Advancing Our Church

Published: May 05, 2021 On today’s show, Jim Friend interviews Patrick Markey, the former Executive Director of the Diocesan Fiscal Management Conference, who begins this year as the Leadership Roundtable’s inaugural Managing Partner. Markey officially assumes his new role in May 2021 and will lead the nonprofit in its next phase of growth and service to the Catholic Church. Get to know Patrick Markey during this conversation about faith, leadership and the future of our Church. About Patrick Markey Markey is a sought-after voice on leadership, finances, and other temporal affairs. He has spent most of his career serving the Church, developing strong relationships with bishops and diocesan leaders across the U.S., and promoting best practices to carry out its mission. Since 2013 he has led the Diocesan Fiscal Management Conference, which is the association of Catholic diocesan finance officers in the United States and Canada. Prior to that, he led the Office of National Collections for the USCCB, whi

Published: March 22, 2021 Our guest today is Mark Conzemius, President of the Catholic Community Foundation for Eastern South Dakota. Mark has been president of the Foundation since 1994, and during that time, he has significantly grown the assets by inviting the faithful of the Diocese of Sioux Falls to leave a legacy of love and faith. Mark has a long history in leadership, relationship development, fundraising, and public speaking, and a deep faith that guides him in this mission. Join Changing Our World‘s Jim Friend for this inspiring discussion and learn how Catholic Stewardship has come alive in Eastern South Dakota. Watch the video presentation of this discussion. https://youtu.be/28OJzhVtAuc Recorded March 6, 2021 Don’t miss Changing Our World’s FORGING FORWARDDon’t miss the webinar series FORGING FORWARD, a virtual philanthropic conference designed to bring you nonprofit experts from around the country who are leading through the COVID-19 crisis. Daily Spiritual Reflection and Prayers

Published: March 08, 2021 Changing Our World‘s Jim Friend talks with Cande de Leon, Executive Director of the Office for Mission Advancement in the Diocese of Phoenix, about his new book, Heart of the Mission: Simple Ways to Bring People to Jesus. In the book, Cande shows what it takes to get back on track. With wisdom and humor born of his own experience, he shows how our Christian mission always begins and ends with people. To help us live this in our daily life and work, he guides us through three transformational principles for ministry and life: Strengthening relationships, Boldly growing engagement, and Connecting people to the mission.Whether you are a pastor, part of a parish staff, or a volunteer at your home parish, these principles apply to you. Because if we really want to make transformational change in our Church and our world, we first have to recognize the people in front of us — who they are, what they need, what gifts God has given them, and how he is inviting them to participate in the m

Published: March 02, 2021 Advancing Our Church visits the beautiful state of California again this week through a conversation with the Most Reverend Ramón Bejarano, Auxiliary Bishop of San Diego, and Deacon Jose Reyes, Parish Life Coordinator of St. Stanislaus Parish in Modesto, CA. Bishop Bejarano and Deacon Reyes discuss their ministries and service to parishioners through justice and peace, teaching, and the sharing of their gifts with the Latino community. Both men recently served together when Bishop Bejarano was pastor of St. Stanislaus Parish, where Deacon Reyes now serves as Parish Life Coordinator, a relatively new position in his diocese. Hear how they are engaging Catholics and making a difference in the lives of many in California. Changing Our World‘s Anna Vallez joins Jim Friend to facilitate this discussion. Watch the video of our discussion: https://youtu.be/mfS9HliS_O0 Recorded February 23, 2021 Don’t miss Changing Our World’s FORGING FORWARDDon’t miss the webinar series FORGING

Published: February 22, 2021 Changing Our World‘s Jim Friend interviews Nancy Padberg, President & CEO of Catholic Education Arizona, a scholarship organization based in Phoenix, Arizona, with a mission to make it possible for underserved families in Arizona to have a quality Catholic education for their children. Nancy has been in her role for two years.  She has her Bachelor of Science from Iowa State University and MBA from Pepperdine University, Graziadio School of Business. She believes in creating high-performance teams and environments with respect, value, and trust for associates through continuous communications. The Mission of Catholic Education Arizona The mission of Catholic Education Arizona is to make it possible for underserved families in Arizona to provide a quality Catholic education for their children. Through the support of the tax credit, every child has an equal opportunity to pursue an education that allows them to reach their highest potential. Our organization provides both

