Welcoming New Catholics With Joy, Not Administration

How can we help someone feel joy, not burden, when they decide to become Catholic?

In episode 16 of the Upstream Podcast, Patrick Lencioni is joined by Father Austin Gilstrap and Father Michael Fye to discuss how the Catholic Church can better welcome people who are becoming Catholic. They explore the importance of joy, hospitality, and personal relationships in the OCIA process. Together, they share practical ways to help converts feel celebrated, supported, and deeply connected to the Church.

Topics explored in this episode:

(00:00) The Invitation to Catholicism
The growing interest in the Catholic Church.

(06:16) Seeing Conversion as Life-Changing
Father Fye shares how priests must stay close to the excitement of those entering the Church.

(11:06) Hospitality and Individualized Paths
Father Gilstrap stresses the role of hospitality and explains how his parish personalizes the journey for each convert.

(20:03) Relational Evangelization
How ongoing opportunities, one-on-one meetings, and relationships are central to OCIA.

(25:48) Teaching, Mentoring, and Accompaniment
The priests share how volunteers, sponsors, and priests can best support those becoming Catholic.

Thanks to Father Austin Gilstrap and Father Michael Fye for being on the show!

Learn more about Father Austin Gilstrap of Our Lady of the Lake: https://ololcc.org/staff/rev-austin-g...
Learn more about Father Michael Fye of Saint Ann Catholic Church: https://saintannparish.com/people/fat...

This episode of Upstream with Patrick Lencioni is brought to you by The Table Group: https://www.tablegroup.com. We teach leaders how to make work more effective and less dysfunctional. We also help their employees be more fulfilled and less miserable.

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We also have two other podcasts you might be interested in. One is called At The Table with Patrick Lencioni. And the other is called The Working Genius Podcast with Patrick Lencioni. Find them on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.

This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co.