Episode 060 – Families, Faith, and the Field: Parish Ministry with Scott Osterle

In this episode of The Church Podcast, Christopher sits down with Scott Osterle, Parish Engagement Specialist at Enkindle Catholic, through the NFCYM Podcast Network.

Scott brings an unconventional path to ministry — twenty years in the family construction business, followed by a surprise invitation from his pastor that launched him into parish life as a pastoral associate, part-time business manager, and facilities director all at once. That on-the-ground experience now shapes how he helps parishes and dioceses rethink family ministry from the inside out.

Together, Christopher and Scott explore what it really means to accompany families as a parish, why programs alone can never make disciples, and how the same things that draw families to youth sports — community, shared experience, skill development, and belonging — are exactly what the Church is called to provide. They also dig into the critical role of seniors as an untapped missionary resource, the difference between compliance and conversion, and why building a team before building a program is the key to sustainable ministry.

In This Episode

• Scott's unlikely road to ministry — from a high school conversion and worship band to twenty years in construction — and how his father-in-law taught him to see every job as the Lord's work
• How a single conversation with his pastor launched Scott into parish life overnight, and what he learned when his role quietly expanded to cover three jobs at once
• Enkindle Catholic's core question: why do families who did everything the Church asked still walk away from the faith as adults — and what parishes can actually do about it
• The difference between dirt and soil — and why information without accompaniment will never produce transformation in the people we're trying to reach
• Why the same four things families hunger for in youth sports (community, shared experience, skill growth, and belonging) are precisely what the Church is designed to offer
• Retirees as the most underutilized missionary resource in every parish — and why investing in seniors first can multiply a ministry team's reach and effectiveness
• The problem with consumeristic parish metrics — why leading with Mass attendance numbers and offertory can reinforce a transactional culture rather than a culture of belonging
• How parishes can measure what actually matters: a shift from obligation to belonging, volunteers who think like missionaries, and a culture of storytelling where families share their faith with one another

About Scott Osterle

Scott Osterle is a Parish Engagement Specialist at Enkindle Catholic, where he helps parishes and dioceses reorient their ministry around the family as the primary unit of discipleship. Before entering parish ministry, Scott spent twenty years running a family construction business, an experience that deeply formed his understanding of servant leadership and missionary witness. He is a husband, father of five, and a passionate advocate for intergenerational, accompaniment-based ministry that moves people from transactions to transformation.

Resources Mentioned

• Enkindle Catholic
• Episode 016 Transforming Family Ministry with Kristen Fisher
• The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown

Connect with Scott

• Website: enkindlecatholic.org

ELEVATE YOUR PODCAST EXPERIENCE

The Church Podcast is a proud member of the NFCYM Podcast Network https://nfcym.org/podcastnetwork/. Check out some of our other shows like the Accompany Podcast and the Ydisciple Podcast.

Elevate your podcast experience and support our mission to do church better. Visit thechurchpodcast.org and join our community of dedicated listeners.

Recorded on Riverside - HERE

A Little From Our Sponsors

Ministry2GO: What if training your team was as simple as clicking a button? Now with Ministry2GO you'll be able to easily download templates, training videos and resources to help your team grow. Use promo code M2GOPOD for $10 off the annual price. Learn more HERE

SHOP SOCK RELIGIOUS: Evangelize with funny Catholic shirts and epic saint socks that you can buy at sockreligious.com. Use CHURCHPOD and get 10% off your purchase.

GET CUSTOM GEAR for your next ministry event from our partner 4 Marks Printing. They make ministry and evangelization easier! Visit 4marksprinting.com/churchpod for more.

MYM MERCH: Show off some humor and what you do with awesome t-shirts from Marathon Youth Ministry's Store. Visit HERE to see what we have.

YDISCIPLE: Get access to an array of resources for middle and high school students that will help them grow in faith and put it into action. Learn more HERE