Published: February 17, 2021 2020 forced us to reimagine many of our longstanding fundraising best practices, from major gifts to direct marketing and events to grant writing. What did we learn, what new ideas will we keep, and how will our strategies need to evolve as we emerge into a post-pandemic world? Join Changing Our World’s Jim Friend, host of the Advancing Our Church Podcast, for this conversation to hear from fellow Catholic leaders about their new insights and recommendations for sustained donor support in 2021.Our special guests include Joseph M. Gillmer, CFRE® CSPG CAP®, Executive Director of Development, Archdiocese of Washington; Sarah Hanley, President and CEO, The Catholic Foundation of Greater Philadelphia (CFGP), Lisa Quist, Chief Development Officer, Edmundite Missions, and Kevin R. Callahan, Director of Special Events, SOAR! Support Our Aging Religious, Inc.We begin our episode with our guest, Kevin Compagna, Director of Sales and Service at Catholic Purchasing Services, Inc., who will

Published: February 10, 2021 Changing Our World‘s Jim Friend interviews Fr. Frank S. Donio, S.A.C., D.Min., Director of the Catholic Apostolate Center and a member of the Society of the Catholic Apostolate (Pallottine Fathers and Brothers). Fr. Frank is also Executive Director of the Conference of Major Superiors of Men of the United States (CMSM), the national organization representing leaders of Catholic religious institutes for men, monasteries, and societies of apostolic life in the United States. Jim and Fr. Frank discuss the life-giving mission of the Catholic Apostolate Center and how they have adapted and enhanced their ministry through the pandemic. Fr. Frank also shares the joys and opportunities of the religious life for the CMSM and closes with some thoughts on the upcoming season of Lent. https://youtu.be/2u__SnoaXdM Don’t miss Changing Our World’s FORGING FORWARDDon’t miss the webinar series FORGING FORWARD, a virtual philanthropic conference designed to bring you nonprofit experts fr

Published: January 31, 2021 Happy Catholic Schools Week!On today’s show, Changing Our World‘s Jim Friend and Fred Roberts have a conversation with Alex Urrea, Managing Partner and Director of Educape and, CEO of The Procedo Project and Andrea Chavez-Kopp, Chief Learning Officer for The Procedo Project. The Procedo Project is a nonprofit organization with a mission to develop, implement and curate innovative models of Catholic education. Their goal is to partner to build capacity toward self-sustaining Catholic schools, serving as beacons for innovative academic and operational practice while continuing to be inspirational communities of faith.Alex and Andrea talk about the resources at Eduscape and the mission of The Procedo Project. They also share information about their upcoming conference, Forefront 2021; an event focused on Catholic Schools with a focus on innovation and sustainability. The keynote for Forefront 2021 is Peter H. Reynolds, Author, and Illustrator for several books and series, including

Published: January 27, 2021 Changing Our World‘s Jim Friend interviews Margaret Kaplow, Director of Marketing and Communications, Public Relations and Publications Manager for the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA).  Today, we’ll learn about the important role that Margaret plays for the NCEA and how the NCEA supports Catholic Schools through Marketing programs, Catholic Education publications, and so much more. Margaret was educated in Catholic Schools from Kindergarten through college. She previously worked for The Washington Post in the editorial department and then as an editor in public relations and communications. Today you’ll hear how Margaret helped establish an educational services department that partnered with teachers to create a top-notch curriculum that incorporated newspaper content to teach all subjects. Margaret is a native of Washington, D.C., where she graduated from Holy Trinity High School in Georgetown. Margaret received a bachelor’s degree in English and Geography from

Published: January 20, 2021 How are you leveraging Catholic Schools Week for your enrollment and philanthropic efforts? Join us for this informative conversation with our experts Jennifer Melville Trefelner, Diocese of Palm Beach, Kristin Moore, Archdiocese of Seattle, with Gavan Mooney and Jim Friend from Changing Our World. For more information about Catholic Schools Week, please visit NCEA’s website by clicking here. 2021 Catholic Schools Week Since 1974, National Catholic Schools Week is the annual celebration of Catholic education in the United States. It starts the last Sunday in January and runs all week, which in 2021 is January 31 – February 6. The theme for National Catholic Schools Week 2021 is “Catholic Schools: Faith. Excellence. Service.” Schools typically observe the annual celebration week with Masses, open houses, and other activities for students, families, parishioners and community members. Through these events, schools focus on the value Catholic education provides to young peopl

