{"version":"https://jsonfeed.org/version/1","title":"The St. Wenceslaus Podcast","home_page_url":"https://stwenceslaus.fireside.fm","feed_url":"https://stwenceslaus.fireside.fm/json","description":"What if the biggest church in Nebraska could have a small-town feel? Join us as we share real stories of what God is up to at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Omaha. Along the way, we'll meet parishioners who have been transformed by giving their yes to Christ and living as His disciples. What are you waiting for? Tune in and hear about how Jesus is encountered, proclaimed, and shared, right here at St. Wenceslaus.","_fireside":{"subtitle":"Where Jesus is Encountered, Proclaimed, \u0026 Shared","pubdate":"2026-09-18T00:00:00.000-05:00","explicit":false,"copyright":"2026 by St. Wenceslaus Church of Omaha","owner":"St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church","image":"https://media24.fireside.fm/file/fireside-images-2024/podcasts/images/c/cd4d0139-2d36-4c1b-ac5a-b1bdb1d19a77/cover.jpg?v=3"},"items":[{"id":"11392da8-8d41-4dd7-a5f1-99d36ff2e0b7","title":"Let Others Know of Me - Rose Decker","url":"https://stwenceslaus.fireside.fm/8","content_text":"Rose shares about how she went from being merely involved at St. Wenceslaus to truly being connected. Experiences like Welcome helped her discover a group of sisters in Christ, OCIA showed her that love alone is necessary to accompany someone on their spiritual journey, and that community is strengthened through prayer and redemptive suffering. ","content_html":"\u003cp\u003eRose shares about how she went from being merely involved at St. Wenceslaus to truly being connected. Experiences like Welcome helped her discover a group of sisters in Christ, OCIA showed her that love alone is necessary to accompany someone on their spiritual journey, and that community is strengthened through prayer and redemptive suffering. \u003c/p\u003e","summary":"Rose shares about how she went from being merely involved at St. Wenceslaus to truly being connected. Experiences like Welcome helped her discover a group of sisters in Christ, OCIA showed her that love alone is necessary to accompany someone on their spiritual journey, and that community is strengthened through prayer and redemptive suffering. ","date_published":"2026-09-18T00:00:00.000-05:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/cd4d0139-2d36-4c1b-ac5a-b1bdb1d19a77/11392da8-8d41-4dd7-a5f1-99d36ff2e0b7.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mpeg","size_in_bytes":26272157,"duration_in_seconds":1642}]},{"id":"87b91aad-f2db-45cb-a6d8-843d7c36e5e1","title":"Nothing is Too Small for God - Joan Mack","url":"https://stwenceslaus.fireside.fm/7","content_text":"Joan shares stories about faith during her childhood, the impact of a life-changing retreat, how realizing she is a daughter of God has dramatically impacted her life, and the ways she promotes and encourages health and wholeness at our parish.Links:Cloisters on the Platte\n — Let the Silence Transform You\nAttend a spiritual weekend retreat at The Cloisters on the Platte and grow closer in your relationship with God.\nGood Good Father (Song)\nHealing the Whole Person\n — The Journey to Wholeness\nJoin us on this journey to wholeness as we enter into the heart, face the pains and wounds within, and allow Christ’s divine love to bring the healing we ardently desire.​\n","content_html":"\u003cp\u003eJoan shares stories about faith during her childhood, the impact of a life-changing retreat, how realizing she is a daughter of God has dramatically impacted her life, and the ways she promotes and encourages health and wholeness at our parish.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLinks:\u003c/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003ca title=\"Cloisters on the Platte\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https://cloistersontheplatte.com/\"\u003eCloisters on the Platte\n\u003c/a\u003e \u0026mdash; Let the Silence Transform You\nAttend a spiritual weekend retreat at The Cloisters on the Platte and grow closer in your relationship with God.\n\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003ca title=\"Good Good Father (Song)\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djrY_eFDOwE\"\u003eGood Good Father (Song)\n\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003ca title=\"Healing the Whole Person\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https://jpiihealingcenter.org/hwpweekend/\"\u003eHealing the Whole Person\n\u003c/a\u003e \u0026mdash; The Journey to Wholeness\nJoin us on this journey to wholeness as we enter into the heart, face the pains and wounds within, and allow Christ’s divine love to bring the healing we ardently desire.​\n\u003c/li\u003e\u003c/ul\u003e","summary":"Joan shares stories about faith during her childhood, the impact of a life-changing retreat, how realizing she is a daughter of God has dramatically impacted her life, and the ways she promotes and encourages health and wholeness at our parish.","date_published":"2026-09-04T00:00:00.000-05:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/cd4d0139-2d36-4c1b-ac5a-b1bdb1d19a77/87b91aad-f2db-45cb-a6d8-843d7c36e5e1.