Each episode features conversations with people from various backgrounds, exploring the real side of ministry. We discuss insights and learnings from the local and national landscape, enriching our understanding of the ministry's impact.
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Données mises à jour le 14/10/2026
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Why No One Shows Up to Your Youth Ministry (and What to Do) | Jenny O’Neill, Ep 074
mardi 13 octobre 2026 • Durée 39:40
The vision is good, the program is good, "and you get two people to sign up." Jenny O'Neill of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia asks Christopher the questions youth ministers are asking.
In this first episode of a new segment, Jenny O'Neill, associate director of the Office for Ministry with Youth in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, puts her questions to Christopher Wesley: what he stopped believing about youth ministry, why good events go empty, how to tell whether a ministry needs more time or isn't working, how to keep teens on fire after NCYC or Steubenville, and how to know when it's time to move on.
Full show notes and resources: https://blog.marathonyouthministry.com/churchpodcast/episode-074-why-no-one-shows-up-to-your-youth-ministry-with-jenny-oneill
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC307YUsy2980SICsZElRPGA
CHAPTERS
0:00 Cold open: praying for a snowstorm
0:41 Welcome and a new segment: questions from Jenny
2:10 Meet Jenny O'Neill
5:50 What Christopher stopped believing about youth ministry
10:50 Jenny's faith story and the power of invitation
15:29 Good vision, good program, and nobody shows up
23:10 Does it need more time, or is it not working?
27:29 When teens come home on fire from NCYC or Steubenville
31:58 Discouragement and knowing when to move on
37:04 What gives Jenny hope
RESOURCES MENTIONED
Office for Ministry with Youth, Archdiocese of Philadelphia: https://phillyomy.org/
YCOPI (Youth Co-leadership Protagonism Initiative): https://phillyomy.org/ycopi/
Philadelphia Catholic Youth Conference (PCYC): https://phillyomy.org/philadelphia-catholic-youth-conference-pcyc/
National Catholic Youth Conference: https://nfcym.org/ncyc
Steubenville Youth Conferences: https://steubenvilleconferences.com/
Life Teen: https://lifeteen.com/
CONNECT WITH JENNY
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/phillyomy/
Website: https://phillyomy.org/
ASK JENNY A QUESTION
Submit a question for a future episode at http://thechurchpodcast.org/
MORE FROM MARATHON YOUTH MINISTRY
Ministry Coach: https://ministryally.app?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=church-podcast&utm_content=ep074
M2GO: training videos, templates and resources for your ministry team: https://marathonyouthministry.com/ministry2go?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=church-podcast&utm_content=ep074
MYM store: https://marathonyouthministry.store?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=church-podcast&utm_content=ep074
The Church Podcast is a member of the NFCYM Podcast Network: https://nfcym.org/podcastnetwork/
More from the show: http://thechurchpodcast.org/
Recorded on Riverside (affiliate link): https://www.riverside.fm/?utm_campaign=campaign_5&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=rewardful&via=christopher-wesley
Produced by Marathon Youth Ministry and Stephen Herrera of Be Well Creative: https://bewellcreative.co/
Reimagining Faith Formation: Teach the Parents, Too | Patrick Donovan, Ep 073
mardi 6 octobre 2026 • Durée 53:25
"Teach my children the prayers, but teach me how to pray." Patrick Donovan of the Diocese of Bridgeport on what parents are really asking the Church for.
Dr. Patrick Donovan, director of the Institute for Catholic Formation for the Diocese of Bridgeport, talks about why innovation makes the Church nervous, what a survey of about 15,000 parents revealed, how the diocese is renewing faith formation parish by parish, and how Bishop Frank Caggiano is using short videos, an animated series and AI to reach families.
