Pat is joined by his friends Fr. Austin Gilstrap, pastor of Our Lady of the Lake in Hendersonville, TN, and Fr. Michael Fye, pastor of St. Anne in Nashville, TN. The three of them have a spirited conversation about OCIA and what it really means to initiate people into the Catholic church. They discuss the importance of excitement, depth, and timeliness in conducting spiritual formation, and explore the different ways that pastors can best serve the people joining their congregation.

Pat and his friend Fr. Michael Andrade, pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Clovis, CA, have a vulnerable and practical conversation about the challenges pastors face when taking over a new parish. They challenge the conventional wisdom of waiting to make changes and explore how immediate, prayerful, and intentional leadership fosters healthier transitions. Fr. Michael also shares his personal experiences of forming a supportive team, embracing criticism, and leading courageously for the good of the parish.

Pat and Fr. Mike Schmitz tackle the tension priests encounter between being popular and being authentic. The conversation dives into the spiritual and practical dangers of avoiding conflict, the need for truth-tellers in leadership, and the importance of genuine relationships built on love rather than admiration. Together, Pat and Fr. Mike challenge listeners to choose truth over comfort, love over applause, and authenticity over approval.

With an increasing yearning for unadulterated truth and an attraction to the beauty of the sacraments, more and more people are curious about the Catholic Church. Today, Pat talks with his good friend, Fr. John Riccardo from ACTS XXIX, about the importance of sharing the fullness of the Church with conviction and joy and without apology.

...

Check out all the great work that Fr. John and ACTS XXIX team are doing at actsxxix.org.

Pat and his friends Fr. John Riccardo of ACTS XXIX and Chris Jenson discuss small adjustments priests can make to their Christmas Masses. These adjustments could make this year’s Mass extra special for people who might only attend church once or twice a year and be an excellent reminder for those who attend more often.

YouTube video Pat references: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYLRuVy0t6Q

The Church in America is facing significant challenges related to the restructuring of parishes due to priest shortage. While some may suggest closing parishes to streamline operations, the Church is a spiritual entity that requires thoughtful, prayerful management rather than just business-like solutions. The approach taken to address these challenges can greatly impact vocations and the overall spiritual life of the Church. It’s essential to prioritize the protection of holy, faithful priests as the starting point for any strategy moving forward. Pat is joined by friends Chris Jenson and Matthew Rudolph to begin the conversation about this important topic.

Here is a link to the Multiple Parishes article by Patrick Lencioni

https://upstreampodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/UpStream-Multiple-Parishes.pdf

Accepting low standards comes at a cost. So, why do leaders tolerate it? In this episode, Pat sits down with his good friend Chris Jenson, a management consultant, and discusses what mediocrity really is, why leaders let it occur, and how to overcome it.

It may come as a surprise to many lay people, and perhaps even priests too, that worldly opposition can come from within the Church. Pat sits down with his friend Fr. John Riccardo of ACTS XXIX to discuss the different ways we can face this truth, overcome worldly opposition, and avoid being discouraged in the process.