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mpeg","size_in_bytes":24067686,"duration_in_seconds":1448}]},{"id":"a1dd7f1b-9a7e-4719-986f-34a2e613f164","title":"Longing for Heroes - Rachel Wardian","url":"https://stwenceslaus.fireside.fm/6","content_text":"Show notes:\n\n\nCatechism in a Year Podcast with Fr. Mike\nA Father Who Keeps His Promises by Scott Hahn\nHope to Die by Scott Hahn with Emily Stimpson Chapman\nA Man of the Beatitudes: Pier Giorgio Frassati\nA Song for Nagasaki: The Story of Takashi Nagai\nMarian Consecration: The What, Why, and How\n*\n","content_html":"\u003cp\u003eShow notes:\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"https://ascensionpress.com/pages/content-hub/the-catechism-in-a-year-with-fr-mike-schmitz\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eCatechism in a Year Podcast with Fr. Mike\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"https://stpaulcenter.com/store/a-father-who-keeps-his-promises-gods-covenant-love-in-scripture\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eA Father Who Keeps His Promises by Scott Hahn\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"https://stpaulcenter.com/store/hope-to-die-the-christian-meaning-of-death-and-the-resurrection-of-the-body\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eHope to Die by Scott Hahn with Emily Stimpson Chapman\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"https://ignatius.com/a-man-of-the-beatitudes-manbp/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eA Man of the Beatitudes: Pier Giorgio Frassati\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"https://ignatius.com/a-song-for-nagasaki-snhep/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eA Song for Nagasaki: The Story of Takashi Nagai\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"https://bustedhalo.com/ministry-resources/marian-consecration-the-what-why-and-how/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eMarian Consecration: The What, Why, and How\u003c/a\u003e\n*\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e","summary":"Rachel shares stories about how God led her to St. Wenceslaus as a science and religion teacher, her friendship with the Blessed Mother and the Saints, her pilgrimages to the Holy Land and Poland, and her experience of seeing God at work in her middle school students.","date_published":"2026-08-21T00:00:00.000-05:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/cd4d0139-2d36-4c1b-ac5a-b1bdb1d19a77/a1dd7f1b-9a7e-4719-986f-34a2e613f164.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mpeg","size_in_bytes":29994097,"duration_in_seconds":1874}]},{"id":"7b133066-2f7f-4957-93c4-d3c0236e2d4b","title":"Do Not Be Afraid - Ty Miller and David Schmitz","url":"https://stwenceslaus.fireside.fm/5","content_text":"Ty and David share their conversion stories and other stories about how forming a Christ-centered friendship has taught them the value of vulnerability and helped them to mature as followers of Jesus.\n\nWild at Heart by John Eldredge\n\n\nEvery man longs for a battle to fight, an adventure to live, and a beauty to rescue.\nIn the heart of every man is a yearning—to be powerful, brave, and free. But over time, life’s responsibilities and wounds dim that fire. In this updated edition of his bestselling book Wild at Heart, John Eldredge invites men to rediscover their masculine soul and step into the adventure God created them for.\n\n\nCamp Virtus et Veritas (V2)\n\n\nVirtus et Veritas (V2) Ministries cultivates authentic encounters with God \u0026amp; fellow man through adventure experiences and formation in virtue \u0026amp; truth to develop Christ-like leaders.\n\n\nTIMESTAMPS\n\n0:00 Introduction and how Ty and David each came to St. Wenceslaus\n3:15 Masculine friendship and the difference between shallow friendships based on surface level topics and deep friendships based on vulnerability\n12:13 Ty's conversion story of falling away from faith in high school and coming back to God through an encounter with his dad and the song _Good Good Father_\n16:11 David' conversion story at Camp V2 and hearing the words, \"do not be afraid\" spoken directly to him during adoration\n20:52 Sustaining faith beyond the \"high point\" experiences through Christ-centered friendships and participation in daily Mass\n25:51 Closing prayer","content_html":"\u003cp\u003eTy and David share their conversion stories and other stories about how forming a Christ-centered friendship has taught them the value of vulnerability and helped them to mature as followers of Jesus.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https://wildatheart.org/books/wild-at-heart\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eWild at Heart by John Eldredge\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEvery man longs for a battle to fight, an adventure to live, and a beauty to rescue.