Catholic Ministry Professionals

Does your parish life need a boost? Learn how to drive more engagement in parishes by identifying behaviors and measuring outcomes. Jon talks strategy for outcomes in this episode of Catholic Ministry Professionals.

Most parish meetings end with conversation. Not decisions. That gap quietly drains your team. Tune in this afternoon at 4 on Siouxland Catholic Radio 88.1 FM as Jon gives you three things to fix that: Decide Out Loud. Name the Owner. Set the Date. One clear decision. One person responsible. One firm deadline. Write it down before anyone leaves. And if you think structure doesn't belong in volunteer ministry — Jon addresses that too. Vagueness doesn't protect your volunteers. It burns them out. Structure is an act of charity.Try it at your next meeting. One week. Every decision. See what changes.The program is sponsored by Briar Cliff University.

Most parishes say they want more vocations. But few are building the kind of culture where vocations can actually grow. In this episode, Jon sits down with Fr. Travis Crotty, Vocations Director for the Diocese of Sioux City, to unpack what’s really behind the decline in vocations and what parish leaders can do about it.They explore why the “vocations crisis” didn’t start today, what healthy vocation-producing parishes have in common, and why programs and posters aren’t the solution.The conversation gets practical. At the center of it all is one simple truth: vocations don’t come from strategies. They come from a lived, visible, joyful faith.If you want more vocations, you don’t start with recruitment. You start with culture.Key TakeawaysVocations grow where faith is lived, not just taughtThe real vocation gap began 30 years ago, not todayExposure to priestly life makes discernment possibleFamilies create the seedbed through sacramental living and witnessA personal invitation is one of the most effective catalystsNotable Quotes “Everybody wants somebody else’s son or grandson to be a priest.”“A life lived in relationship with Jesus and his Church is better than a life lived without him.”The show is sponsored by Briar Cliff University.

Many parishes aren’t growing, they’re just trying to survive, and survival mode becomes its own weekly rhythm: urgent issues dominate meetings, important decisions stall, and discipleship gets postponed.Ministry like this is exhausting – parishioners don’t know where to go and leaders feel like they can’t lead. Using Matthew 9:36 (“like sheep without a shepherd”), the episode calls leaders to move from reacting to shepherding.The practical path forward is simple: diagnose what hijacks your week, identify what must be protected, then pick one “stop-doing” move (stop, condense, or delegate) and replace it with scheduled margin for people, prayer, or planning.Key takeawaysSurvival mode is predictable: urgent needs dominate, meetings get heavy, important decisions don’t get made, and discipleship gets pushed down the road.Survival mode isn’t just busy. It’s disorienting, leaving leaders reactive instead of shepherding.“Predictable urgency can be redesigned” when you add guards and boundaries instead of reacting to everything.If you can’t name your top priority in one sentence and your conversations are only logistics, you’re likely stuck in survival mode.One small boundary won’t break the parish, but it can break the survival loop.Visit CatholicMinistryProfessionals.com and reclaim time for discipleship.

Most parish leaders are sincere, hardworking, and prayerful — yet still feel scattered and reactive. In this episode, Jon and Thai unpack why renewed energy isn’t the solution. Clear priorities are.Drawing from Matthew 9:36, they explore how compassion without direction leaves people disoriented — like sheep without a shepherd. Leadership clarity isn’t a buzzword; it’s an act of charity.This episode walks through a simple but demanding framework:Discern what God is doing in your heart.Decide what actually matters most right now.Shepherd your people clearly and consistently toward it.They also break down practical meeting rhythms that reduce chaos, increase accountability, and move teams from data-dumping to decision-making.If your parish feels busy but unfocused, this conversation offers a concrete path forward.The show is sponsored by Briar Cliff University.

In this episode of the Catholic Ministry Professionals Podcast, Jon engages with therapist Justin Derry to explore the integration of mental health awareness within Catholic ministry. They discuss the importance of tough conversations, the impact of conflict avoidance in parish teams, and the necessity of self-care for effective ministry. Justin emphasizes the need for an integrated approach to personal well-being, highlighting the connection between physical health and team performance. The conversation also delves into actionable frameworks for addressing difficult conversations and the mindset shifts required for fostering healthy relationships within ministry teams.The program is sponsored by Briar Cliff University.

In this conversation, Mike Ferrell discusses the concept of profound hospitality, emphasizing the importance of approaching everyone as if Christ were present. He outlines five key points that define this approach, focusing on the need for surprise, delight, and attention to detail in creating a welcoming environment.TakeawaysProfound hospitality means treating everyone as Christ.Surprise and delight are essential elements of hospitality.Measuring actions against the principles of hospitality is crucial.Breaking down walls in business requires a new approach to hospitality.Attention to detail can transform customer experiences.

