Upstream Podcast

Oct 18 2024 12 ep. 32 mins 3
Upstream Podcast artwork

A podcast for courageous priests, and the communities who support them. Send us your questions, feedback, and ideas: [email protected]

  Religion & Spirituality
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Multiple Parishes

Oct 18 2024 49 mins  
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

The War on Mediocrity

Jul 30 2024 32 mins  
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.

Facing the Headwinds from Within

Jun 19 2024 41 mins  
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.

Maximizing the Mass

May 22 2024 42 mins  
The power of the Mass is the Eucharist. Sometimes the efforts to elevate the beauty of the mass can actually detract from magnifying Christ. There are a few implementations that you as a priest can instill that enhances rather than detracts from the elevation of the Mass. Today Pat is joined with Chris Stefanick and Fr. Sean Conroy from the Archdiocese of Denver to discuss this top

Managing Transition as a Priest

May 08 2024 50 mins  
Transition is a challenge that every priest encounters but how do you not only navigate but embrace it. Oftentimes the challenge comes not singularly in the change but primarily in the loss. When these losses come it is absolutely necessary that our priests come to terms, respond, ceremonialize, and finally ask for a brother or member of Christ who reminds and encourages them of th

Hungry Priests are Not Needy Priests

Apr 24 2024 24 mins  
The position of a priest can be the loneliest position in the world. All humans have a fundamental hunger to be appreciated, yet very few of our Spiritual Fathers fully receive or seek this out. Affirming what you know is good and true about another person is not only necessary, but essential, for the nourishment of any relationship. This can begin with you. Find out where you can

An Outsider's View of the Priesthood

Apr 10 2024 36 mins  
From an Evangelical pastor, to a consultant, to working with priests and Archbishops, Chris Jenson’s interactions with clergy have helped to shape his view of Catholicism from the outside. In this episode, Pat is joined by his friend and colleague who shares how he has been drawn to the Church through the witnessing of priests’ love of Jesus and their devotion to people being t

An Easy On-Ramp to Scripture

Mar 27 2024 17 mins  
One of the most important and visible tasks that priests carry out during Mass is the delivery of the homily. To some, this part of the role comes naturally, but to others, it can be a struggle. This week, our goal is to provide simple feedback and offer some advice in the hopes that it might help you make your homilies as impactful as they can be. P – Passionate, O – Organized

The Unmentionable H Word

Mar 13 2024 42 mins  
One of the most important and visible tasks that priests carry out during Mass is the delivery of the homily. To some, this part of the role comes naturally, but to others, it can be a struggle. This week, our goal is to provide simple feedback and offer some advice in the hopes that it might help you make your homilies as impactful as they can be. P – Passionate, O – Organized

Every Priest is a Genius

Feb 28 2024 26 mins  
Parish priests are under a lot of pressure to be good at all things. Good homilists, good operators, good with pastoral care—the list doesn't stop. It's unrealistic that any of us would be good at all things, yet the pressure persists. In this episode, we discuss the "Working Genius" model created by Patrick Lencioni. The "Working Genius" is an assessment that reveals an individu