\nIn the heart of every man is a yearning—to be powerful, brave, and free. But over time, life’s responsibilities and wounds dim that fire. In this updated edition of his bestselling book Wild at Heart, John Eldredge invites men to rediscover their masculine soul and step into the adventure God created them for.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https://v2ministries.org/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eCamp Virtus et Veritas (V2)\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eVirtus et Veritas (V2) Ministries cultivates authentic encounters with God \u0026amp; fellow man through adventure experiences and formation in virtue \u0026amp; truth to develop Christ-like leaders.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eTIMESTAMPS\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e0:00 Introduction and how Ty and David each came to St. Wenceslaus\u003cbr\u003e\n3:15 Masculine friendship and the difference between shallow friendships based on surface level topics and deep friendships based on vulnerability\u003cbr\u003e\n12:13 Ty's conversion story of falling away from faith in high school and coming back to God through an encounter with his dad and the song \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djrY_eFDOwE\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003e_Good Good Father\u003c/a\u003e_\u003cbr\u003e\n16:11 David' conversion story at Camp V2 and hearing the words, \"do not be afraid\" spoken directly to him during adoration\u003cbr\u003e\n20:52 Sustaining faith beyond the \"high point\" experiences through Christ-centered friendships and participation in daily Mass\u003cbr\u003e\n25:51 Closing prayer\u003c/p\u003e","summary":"Ty and David share their conversion stories and other stories about how forming a Christ-centered friendship has taught them the value of vulnerability and helped them to mature as followers of Jesus.","date_published":"2026-07-31T00:00:00.000-05:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/cd4d0139-2d36-4c1b-ac5a-b1bdb1d19a77/7b133066-2f7f-4957-93c4-d3c0236e2d4b.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mpeg","size_in_bytes":26712749,"duration_in_seconds":1648}]},{"id":"6aaa94b9-5746-4312-b63e-4798d3956a87","title":"Gus is Already in Heaven - Tim and Jill Seberger","url":"https://stwenceslaus.fireside.fm/4","content_text":"In this episode, Tim and Jill Seberger share about how the death of their toddler son Augustine in 2022 brought a outpouring of God's blessings into their life and into the life of friends, family, and even total strangers.\n\nBook referenced by Jill on learning to pray and journal with Sacred Scripture:\nWRAP Yourself in Scripture: A Guide for Lectio Divina\n\nTIMESTAMPS\n\n0:00 Introduction\n0:45 Tim and Jill's journey back to St. Wenceslaus\n3:10 Eight sons, Natural Family Planning, and learning to trust God\n10:00 Augustine's Death\n18:18 How Tim and Jill got through it\n26:36 How Faith and Grief go together\n36:13 The Communion of Saints\n38:36 Artwork of St. Augustine\n45:14 The Blessings Continue\n47:46 Dad Advice from Tim and Mom Advice from Jill\n51:25 Closing Prayer","content_html":"\u003cp\u003eIn this episode, Tim and Jill Seberger share about how the death of their toddler son Augustine in 2022 brought a outpouring of God's blessings into their life and into the life of friends, family, and even total strangers.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBook referenced by Jill on learning to pray and journal with Sacred Scripture:\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https://www.gloriadeo.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=9780984379231\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eWRAP Yourself in Scripture: A Guide for Lectio Divina\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eTIMESTAMPS\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e0:00 Introduction\u003cbr\u003e\n0:45 Tim and Jill's journey back to St. Wenceslaus\u003cbr\u003e\n3:10 Eight sons, Natural Family Planning, and learning to trust God\u003cbr\u003e\n10:00 Augustine's Death\u003cbr\u003e\n18:18 How Tim and Jill got through it\u003cbr\u003e\n26:36 How Faith and Grief go together\u003cbr\u003e\n36:13 The Communion of Saints\u003cbr\u003e\n38:36 Artwork of St. Augustine\u003cbr\u003e\n45:14 The Blessings Continue\u003cbr\u003e\n47:46 Dad Advice from Tim and Mom Advice from Jill\u003cbr\u003e\n51:25 Closing Prayer\u003c/p\u003e","summary":"Tim and Jill Seberger share about how the death of their toddler brought a outpouring of God's blessings into their life and into the life of friends, family, and even total strangers.","date_published":"2026-07-17T00:00:00.000-05:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/cd4d0139-2d36-4c1b-ac5a-b1bdb1d19a77/6aaa94b9-5746-4312-b63e-4798d3956a87.