From Good to Great—The Mechanics of Parish Renewal

Called to Lead: Pastoral Leadership for Today’s Church

In this episode of Called to Lead, Dr. John Rinaldo welcomes John Poitevent, the founder and director of Great Catholic Parishes. With over 30 years of ministry experience and a background in organizational leadership development, John spends his days coaching pastors and parish teams through the painful but necessary shift from systemic burnout to sustainable missionary growth. Together, they dig into the strategic side of local ministry. John breaks down the four foundational practices that make parishes thrive and shares practical advice on how to build a healthy staff culture, how to master the "Sunday experience" to engage visitors, and how to transition a parish from a mindset of maintenance to one of active mission.

About Podcast

This podcast dives into the art and spirit of leadership in the Catholic Church. Through storytelling and dialogue with pastoral leaders, ministers, and scholars, the podcast bridges academic theology with practical ministry. These conversations invite listeners to better understand how today’s leaders answer God’s call and work to build just and inclusive communities.

Presented by the Markey Center in Santa Clara University’s Graduate Program in Pastoral Ministries. (https://www.scu.edu/cas/graduate-program-in-pastoral-ministries/markey-center-for-leadership-and-ministry/)