app02 Sat, 20 Jun 2026 08:30:12 +0000 Fireside (https://fireside.fm) The St. Wenceslaus Podcast - Episodes Tagged with “Baptism” https://stwenceslaus.fireside.fm/tags/baptism Fri, 19 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0500 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. en-us episodic Where Jesus is Encountered, Proclaimed, & Shared St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church 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. no catholic, catholic church, parish, nebraska, omaha, jesus, christ, jesus christ, christian, christianity, catholicism St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church communications@stwenceslaus.org Welcome Home, Erica https://stwenceslaus.fireside.fm/2 8b183912-0a5b-41c4-873c-8b0ef353e287 Fri, 19 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0500 St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church full St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church 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. 25:26 no <p>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. </p> <p>Now, 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. </p> catholic, baptism, christian, conversion, eucharist, youth, confirmation, sacrament, faith 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.

Now, 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.

]]> 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.

Now, 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.

]]> When the Mass took Fr. Mike's Breath Away https://stwenceslaus.fireside.fm/1 3bf02287-3323-43a9-a70e-ba8343b7915c Fri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0500 St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church full St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church 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. 27:26 no <p>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. </p> <p><strong>Fr. Mike's Pastoral Assignments</strong></p> <ul> <li>1991: Priestly Ordination</li> <li>1991-1993: Associate Pastor, St. Mary's, West Point; Teacher, West Point Central Catholic</li> <li>1993-1994: Associate Pastor, St. Bernadette, Bellevue, NE</li> <li>1994-1997: Associate Pastor, St. Patrick, Fremont; Teacher, Fremont Bergan High School</li> <li>1997-2002: Pastor, St. Patrick, Battle Creek; Pastor, St. Francis de Sales, Schoolcraft; Teacher, Norfolk Catholic High School</li> <li>2002-2004: Director, Rural Diaconate Program</li> <li>2002-2007: Pastor, St. Rose of Lima, Hooper; Pastor, St. Lawrence, Scribner</li> <li>2007-2011: Pastor, St. Joseph, Walt Hill; St. Augustine, Winnebago; Our Lady of Fatima, Macy; St. Cornelius, Homer; Associate Director of the St. Augustine Indian Mission</li> <li>2011-2018: Pastor, St. Pius X, Omaha, NE</li> <li>2018-2022: Servant Minister, Archdiocese of Omaha</li> <li>2020-2022: Executive Director, Catholic Charities Omaha</li> <li>2022-Present: Pastor, St. Wenceslaus, Omaha </li> </ul> catholic, priesthood, priest, christian, holy land, eucharist, vocation, baptism, mass, 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.

Fr. Mike's Pastoral Assignments

  • 1991: Priestly Ordination
  • 1991-1993: Associate Pastor, St. Mary's, West Point; Teacher, West Point Central Catholic
  • 1993-1994: Associate Pastor, St. Bernadette, Bellevue, NE
  • 1994-1997: Associate Pastor, St. Patrick, Fremont; Teacher, Fremont Bergan High School
  • 1997-2002: Pastor, St. Patrick, Battle Creek; Pastor, St. Francis de Sales, Schoolcraft; Teacher, Norfolk Catholic High School
  • 2002-2004: Director, Rural Diaconate Program
  • 2002-2007: Pastor, St. Rose of Lima, Hooper; Pastor, St. Lawrence, Scribner
  • 2007-2011: Pastor, St. Joseph, Walt Hill; St. Augustine, Winnebago; Our Lady of Fatima, Macy; St. Cornelius, Homer; Associate Director of the St. Augustine Indian Mission
  • 2011-2018: Pastor, St. Pius X, Omaha, NE
  • 2018-2022: Servant Minister, Archdiocese of Omaha
  • 2020-2022: Executive Director, Catholic Charities Omaha
  • 2022-Present: Pastor, St. Wenceslaus, Omaha
]]> 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.

Fr. Mike's Pastoral Assignments

  • 1991: Priestly Ordination
  • 1991-1993: Associate Pastor, St. Mary's, West Point; Teacher, West Point Central Catholic
  • 1993-1994: Associate Pastor, St. Bernadette, Bellevue, NE
  • 1994-1997: Associate Pastor, St. Patrick, Fremont; Teacher, Fremont Bergan High School
  • 1997-2002: Pastor, St. Patrick, Battle Creek; Pastor, St. Francis de Sales, Schoolcraft; Teacher, Norfolk Catholic High School
  • 2002-2004: Director, Rural Diaconate Program
  • 2002-2007: Pastor, St. Rose of Lima, Hooper; Pastor, St. Lawrence, Scribner
  • 2007-2011: Pastor, St. Joseph, Walt Hill; St. Augustine, Winnebago; Our Lady of Fatima, Macy; St. Cornelius, Homer; Associate Director of the St. Augustine Indian Mission
  • 2011-2018: Pastor, St. Pius X, Omaha, NE
  • 2018-2022: Servant Minister, Archdiocese of Omaha
  • 2020-2022: Executive Director, Catholic Charities Omaha
  • 2022-Present: Pastor, St. Wenceslaus, Omaha
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