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mpeg","size_in_bytes":51312177,"duration_in_seconds":3136}]},{"id":"32d27e05-2bd4-4ac9-99c5-3cad6477ed88","title":"This is Where You're Meant to Be - Lindsey Harrahill","url":"https://stwenceslaus.fireside.fm/3","content_text":"Lindsey Harrahill, our school principal ,shares stories about her time at St. Wenceslaus. Hear about Lindsey's time growing up at St. Wenceslaus, how she found out about the job posting, and how her becoming principal of her alma mater was God's way of welcoming her home. Lindsey discusses candidly the joys and challenges of being the principal of Nebraska's largest elementary school, displaying her love for students, her desire to grow and nurtue relationships, and her collaborative attitude when it comes to education. Above all, Lindsey's faith shines through and is the foundation for her identity not just as a school principal, but as a mother, a wife, a friend.","content_html":"\u003cp\u003eLindsey Harrahill, our school principal ,shares stories about her time at St. Wenceslaus. Hear about Lindsey's time growing up at St. Wenceslaus, how she found out about the job posting, and how her becoming principal of her alma mater was God's way of welcoming her home. Lindsey discusses candidly the joys and challenges of being the principal of Nebraska's largest elementary school, displaying her love for students, her desire to grow and nurtue relationships, and her collaborative attitude when it comes to education. Above all, Lindsey's faith shines through and is the foundation for her identity not just as a school principal, but as a mother, a wife, a friend.\u003c/p\u003e","summary":"St. Wenceslaus Catholic School Principal Lindsey Harrahill shares the story of how she came back to her alma mater and how faith in Jesus leads every aspect of her personal and professional life.","date_published":"2026-07-03T00:00:00.000-05:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/cd4d0139-2d36-4c1b-ac5a-b1bdb1d19a77/32d27e05-2bd4-4ac9-99c5-3cad6477ed88.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mpeg","size_in_bytes":25449195,"duration_in_seconds":1590}]},{"id":"8b183912-0a5b-41c4-873c-8b0ef353e287","title":"Welcome Home, Erica","url":"https://stwenceslaus.fireside.fm/2","content_text":"Erica begins her story observing how drugs, alcohol, and other worldly pursuits never lead to happiness, but rather to death. As a teenager, she knew God was real but didn't know where to find Him. That changed when her Catholic grandmother invited her to attend a Steubenville Catholic Youth Conference. After hearing a talk on confession and the words, \"Welcome home,\" Erica's life was marked by a deep desire to be baptized, confirmed, and receive first communion. She entered OCIA and chose her grandparents as sponsors. Finally, on the day of her baptism at the Easter Vigil, Erica was brought into God's family and experienced the wholeness, the fulfilment, and the peace for which she had been searching her whole life long. Erica was home. \n\nNow, two months into her life as a new Catholic, Erica attends Mass, goes to confession, and shares the joy of her faith in Christ with everyone she meets. She encourages listeners to choose their faith in God in a real and personal way, instead of seeing it as something that you inherit by default from your parents. Finally, she leaves us with the image of St. Anne, mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary, as a role model and saint who has inspired her to become closer to Christ.","content_html":"\u003cp\u003eErica begins her story observing how drugs, alcohol, and other worldly pursuits never lead to happiness, but rather to death. As a teenager, she knew God was real but didn't know where to find Him. That changed when her Catholic grandmother invited her to attend a Steubenville Catholic Youth Conference. After hearing a talk on confession and the words, \"Welcome home,\" Erica's life was marked by a deep desire to be baptized, confirmed, and receive first communion. She entered OCIA and chose her grandparents as sponsors. Finally, on the day of her baptism at the Easter Vigil, Erica was brought into God's family and experienced the wholeness, the fulfilment, and the peace for which she had been searching her whole life long. Erica was home. \u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eNow, two months into her life as a new Catholic, Erica attends Mass, goes to confession, and shares the joy of her faith in Christ with everyone she meets. She encourages listeners to choose their faith in God in a real and personal way, instead of seeing it as something that you inherit by default from your parents. Finally, she leaves us with the image of St. Anne, mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary, as a role model and saint who has inspired her to become closer to Christ.\u003c/p\u003e","summary":"Erica shares her story of coming home to the Catholic Church, her baptism, receiving the Easter sacraments, and the people who helped her along the way.","date_published":"2026-06-19T00:00:00.000-05:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/cd4d0139-2d36-4c1b-ac5a-b1bdb1d19a77/8b183912-0a5b-41c4-873c-8b0ef353e287.