so that each member of your team, current or past, is cared for holistically and in a way that enables the community to not falter in its mission to save souls, makes saints and transform the world!

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In this latest addition to The Catholic Leadership Puzzle, Christina speaks about the importance of roles and responsibilities for helping teams function effectively and efficiently, the value of prayer and how to overcome FUD (Fear, Uncertainty & Doubt) in the midst of any transitions that may be happening.

Watch now to gain some insights into how to negotiate transitions, ensure that each member of your team is being best utilized according to their gifts and talents, and negotiating FUD during times of transition.

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This latest conversation on The Catholic Leadership Puzzle dives into a practical exploration of how you might integrate all the Leadership Puzzle pieces into your ministry annual events and activities cycle.

Any ministry cycle contains the core components of evangelization, holistic formation, leadership accompaniment, assessment and strategic planning, and are integrated and supported by continuous prayer.

These core components express themselves in the ministry activities and events throughout the year. Optimally, these ministry activities and events are occuring within the liturgical cycle of the Church so as to enhance the discipleship of both individuals and the Body of Christ as a whole.

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In this video, Christina shares the importance of being able to set attainable goals and objectives for a new year, both on a personal level and within our ministries.

In the video, she shares the “Stop, Start and Continue” process to help you realistically assess your life and/or team and ministry so that you can make this new year your best one yet.

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In this crossover episode from the Say Yes to Holiness podcast, host Christina Semmens interviews Taylor Kemp, Vice President of Content at the Augustine Institute. Taylor shares his journey from a successful soccer career to a profound conversion to the Catholic faith. The conversation delves into the revitalization of the Symbolon series, a program designed to educate and deepen the understanding of the Catholic faith.

Taylor discusses the importance of storytelling, the integration of prayer, and the goal of inspiring holiness in viewers. The episode concludes with reflections on personal faith, the significance of patience in the spiritual journey, and the call to conversion.

Takeaways

* Taylor Camp transitioned from a professional soccer career to theology.

* Symbolon serves as a vital resource for faith formation.

* The series emphasizes the call to holiness for all individuals.

* Revamping Symbolon focuses on American Catholic history and local stories.

* Each episode integrates salvation history, pilgrimage, theology, and prayer.

* The goal is to deepen devotion to the Eucharist and the Catholic faith.

* Patience is essential in the journey of faith and holiness.

* The series aims to inspire viewers to live out their faith heroically.

* Personal experiences shape the way faith is taught and shared.

* The Augustine Institute supports parish leaders in their ministry efforts.

Sound Bites

* "I had a pretty radical and powerful conversion."

* "Symbolon is a beautiful entry point."

* "Every single one of us is called to sainthood."

* "I felt so privileged to be a part of it."

* "Patience is the fundamental virtue for you."

* "The work of holiness is an act done by God."

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Taylor Camp and His Journey

05:47 The Symbolon Series: A New Initiative

12:42 Revamping Symbolon: Focus on American Catholic History

17:51 Structure of Symbolon: Integrating Faith and Prayer

22:05 Goals of the Revamped Symbolon Series

25:24 Personal Reflections on Faith and Holiness

32:52 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

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In this crossover episode of the Say Yes to Holiness podcast, Christina Semmens and Dave Pliskey discuss how one might live an integrated life, and what we can do to help others do the same.

This conversation is held in the context of discussion about the ongoing impact of a study on intentional discipleship, the importance of spiritual direction, and the launch of the Religion to Reality webinar series.

Dave and I explore the findings of the study, including the barriers to evangelization and the need for community and ongoing formation. Our conversation highlights the significance of integrating faith into daily life and the generational differences in discipleship, emphasizing the need for in-person community engagement—the foundation of what The Catholic Leadership Puzzle is all about.

Look forward to hearing your thoughts about this conversation, and how you are looking to apply some of our suggestions within your own work as a ministry leader.

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This 1:1 conversation with Tom Carroll is a crossover post from a conversation that I had with him for the Say Yes to Holiness podcast, but one that is SPOT ON for our discussions here on The Catholic Leadership Puzzle.

Thomas W. Carroll is the President and Founder of Catholic Talent Project, and former Superintendent of Schools for the Archdiocese of Boston from 2019-2024. and serves as a Consultor to the USCCB Committee on Education.

The Catholic Talent Project is an initiative to cultivate faithful witnesses serving within Catholic schools across America. The process advocated by the Catholic Talent Project is one that grew out of Tom Carroll’s successful experience as Superintendent to bring about Catholic renewal within the schools throughout the Archdiocese, and he is now on a mission to bring that renewal to others through the country.

Bottom line, what Tom and I speak about throughout our conversation is the impact leadership can have in the transformation of any culture so the mission of that organization is not only be achieved, but exceeded in ways that might currently be unimaginable.

I hope you enjoy this conversation, and that it inspires you to continue your efforts to implement the pieces of the Catholic Leadership Puzzle in your sphere of influence.