Published: December 23, 2020 Changing Our World‘s Jim Friend, Anna Vallez, and Fred Roberts talk with Fr. Anthony Mongiello and Fr. Giuseppe Esposito from St. Anne Church in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Fr. Mongiello and Fr. Esposito have been creating fun and, in some cases, hilarious videos on Facebook for the children of their parish elementary school as a way to reach out to their community during this pandemic. If you would like to see their videos, please visit the St. Anne School Facebook page. At the end of our episode, the Changing Our World staff offers you Christmas Greetings. https://youtu.be/mg5titcNosw Recorded: December 16, 2020 Don’t miss Changing Our World’s FORGING FORWARDDon’t miss the webinar series FORGING FORWARD, a virtual philanthropic conference designed to bring you nonprofit experts from around the country who are leading through the COVID-19 crisis. Daily Spiritual Reflection and Prayers on “Kristin’s Crosses” Join Jim and Kristin Friend and their family on Kristin’s Cr

Published: December 21, 2020 Changing Our World’s Jim Friend, Anna Vallez, and Fred Roberts host a discussion with Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Seattle, Archdiocese of Philadelphia, and the Diocese of Allentown for a conversation on their strategies for #GivingTuesday. Our guests today include: Rebecca Arcarese, Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic School, Seattle, WA Paige Banks, Bellarmine Preparatory School, Tacoma, WA Patricia Decker, St. Hubert’s Catholic High School for Girls, Philadelphia, PA Mark Napierkowski, Mercy School for Special Learning, Allentown, PA Erin Oest-Larsen, St. Joseph School, Seattle, WA Allie Thomas, O’Dea High School, Seattle, WA CARES Act As referenced on today’s podcast, here is an important update regarding the CARES Act…Did you know that the CARES Act has changed charitable deduction allowances? Individuals are allowed increased deductions for 2020 charitable contributions. Individual taxpayers who do not itemize their deductions are allowed

Published: November 30, 2020 Changing Our World‘s Jim Friend welcomes Msgr. Andrew Baker, Rector for Mount Saint Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland, to talk about his success of recruiting 47 new seminarians to the University for the 2020-2021 Academic year in the middle of the pandemic. We discuss some of the challenges and opportunities for recruitment and fundraising for this national seminary.If you like this episode, please listen to Episode #4 for more of Msgr. Baker and Mount Saint Mary’s University. About Msgr. Andrew Baker Msgr. Baker was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Allentown in 1991. He has served in various parishes, including as Pastor of the Cathedral of St. Catherine of Siena. Msgr. Baker has taught high school students, served as a Catholic university chaplain, as a faculty member of St. Charles Seminary, and on the Congregation for Bishops in Rome. https://youtu.be/rhrEUfq1ChY November 2020 Don’t miss Changing Our World’s FORGING FORWARD.Don’t miss the we

Published: November 23, 2020 The Christmas Mass is a joyous time that will require special care and preparation this year, as will our year-end giving strategies. Today, we welcome special guests Fr. Ron Bagley and Msgr. Louis Marucci to discuss creative ways to plan for a fulfilling liturgical experience in your parish this Christmas and the importance of year-end giving to a healthy parish budget. Our Guests Rev. Ron Bagley, CJM, Pastor, St. Patrick Catholic Community, Carlsbad, CaliforniaFr. Bagley has been an ordained priest for 43 years and a member of the Congregation of Jesus and Mary (Eudist Fathers). He has also worked for many years in the formation of lay and ordained ministers, including 12 years in the Philippines. He earned a Doctor of Ministry degree focusing on empowering shared ministry in parishes.Rev. Msgr. Louis A. Marucci, D.Min., Pastor, St. Andrew the Apostle Church, Gibbsboro, New JerseyMsgr. Marucci has been an ordained priest for 33 years and holds four Masters Degrees and a

Published: November 16, 2020 How do we transform our parish communities in the season of Advent? What would it take for our parishes to be communities where divine mercy is experienced and shared? How do we engage our parishioners in this sacred season of preparation for the birth of Jesus? Join Changing Our World‘s Jim Friend and Anna Vallez with special guests Annie Sarlo and Fr. Boniface Hicks, O.S.B., for a stimulating conversation about the Pastoral Conversion Advent Conference 2020 scheduled for December 6-10, 2020. About Our Guests Fr. Boniface Hicks, O.S.B. is the General Manager, Programming Manager and an On-Air Host of We Are One Body® Catholic radio (WAOB®), Director of Spiritual Formation at Saint Vincent Seminary and co-author of a book with Fr. Thomas Acklin, OSB called Spiritual Direction: A Guide for Sharing the Father’s Love.Annie Sarlo is the Deputy Secretary for Evangelization and Formation in the Diocese of Allentown. Annie is an Apostle of Jesus Christ with over 27 years of expe