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mpeg","size_in_bytes":24423968,"duration_in_seconds":1526}]},{"id":"3bf02287-3323-43a9-a70e-ba8343b7915c","title":"When the Mass took Fr. Mike's Breath Away","url":"https://stwenceslaus.fireside.fm/1","content_text":"In this episode, Olivier and Emily interview our pastor, Fr. Mike. Fr. Mike begins with an outline of his assignments throughout his 35 years as a priest and explains how teaching in a classroom setting helped him become a more creative person and a better preacher. He shares his vocation story and touches on how a weekly holy hour in the middle of the night helped shaped his call to the priesthood. Recounting a couple of highlight \"God moments\" of his priesthood,\" Fr. Mike shares about experience of the presence of Jesus at a time when he was feeling exhausted in his ministry and vocation. Finally, we wrap up the episode with a few stories from Fr. Mike's times as a pilgrim in the Holy Land. \n\nFr. Mike's Pastoral Assignments\n\n\n1991: Priestly Ordination\n1991-1993: Associate Pastor, St. Mary's, West Point; Teacher, West Point Central Catholic\n1993-1994: Associate Pastor, St. Bernadette, Bellevue, NE\n1994-1997: Associate Pastor, St. Patrick, Fremont; Teacher, Fremont Bergan High School\n1997-2002: Pastor, St. Patrick, Battle Creek; Pastor, St. Francis de Sales, Schoolcraft; Teacher, Norfolk Catholic High School\n2002-2004: Director, Rural Diaconate Program\n2002-2007: Pastor, St. Rose of Lima, Hooper; Pastor, St. Lawrence, Scribner\n2007-2011: Pastor, St. Joseph, Walt Hill; St. Augustine, Winnebago; Our Lady of Fatima, Macy; St. Cornelius, Homer; Associate Director of the St. Augustine Indian Mission\n2011-2018: Pastor, St. Pius X, Omaha, NE\n2018-2022: Servant Minister, Archdiocese of Omaha\n2020-2022: Executive Director, Catholic Charities Omaha\n2022-Present: Pastor, St. Wenceslaus, Omaha\n","content_html":"\u003cp\u003eIn this episode, Olivier and Emily interview our pastor, Fr. Mike. Fr. Mike begins with an outline of his assignments throughout his 35 years as a priest and explains how teaching in a classroom setting helped him become a more creative person and a better preacher. He shares his vocation story and touches on how a weekly holy hour in the middle of the night helped shaped his call to the priesthood. Recounting a couple of highlight \"God moments\" of his priesthood,\" Fr. Mike shares about experience of the presence of Jesus at a time when he was feeling exhausted in his ministry and vocation. Finally, we wrap up the episode with a few stories from Fr. Mike's times as a pilgrim in the Holy Land. \u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFr. Mike's Pastoral Assignments\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e1991: Priestly Ordination\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e1991-1993: Associate Pastor, St. Mary's, West Point; Teacher, West Point Central Catholic\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e1993-1994: Associate Pastor, St. Bernadette, Bellevue, NE\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e1994-1997: Associate Pastor, St. Patrick, Fremont; Teacher, Fremont Bergan High School\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e1997-2002: Pastor, St. Patrick, Battle Creek; Pastor, St. Francis de Sales, Schoolcraft; Teacher, Norfolk Catholic High School\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e2002-2004: Director, Rural Diaconate Program\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e2002-2007: Pastor, St. Rose of Lima, Hooper; Pastor, St. Lawrence, Scribner\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e2007-2011: Pastor, St. Joseph, Walt Hill; St. Augustine, Winnebago; Our Lady of Fatima, Macy; St. Cornelius, Homer; Associate Director of the St. Augustine Indian Mission\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e2011-2018: Pastor, St. Pius X, Omaha, NE\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e2018-2022: Servant Minister, Archdiocese of Omaha\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e2020-2022: Executive Director, Catholic Charities Omaha\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e2022-Present: Pastor, St. Wenceslaus, Omaha\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e","summary":"In the first episode of the St. Wenceslaus Podcast, co-hosts Olivier Coutant and Emily Barker welcome pastor Fr. Mike Eckley and explain the podcast’s goal of sharing parishioners’ stories to foster connection in a large parish. Fr. Mike recounts 35 years of priestly assignments alongside teaching and coaching, and how classroom experience shaped his preaching. He shares his vocation rooted in a lifelong draw to the Eucharist, including signing up for a weekly holy hour in the middle of the night as a teenager and receiving affirmation of his vocation in seminary. He describes a moment of experiencing the physical presence of Jesus when exhausted from priestly ministry, and a powerful Mass celebrated at the tomb of Jesus in the Holy Land.","date_published":"2026-06-05T00:00:00.000-05:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/cd4d0139-2d36-4c1b-ac5a-b1bdb1d19a77/3bf02287-3323-43a9-a70e-ba8343b7915c.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mpeg","size_in_bytes":26352015,"duration_in_seconds":1646}]}]}