Full show notes and resources: https://blog.marathonyouthministry.com/churchpodcast/episode-073-reimagining-faith-formation-teach-the-parents-too-with-patrick-donovan
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC307YUsy2980SICsZElRPGA
CHAPTERS
0:00 Cold open: "family formation" as a hostage situation
0:54 Welcome and introduction
2:31 Meet Patrick Donovan
5:42 Why innovation makes the Church nervous
15:03 How Bishop Caggiano recruited him
17:54 A "womb to tomb" parish renewal process
23:01 What 15,000 parents said: "Teach me how to pray"
26:04 Bite-sized formation and a school without walls
32:13 Bishop Frank Teaches the Faith, an animated series
40:00 Using AI responsibly
48:04 What gives Patrick hope
RESOURCES MENTIONED
Formation Reimagined (Institute for Catholic Formation): https://formationreimagined.org/
Start with Sunday (home of Bishop Frank Teaches the Faith): https://startwithsunday.org/
The Face of Prayer (text PRAY to 55778): https://formationreimagined.org/the-face-of-prayer/
First Witnesses: https://firstwitnesses.org/
Ron Rolheiser, The Holy Longing: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0385494181?tag=04130706-20 (affiliate link)
Ep 072, What Parents Really Want From Youth Ministry with Robert Feduccia: https://blog.marathonyouthministry.com/churchpodcast/episode-072-what-parents-really-want-from-youth-ministry-with-robert-feduccia
CONNECT WITH PATRICK
Formation Reimagined: https://formationreimagined.org/
Start with Sunday: https://startwithsunday.org/
MORE FROM MARATHON YOUTH MINISTRY
M2GO: training videos, templates and resources for your ministry team: https://marathonyouthministry.com/ministry2go?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=church-podcast&utm_content=ep073
Ministry Coach: https://ministryally.app?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=church-podcast&utm_content=ep073
MYM store: https://marathonyouthministry.store?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=church-podcast&utm_content=ep073
The Church Podcast is a member of the NFCYM Podcast Network: https://nfcym.org/podcastnetwork/
More from the show: http://thechurchpodcast.org/
Recorded on Riverside (affiliate link): https://www.riverside.fm/?utm_campaign=campaign_5&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=rewardful&via=christopher-wesley
Produced by Marathon Youth Ministry and Stephen Herrera of Be Well Creative: https://bewellcreative.co/
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
What Parents Really Want From Youth Ministry | Robert Feduccia, Ep 072
mardi 29 septembre 2026 • Durée 59:30
"If the church could help me get beyond the one-word answer with my son, I would come to everything you did." Robert Feduccia shares what marginally engaged parents really want from the Church.
Robert Feduccia, president of EQ Saints, listened to Catholic parents from San Diego to Boston who drop their kids off but aren't at Mass on Sunday. He shares the assumptions that research overturned, how he runs a parent-teen night that gets families talking, why the classroom has become the "source and summit" of parish life, and why we need to answer the "so what" of the Eucharist.
Full show notes and resources: https://blog.marathonyouthministry.com/churchpodcast/episode-072-what-parents-really-want-from-youth-ministry-with-robert-feduccia
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3-fVOpoiHE
CHAPTERS
0:00 Welcome and introduction
1:58 Meet Robert Feduccia
9:41 Who stays Catholic, and why
15:16 Listening to marginally engaged parents
18:36 What parents actually want from church
24:14 A parent-teen night that works
34:20 Why parishes fall short
39:55 The "so what" of the Eucharist
51:11 Trade an adversarial posture for empathy
54:35 Robert's hope for the Church
RESOURCES MENTIONED
EQ Saints: https://eqsaints.com/
Springtide Research Institute, Catholic Edition 2021: https://springtideresearch.org/product/catholic-edition-2021
Search Institute, 40 Developmental Assets: https://searchinstitute.org
Joseph Ratzinger, Eschatology: Death and Eternal Life: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0813215161?tag=04130706-20 (affiliate link)
CONNECT WITH ROBERT
https://eqsaints.com/
rfeduccia@eqsaints.com
MORE FROM MARATHON YOUTH MINISTRY
M2GO: training videos, templates and resources for your ministry team: https://marathonyouthministry.com/ministry2go?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=church-podcast&utm_content=ep072
Ministry Coach: https://ministryally.app?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=church-podcast&utm_content=ep072
MYM store: https://marathonyouthministry.store?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=church-podcast&utm_content=ep072
The Church Podcast is a member of the NFCYM Podcast Network: https://nfcym.org/podcastnetwork/
More from the show: http://thechurchpodcast.org/
Recorded on Riverside (affiliate link): https://www.riverside.fm/?utm_campaign=campaign_5&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=rewardful&via=christopher-wesley
Produced by Marathon Youth Ministry and Stephen Herrera of Be Well Creative: https://bewellcreative.co/
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Episode 071 – The Long Way to Authenticity with Carlos Perez
mardi 22 septembre 2026 • Durée 51:27
In this episode of The Church Podcast, Christopher sits down with Carlos Perez, Marathon Youth Ministry's merchandise and branding lead and a former student of Christopher's youth ministry.
Carlos shares how a spontaneous "yes" to running livestream equipment during the pandemic turned into a decade-long relationship with Christopher, and how questions he couldn't shake as a middle schooler eventually grew into a confident, lived-out Catholic faith. From altar serving and Quo Vadis retreats to a formative and challenging trip to SEEK in St. Louis, Carlos traces the moments that moved his faith from head knowledge to something internalized.
Together, Christopher and Carlos explore what young Catholics are really searching for in an age of social media and AI — namely authenticity — and why so many are being drawn back toward tradition, reverence, and things like the Traditional Latin Mass. They also discuss the cultural pressure around fundraising in Hispanic households, the value of unplugging from phones on retreat, and how Marathon Youth Ministry's new merchandise line is meant to carry that same message of authenticity forward.
For more visit https://thechurchpodcast.org
Episode 070 – Giving Teens the Pen: Forming Young Leaders with Marisally Santiago
mardi 15 septembre 2026 • Durée 58:23
In Episode 070 of The Church Podcast, I sit down with Marizoli Santiago to discuss empowering young leaders in the Church. Marizoli shares her journey from graphic design to youth ministry, emphasizing the importance of giving teens the opportunity to lead and create their own ministries. We explore her innovative program, Why Copy?, which encourages youth to find their voice and actively participate in the Church. Marizoli highlights the significance of listening to diverse perspectives within the community and creating inclusive spaces that foster growth and unity. Join us as we delve into practical strategies for engaging young people and transforming parish life.
