Episode 178: Measuring Faith: How Data and Devotion Are Revitalizing Sacred Heart Parish

What does it take to build a thriving, faith-filled parish? In this episode, I sit down with Father Jamie Zarse, pastor at Sacred Heart Parish in Shawnee, Kansas, to unpack his vision for renewing his parish—starting with a team of prayer warriors and leaders—and the spiritual habits that are transforming his community. From deeper devotion to the Eucharist and the Rosary to more frequent confession and scripture-based prayer, these simple yet powerful practices are sparking real change. Mass attendance is up by 18%, generosity is growing with an additional $408,000 in tithing, and parishioners are coming alive in their faith. Father Jamie also reveals why measuring spiritual progress and forming strong leadership teams are key to sustaining this momentum. He shares how his leadership team, a mix of staff and dedicated volunteers, meets weekly to ensure they are always working on the most important things. They even use innovative tools like QR code surveys during Mass to track engagement in key spiritual habits. Whether you're a parish leader or just passionate about seeing your faith community flourish, this episode is packed with wisdom you won’t want to miss. Discover how Father Jamie's approach has led to a significant increase in OCIA participants and the success of marriage enrichment programs that have saved marriages and strengthened families. Give it a listen and let us know—what’s one habit or leadership insight that stood out to you? [05:12] Building a Team of Prayer Warriors [10:14] Leadership and Vision Development [18:37] Measuring Parish Engagement [23:30] Accountability and Evangelization [28:42] Building a Healthy Leadership Team [37:32] Leveraging Business Practices in Parish Management [44:20] Personal and Professional Rule of Life Check out Fr. Jamie’s parish, Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church (https://www.shoj.org/). For more practical advice and experiences from real people sharing their mission with the world, go to https://equip.archomaha.org/podcast/. A Production of the Archdiocese of Omaha Editor: Taylor Schroll (ForteCatholic.com)