Marathon Youth Ministry

06/05/2026

Earlier this week spent time with the Greensburg Diocese (). Bishop Kulick has a beautiful vision and a great team around him.

They are taking on a regional approach to ministry in a way I have not seen before. Major props to them for doing something different and not being afraid to do so.

Looking forward to working with this team of diocesan leaders. More to share soon.

06/04/2026

My cholesterol was high. My nutritionist told me not to expect a dramatic overhaul.
She said the goal was to find the habits already working and build on them. Slower at first. But actually sustainable.
That's the problem with a lot of ministry change too. We see something that needs to shift — sacramental prep, youth ministry structure, staff culture — and we blow it up. Then we wonder why it doesn't stick.
Sustainable change in ministry isn't about better vision. It's about better habits. Scheduling. Communication. Listening. Self-care. Stack them one at a time.

Discover sustainable habits for ministry success. Learn how to manage time, communicate effectively, and invest in self-care for lasting impact.

06/03/2026

This week’s episode of The Church Podcast features Gabby Del Rio: Beauty, Belonging, and Doing Church Everywhere.

Gabby shares a refreshing perspective on discipleship, evangelization, and what it means to be the Church beyond the walls of a parish building. From her work as a salon owner to the relationships she builds every day, she reminds us that ministry is not limited to a program, a campus, or a Sunday schedule.

The Gospel was always meant to move beyond the building.

This conversation is a powerful reminder that every conversation, every relationship, and every place we find ourselves can become an opportunity to encounter Christ and share His love with others.

🎧Listen to the full episode at the link in bio.

06/02/2026

What if the most effective ministry you could do had nothing to do with a parish job or a diocesan title?
This week on The Church Podcast, I sat down with Gabby Del Rio — former youth ministry coordinator for the Diocese of Raleigh, now owner of Simplicity Beauty Bar in North Carolina. Gabby walked away from a stable diocesan position after hearing a clear word from God, and built something that looks a lot like church from the inside of a salon.
We talked about identity, burnout, the Recharge model, what young people are truly hungry for, and what it means to be the Church outside the walls of a building.
If you've ever wondered whether your work outside of ministry can still be ministry — this one's for you.

Join Gabby Del Rio as she shares her journey of blending cosmetology and Catholic ministry, exploring faith, identity, and doing church beyond parish walls

06/01/2026

For the last five years, I’ve partnered with the and and it’s been a blast. This past weekend, I got to celebrate with them as they celebrated their ministers who accompany young people. It’s great to see diocese that invest in the next generation and those who accompany young people and their families.

05/29/2026

Coming up on the Church Podcast we're going to be talking about the new encyclical Magnifica Humanitas, plus we want your questions for our final episode of the season which we will do Q&A. Send them to [email protected], leave the question in the comments or DM us.

05/28/2026

A year ago I was a Church employee. Now I'm just a Catholic dad trying to figure out why my family should show up outside of Sunday Mass.
That shift taught me something I should have understood while I was still on staff.
Parents don't need programs. They need to know the parish sees their kids, builds their community, and is actually going somewhere.
I wrote about the three things I believe parents are looking for from their parishes — and I'm challenging ministry leaders to go ask parents the same questions before the summer ends.

A Catholic dad who used to work in ministry asks the Church three honest questions — and challenges parish leaders to start asking parents the right ones.

05/27/2026

This week’s episode of The Church Podcast features Dr. Patty Jiménez: AI, Faith, and the Future of Hispanic Ministry.

In this conversation, Dr. Patty reflects on how the Church has historically responded to new technologies with both caution and discernment— while also finding ways to use them in service of evangelization and human dignity.

From the printing press to the internet, the Church has continually been able to thoughtfully utilize these new tools for the betterment of communication and ministry work.

This episode with is a thoughtful conversation about approaching AI responsibly, faithfully, and with the mission of the Gospel at the center.

🎧And if you want to listen to the full episode, just let us know in the comments and we’ll send the link your way!

05/26/2026

Magnifica Humanitas was just released. While I’ve read through it, there definitely is a lot to process. Would love to know your thoughts on Pope Leo XVI’s encyclical, share it in the comments.