Episode 069 – Rediscovering Synodality with Bob McCarty
mardi 8 septembre 2026 • Durée 59:36
In this episode of The Church Podcast, Christopher sits down with Bob McCarty, longtime Catholic ministry consultant, author, and former Executive Director of the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry (NFCYM).
Bob spent 10 years in parish and school youth ministry in Philadelphia, 14 years leading the youth office for the Archdiocese of Baltimore, and 19 years as Executive Director of NFCYM before stepping away in 2016 — a move he calls his "recalibration" rather than a retirement. Since then he's worked as a ministry consultant (he prefers "animator") and co-authored Going, Going, Gone: The Dynamics of Disaffiliation in Young Catholics.
Together, Christopher and Bob unpack what synodality actually means, why it's less a new program than a name for practices ministry leaders have used for years, and what synodal leadership looks like in contrast to clericalism. They talk through concrete examples — from parish-wide listening groups to a single question at the family dinner table — and get into the virtues, and the chaos, that synodal leadership requires.
For more visit our show notes at https://thechurchpodcast.org
Episode 068 – Hospitality, Community First Village, and 14 Years of Youth Ministry with Lori Nava
mardi 1 septembre 2026 • Durée 53:06
In this episode of The Church Podcast, Christopher sits down with Lori Nava, youth minister at St. Ignatius Martyr Catholic Church in Austin, Texas, through the NFCYM Podcast Network.
Lori shares how she came to ministry almost by accident, trading a culinary arts career for a role she wasn't originally looking for, and how that same love of food and hospitality has shaped the way she leads teens and families today. She also opens up about her nearly nine years as a resident missional at Community First! Village, a supportive housing community for people transitioning out of homelessness, and how that experience has shaped her as both a minister and a disciple.
Together, Christopher and Lori explore the connection between hospitality and evangelization, what it means to build a sustainable ministry that outlasts you, and how collaboration across parish ministries and pastoral support have shaped St. Ignatius's growth.
This conversation is a warm, grounded look at how food, community, and presence can carry the weight of real ministry.
For more visit the show notes at https://thechurchpodcast.org
Episode 067 – Faith and Justice, One and the Same with Maggie Smith
mardi 25 août 2026 • Durée 01:04:55
In this episode of The Church Podcast, Christopher sits down with Maggie Smith, Vice President of Good Faith, formerly known as the Center for Faith Justice.
Maggie shares her journey from being a Justice Works participant as a high schooler to leading the organization she once served through as a young adult — including the research project, the rebrand from Center for Faith Justice to Good Faith, and the Lilly Endowment-funded "Next Level" initiative that reshaped how the organization walks with young people beyond a single week in the summer.
Together, Christopher and Maggie explore why faith and justice can't be separated, how Good Faith builds theological reflection into every service experience, the challenge of forming young people as true protagonists rather than passive participants, and how becoming a parent has shaped the way Maggie thinks about handing faith down to her own children.
This conversation is an honest, hope-filled look at what it means to keep faith and works tied together — in ministry, in family life, and in the wider Church.
For more visit us at https://thechurchpodcast.org
Episode 066: Say Less, Ask More with Annie Grandell
mardi 18 août 2026 • Durée 45:28
In this episode of The Church Podcast, Christopher sits down with Annie Grandell, Senior Director of YDisciple for NET Ministries and co-host of the YDisciple Podcast through the NFCYM Podcast Network.
Annie shares an update on her ministry journey — seven years at NET Ministries after previous roles at the Augustine Institute and twelve years as a parish youth minister — along with the news that YDisciple is translating its entire library into Spanish, including Christopher's own "Seasons" lectionary-based Bible study for middle schoolers.
Together, Christopher and Annie explore why trust, not belief, is the real gap facing the Church today, how the "savior complex" undermines ministry leaders, and why the simple discipline of asking questions — rather than filling silence — is one of the most powerful tools for evangelization. They also dig into practical leadership habits like the EOS "clarity break" and the wisdom of focusing on one thing at a time instead of trying to fix everything at once.
Episode 065 – What's on My Mind Before the Summer Break
mardi 16 juin 2026 • Durée 11:11
In Episode 065 of The Church Podcast, I take a moment to reflect on the key themes that have emerged this season as we approach our summer break. With no guests today, it's just you and me discussing pressing topics in ministry. I delve into the impact of artificial intelligence on our lives and the church, emphasizing the need for informed discussions rather than fear. We also explore the critical distinction between training and forming leaders, highlighting the importance of nurturing character and competency in our teams. Lastly, I address how to welcome back those who have drifted from the church, encouraging a deeper understanding of their experiences. Join me as we unpack these insights and encourage thoughtful conversations as the season wraps up.
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