Published: November 11, 2020 Think twice before canceling that special parish event or activity! Parish and diocesan events/activities can not only raise money, but they also build community. Join us for a conversation on activities that lead to a more close-knit and committed parish community plus hear about events that have raised significant dollars during the pandemic.This is the first of our Advancing Our Church: LIVE Facebook series with Changing Our World co-hosts Jim Friend, Anna Vallez, and Fred Roberts. This week, our team is rejoined by Dave Baranowski from the Archdiocese of St. Louis and Mariann Gilbride, CFRE, from the Diocese of Camden. https://youtu.be/xAm3-rafM9A Don’t miss Changing Our World’s FORGING FORWARDDon’t miss the webinar series FORGING FORWARD, a virtual philanthropic conference designed to bring you nonprofit experts from around the country who are leading through the COVID-19 crisis. Daily Spiritual Reflection and Prayers on “Kristin’s Crosses” Join Jim and Krist

Published: November 04, 2020 On today’s show, we replay the October 27, 2020, webinar panel discussion called Advancing Our Parishes Through Challenging Times. During the conversation, our panelists discuss ways that parishes and dioceses have successfully engaged parishioners throughout the pandemic; and how these Church leaders have adopted effective strategies for maintaining and improving crucial aspects of parish life, including communications, offertory, and outreach.Our panel is moderated by Changing Our World‘s Anna Vallez and Fred Roberts, with special guests Dave Baranowski, Director of Parish Stewardship and Leadership Formation in the Archdiocese of St. Louis, Mariann Gilbride, CFRE, Director of Development for the Diocese of Camden, Rev. Msgr. Paul T. Dotson, Pastor of St. Lawrence Martyr Catholic Church in Redondo Beach, CA; Rev. Rex Hays, Pastor of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Patterson, CA; and Rev. William Hoffman, Pastor of St. Philip Catholic Church in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Watch t

Published: October 26, 2020 Shawn Trahan, Senior Managing Director for Changing Our World talks with Msgr. Louis Marucci, about his very successful capital campaign at St. Andrew the Apostle Church in Gibbosboro, New Jersey, and his unique approach to fundraising. The two also discuss his role in the Diocesan Capital Campaign that Changing Our World conducted in partnership with the Diocese of Camden. Shawn Trahan brings over 20 years of fundraising experience in Catholic Philanthropy to this great conversation. Rev. Msgr. Louis A. Marucci, D.Min Monsignor Louis Marucci was born in Philadelphia, PA. He grew up in Gibbstown, NJ, and was educated at St. Michael Elementary School and St. James High School in Carney’s Point, NJ. He attended Christ the King Seminary in East Aurora, New York, and was ordained on May 23, 1987.  He was named a Chaplain of His Holiness by Pope John Paul II on March 18, 2000, and given the title Reverend Monsignor.Monsignor Marucci holds four Master’s Degrees and a Doctorate o

Published: October 21, 2020 How do you engage and train clergy to talk about Stewardship? What are the key ingredients to having that conversation with parishioners? How does a Sacrament Worldview come into play?Join Changing Our World’s panel of experts today as they discuss empowering clergy with the spirituality of stewardship. Our host, Jim Friend, participates on the panel with Changing Our World, Managing Directors Mary Doorley Simboski, ACFRE, and Fred Roberts, and special guests Tomasz Kierul, Director of Development at St. John’s Seminary in Boston, and Anna Schulten, Office of Development in the Archdiocese of Anchorage-Juneau. You can find out more about Anna by visiting her website at https://annaschulten.com Don’t miss Changing Our World’s FORGING FORWARDDon’t miss the webinar series FORGING FORWARD, a virtual philanthropic conference designed to bring you nonprofit experts from around the country who are leading through the COVID-19 crisis. Daily Spiritual Reflection and Prayers on “Kri

In March 2020, Changing Our World‘s client, Chestnut Hill College, located in Chestnut Hill, PA, transitioned its Annual Scholarship Gala into the Hold Hope High Scholarship Challenge, an online event that exceeded all goals. On today’s show, guest Erin Wooley, MBA, Vice President for Institutional Advancement at Chestnut Hill College, presents the college’s success story as a workshop at the 2020 International Catholic Stewardship Conference. Listen to the audio version of the session or watch the entire presentation on video by scrolling down or clicking here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PK7fXgInLw&t=3s About Chestnut Hill College Established in 1924, Chestnut Hill College (CHC) was founded by the Sisters of Saint Joseph as a Catholic, four-year, liberal arts institution for women and became co-educational in 2003. Sister Carol Jean Vale, Ph.D., the longest-serving college president in the Greater Philadelphia Area, has boldly led CHC through several transformational times in her 27 years at