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In this conversation, Christina Semmens and Angela Sealana discuss the vital role of mentorship within the Catholic community, emphasizing the importance of building authentic relationships and navigating the challenges of communication in a digital age.

They explore practical steps for effective mentorship, the need for fostering vocations, and the rewards that come from investing in others. The discussion highlights the call to action for individuals to step out of their comfort zones and engage in meaningful connections that enrich both personal and communal faith journeys.

Takeaways

* Mentorship is crucial for personal and communal growth.

* Building relationships is essential in ministry work.

* New media presents both challenges and opportunities for evangelization.

* Authentic communication requires more than just sending messages.

* Parishes can benefit from structured mentorship programs.

* Mentorship should focus on both skills and personal development.

* Creating a culture of mentorship can revitalize parish life.

* Vocations can be fostered through intentional mentorship.

* Engaging with others can lead to unexpected blessings.

* Openness and humility are key to effective mentorship.

Sound Bites

* "It's all about relationship."

* "We need to learn how to be human beings again."

* "Mentorship is the essence of walking with one."

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background of Angela

04:01 The Impact of New Media on Evangelization

06:54 Challenges in Catholic Communication Today

10:06 The Importance of Relationships in Ministry

13:03 Mentorship as a Key to Community Growth

16:10 Practical Mentorship Models in Parishes

19:02 The Role of Mentorship in Vocational Discernment

22:06 Creating a Culture of Mentorship

24:59 The Rewards and Challenges of Mentorship

28:17 Conclusion and Call to Action

35:07 New Chapter

To find out more about Angela and her work, go to: https://inspiredangela.substack.com

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In this crossover episode of the Say Yes to Holiness and The Catholic Leadership Puzzle podcasts, I have a conversation with Hans Platt, founder of Vinea Research, discussing his journey of faith, the importance of accurate data in understanding Catholic beliefs, particularly regarding the Eucharist, and the transformative power of faith in personal and professional life. We explore the challenges and rewards of working within the Catholic community and the significance of language in conveying religious truths.

Takeaways

* Hans Plate's journey from lukewarm Catholicism to a passionate faith.

* The impact of Jeff Cavins' scripture teachings on Hans' faith.

* Vinea Research aims to provide insights for Catholic organizations.

* Language used in surveys can significantly affect belief reporting.

* The recent study showed a higher belief in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist than previously reported.

* Accurate data is crucial for understanding and improving faith practices.

* The importance of personal connections and invitations in faith development.

* Hans emphasizes the need for Catholic organizations to conduct their own research.

* The role of spiritual direction in personal growth and faith.

* God's timing in one's faith journey is always perfect.

Sound Bites

"Ignorance of scriptures is ignorance of faith."

"Language matters to identify truth."

"I feel like I'm doing work that matters."

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Faith and Research

05:14 Journey of Faith and Transformation

10:02 The Role of Vinea Research

14:56 Understanding Belief in the Eucharist

19:52 The Importance of Accurate Data

24:46 Personal Reflections and Challenges

30:01 Advice to the Younger Self

34:51 Conclusion and Resources

For more information about Vinea Research, go to: https://www.vinearesearch.com/

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This conversation was a part of the Say Yes to Holiness podcast, but is also pertinent to those of us here at The Catholic Leadership Puzzle. In this video, Christina has a conversation with Susan Windley-Daoust, Executive Director, of the Mark 5:19 Project.  Susan discusses her journey and the launch of the Mark 5:19 project, a nonprofit apostolate aimed at helping parishes become evangelizing communities.

Susan emphasizes the importance of prayer and courage in sharing the Gospel and encourages individuals to step out of their comfort zones and engage with others in conversations about faith. She also highlights the need for a culture change in the Church, where evangelization becomes a natural part of our lives and relationships. Finally, she suggests practical steps, such as forming small groups and fostering meaningful conversations within families, to help foster parish renewal.

Some takeaways from our conversation were:

* Prayer and discernment are essential in the process of parish renewal and evangelization.

* Every Catholic, regardless of their role in the Church, can share the Gospel and be a witness to God's love.

* Parish renewal requires a culture change, where evangelization becomes a natural part of our lives and relationships.

* Creating spaces for meaningful conversations and fostering small groups can help facilitate the sharing of faith.

* We need to be willing to step out of our comfort zones and engage with others in conversations about faith and hope.

* The purpose of the Mark 5:19 project is to support parishes in their journey towards becoming evangelizing communities.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Susan's Journey

08:29 The Genesis of the Mark 519 Project

14:16 The Role of the Average Person in Parish Renewal

17:04 Creating a Culture of Evangelization

22:13 Fostering Meaningful Conversations and Small Groups

25:01 Stepping Out of Our Comfort Zones

34:27 The Mark 5:19 Project: Supporting Parishes in Evangelization

Would love to hear your thoughts about what Susan shares during our conversation, and also what resolution you decide to make as to what your next step will be in order to go about creating spaces to speak about Jesus.

To learn more about the Mark 5:19 Project, go to: 

https://mark519project.org/

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