In this episode, Jon Konz and Heidi Indahl discuss the transformative approach of Designed for Discipleship, which integrates quality education with authentic faith formation. They explore the gaps in traditional catechesis, the importance of a discipleship-driven mindset, and the four key principles that guide effective faith education. Through real-life examples, they highlight the breakthroughs experienced by parishes and schools that have adopted this approach, emphasizing the need for a personal relationship with Jesus as the foundation for spiritual growth.Visit CatholicMinistryProfessionals.com and move from frustration to renewal today.TAKEAWAYSCurriculum alone won't solve faith formation issues.Discipleship should be the primary focus of education.Understanding faith increases reverence and desire.Planning must start with the end goal in mind.Teaching methods should adapt to different age groups.Visit CatholicMinistryProfessionals.com and step into renewal today

Tune in this Tuesday at 4pm on Siouxland Catholic Radio 88.1 FM.If you feel like you’re carrying the mission alone, this episode will help you shift from doing the work to building systems and teams that multiply evangelization. You’ll learn practical ways to form others, build simple rhythms, and create sustainable ministry that grows beyond your own time and energy.Tune in this Tuesday at 4pm on Siouxland Catholic Radio 88.1 FM.The show is sponsored by Briar Cliff University. Visit CatholicMinistryProfessionals.com and move from frustration to renewal today.

Tune in today at 3:20pm on Siouxland Catholic Radio 88.1 FM.In this episode of the Catholic Ministry Professionals, Jon speaks with Zach Rawson, the Director of Youth Ministry and Faith Formation for the Diocese of Winona, MN. They discuss the challenges and opportunities facing rural parishes as they transition to new leadership structures and groupings. Zach shares insights on innovative approaches to faith formation, the importance of empowering parents, and the hope for renewal in ministry through collaboration and community engagement.The program is sponsored by Briar Cliff University.

AI isn’t a threat to ministry—it’s a tool that helps you reclaim time for mission. In this episode, Jon and Thai talk about how parish leaders can start small, build confidence with AI tools, and make the shift from busyness to intentional leadership.TAKEAWAYSYou don’t need to be techy to use AI effectively.Start with a Time Audit Worksheet to see where your time goes.Automate or delegate the mundane so you can focus on mission.Visit CatholicMinistryProfessionals.com and move from frustration to renewal todayThis episode was modified from its original form for radio. Catch the full episode on CatholicMinistryProfessionals.com/podcast.

In this episode of the Catholic Ministry Professionals Podcast, Thai and Jon discuss challenges and opportunities in church music. They emphasize the importance of beautiful music in worship, the need to cultivate an atmosphere of worship, and the role of men in finding their voice within the church. The conversation highlights practical steps for improving music ministry and engaging parishioners, ultimately aiming to transform the worship experience in Catholic churches.----------KEY TAKEAWAYSMost parishes are just okay with their music.Beautiful music draws us deeper into the mystery of God.We need to help our musicians understand musicality.Men need to find their voice in worship.The atmosphere of worship is crucial for engagement.Music is a powerful tool for family and community bonding.Quality music can draw people back to the church.We must call people to participate in worship actively.Transforming parish music can lead to a more vibrant faith community.We believe it only takes one saint to start a blaze of the Holy Spirit, so If you’ve been in Catholic ministry for a few years and you feel like your ministry efforts are being frustrated, send an email to [email protected]. We’d love to talk with you about how a parish event or training can help you to transform your parish through your work.Listen to the latest episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or Siouxland Catholic Radio--88.1 FM. 

In this episode of the Catholic Ministry Professionals Podcast, hosts Thai Hua and Jon Konz discuss the importance of effective preaching in Catholic parishes. They explore various frameworks for crafting impactful homilies, the necessity of prayer in the preparation process, and the importance of practice to improve preaching skills. The conversation also addresses the challenges faced by Catholic preachers and offers actionable steps for enhancing homilies to better engage parishioners and fulfill the mission of the Church.Don't miss this episode on Tuesday, December 9th at 3:20pm on Siouxland Catholic Radio 88.1 FM. The show is sponsored by Briar Cliff University.

If you work for the Catholic church and want to avoid burnout, overcome team dysfunctions, and put more souls in the pews, we’re here to help.  In this episode we discuss 5 essential steps to implement change in your parish.If you want to transform your parish through your work, but you’re not sure where to start, Download the free parish health assessment at Catholicministryprofessionals.com/freeassessment. It only takes about 5 minutes to fill out and afterward you will have a color coded picture of your parish’s health that you can then use to fuel better conversations, prioritize better work, and become a better leader.  To request a free consultation or send feedback email us at [email protected] to the latest episode on Spotify, Google, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or Siouxland Catholic Radio--88.1 FM.SCRIPTURE USED IN THIS EPISODEPhilippians 4:6RESOURCES REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODEGodsplaining Podcast