St. Paul tells us “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” This is a command that we ought to be striving for both personally, and as a parish community. But what exactly does that...
At Amazing Parish, we talk a lot about culture—and for good reason. Culture isn’t just another buzzword. It’s the...
Every Person Deserves an Amazing Parish Almost exactly thirty days ago, I began this new role as the Executive...
My name is Fr. Charlie Garza and I grew up with Amazing Parish as a pastor. I was made a pastor in April of 2014 at...
Fr. Mike Schmitz delivers the keynote welcome at the San Antonio Summit in 2024.
As you prepare for a new year of ministry in your parish, you’re probably thinking about recruiting new volunteers or staff and training them for their responsibilities. You might be struggling to find the right person for a role or wondering how to raise the...
It’s that time of year. School is getting out, vacations are around the corner, and the flow of parish life is changing. You and your staff might be a bit worn out after Lent, Easter and First Communions. This is a great time to ask yourself: what can I do to boost...
It’s been said that what we know matters but who we are matters more. We’ve all experienced the increased trust and connection that is created when someone has been open and honest with us about their joys and struggles in life. Especially if that person was some kind...
Happy Easter! Christ is risen and we pray that you and your parish community are experiencing the joy of the season. If you’re like most parish leaders, you spent countless hours over the past few weeks preparing for Holy Week and the Triduum. At this point, you might...
Do you worry about disappointing people in your parish with your decisions and actions? Often, church leaders want to be sure that their community knows how much they are loved and cared for. The idea of making someone uncomfortable by saying “no”, giving difficult...
When you drive up to the parish office and walk inside, what responsibilities are on your mind? For many parish leaders, it’s their overflowing email inbox, the projects they didn’t finish last week, or the latest fires that have popped up to be put out. It’s normal...
What will make your parish the life-giving community of disciples Jesus desires it to be? Is it a flashy program or a shiny new building? Is it a well-padded bank account or offering a TON of ministries for every group under the sun? We don’t think so. At the heart of...
The True Meaning of Patience The true definition of a word is important. That’s especially true when the word is a virtue, because using the improper definition can lead us to choose our actions, or even justify them. Take for instance, the virtue of being meek. I’ve...