Episodes

Published: October 12, 2021 Father Christopher Walsh, Pastor of Saint Raymond of Penafort Catholic Church in Philadelphia, joins this week’s podcast to discuss identifying and overcoming racism within ourselves and in our parish communities. Fr. Chris shares his experiences of providing pastoral service to a primarily black community and how together, they have formed a vibrant and inclusive community. Fr. Chris also touches upon the Bishop’s Pastoral Letter, “Open Wide Our Hearts, the enduring...

Published: October 05, 2021 Changing Our World‘s Jim Friend speaks with Fr. Jim McDermott, SJ, a Jesuit priest, writer, and editor for America Magazine. Fr. Jim writes about pop culture and our faith in Christ. During this conversation, Fr. Jim discusses his career as an editor, writer, and screenwriter and his experience of writing an op-ed this year about his life as a gay priest and the support he received from readers and his community after he wrote this article. Father Jim McDermott, SJ,...

Published: September 26, 2021 How has the pandemic impacted Stewardship for Catholic organizations? What strategies are Catholic leaders implementing to navigate these uncertain times? How have donors stepped up in a meaningful way through the light of their faith? Join Changing Our World‘s Jim Friend as he discusses these questions and more with participants of this year’s International Catholic Stewardship Conference in Orlando, Florida. Jim’s guests include: Patrick Miller, MPPA, Director o...

Published: September 19, 2021 In December 2020, Dan Cellucci, CEO of the Catholic Leadership Institute, offered a compelling talk entitled “What If They Don’t Come Back?” What if Catholics who have been away during this pandemic simply do not return to Mass after the restrictions have been lifted? Dan’s predictions and the data collected by the Catholic Leadership Institute were correct. There is a growing apathy in our Church about the sacraments and returning to Mass and many parishioners hav...

Published: September 10, 2021 Join Jim Friend as we celebrate the 100th Episode of Advancing Our Church with his special guest, Fr. Benjamin Roberts, author of the new book on homiletics, The Voice of the Bridegroom. Fr. Roberts discusses his story of conversion, the artistic renovations made to his parish at Our Lady of Lourdes, Monroe, NC, his new book, and his devotion to St. Dymphna. Fr. Roberts shares his own personal journey on how the priest’s spousal relationship with a parish can creat...

Published: July 19, 2021 Changing Our World‘s Jim Friend hosts a conversation with experienced Catholic podcasters and social media experts on the topic of podcasting for Catholic organizations. Learn how these experienced podcasters got started and what recommendations they have for beginning your podcast with a mission. Jim’s guests include Dr. Tim Uhl, Superintendent of School, Diocese of Buffalo, Host, Catholic School Matters Podcast; Christine Flynn, Host Catholic Mamma Podcast; Daniel Boy...

Published: June 20, 2021 Jim Friend welcomes his Uncle, David C. Friend, veteran, entrepreneur, author, banker, teacher, pastor, and now podcaster of the popular new show Quality Christian Living. David shares his story and experience of touring Vietnam, the early days of his career as a successful banker and entrepreneur, and how he became a full-time pastor of a growing Church in Scottsdale, Arizona. Jim and David also discuss David’s popular book, “Generosity: What’s in it for me?” and how t...

Published: June 15, 2021 Join Changing Our World‘s Jim Friend and cohost Anna Vallez for a panel discussion with three pastors who share their experiences of adapting to a virtual environment over the past year. What lessons have they learned? What new parish practices have brought their communities closer together, and what will they carry forward into a post-pandemic Church? As parishioners begin to return home to Mass, how do these pastors think about returning to the real presence of the Eu...

Published: June 10, 2021 How have diocesan appeals changed since the start of the pandemic, and how will diocesan professionals continue to adjust their strategies in 2021/22? Join Changing Our World‘s Jim Friend as he hosts a panel of top-notch experts who discuss the evolving landscape of Diocesan Appeals. Today’s guests include Brian Niebrugge, Executive Director of Stewardship and the Annual Catholic Appeal at Archdiocese of St. Louis; Marta Sweeney, Vice President, Chief Community Service ...

Published: June 01, 2021 Bishop Alfred Schlert, Bishop of the Diocese of Allentown, joins Jim Friend on today’s show. Bishop Schlert discusses growing up in the Lehigh Valley, how the region has evolved, and the Bishop’s own vocation story. He describes how his vocation was the culmination of an internal journey with God and was encouraged by his family and mentors. As a lifelong member of his diocese, Bishop Schlert’s road to the episcopacy has been unique. The Bishop served directly under all...

Published: May 26, 2021 Changing Our World‘s Jim Friend welcomes Fr. Thomas Dailey, the inaugural John Cardinal Foley Chair of Homiletics & Social Communications at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia. Fr. Dailey has a new book, Behold This Heart: St. Francis de Sales and Devotion to the Sacred Heart, available on Amazon. In the book, Fr. Thomas Dailey transports the reader beyond the prayers and liturgies and helps you to contemplate the Sacred Heart, which Pope Benedict XVI said has...

Published: May 18, 2021 We are pleased to welcome Archbishop Leonard P. Blair, S.T.D., Shepherd of the Archdiocese of Hartford, to our program this week. Changing Our World‘s Jim Friend and Fred Roberts talk with Archbishop Blair about welcoming back the faithful to Mass this coming weekend after a long pandemic. The three men also discuss the Diocesan Young Adult Conference (taking place the week of May 17, 2021) and vocational ministry, including the Archbishop’s own vocation story. Finally, ...

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 ...

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 Chang...

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...

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...

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 ...

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 sus...

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 ...

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-s...

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 co...

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 t...

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 pa...

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, Phi...