In the Gospel, Jesus fed 5,000 with only five loaves and two fish. After the crowd was satisfied, there were 12 wicker baskets left over. God provides the abundance. In each episode of this podcast, we will explore, with pastoral leaders and development professionals, all the many ways God meets the spiritual and temporal needs of our parish communities, our Catholic schools and the diocesan church. And not only meets those needs but provides in abundance.
Subscribe: Apple Podcast | Spotify | Google | Stitcher | iHeartRadio | Amazon Music
THE LATEST EPISODE
EPISODE 39: Innovative Evangelization
Mark Hart, Chief Innovation Officer, Life Teen International
As the Church entered a celebration of the Jubilee of Teenagers this week, Twelve Wicker Baskets takes time with Mark Hart, the Chief Innovation Officer at Life Teen International, a Catholic youth ministry active in nearly 2,000 parishes worldwide. Mark shares his personal journey from a “typical” Catholic upbringing to a life-changing encounter with Christ during high school, thanks to the Life Teen movement. That experience sparked his lifelong passion for walking with teens, helping them discover the joy of faith through real relationships, vibrant community and Scripture that speaks to their lives today.
Throughout the conversation, Mark emphasizes that reaching today’s teens takes more than just good intentions—it takes authenticity, creativity, and a deep trust in God’s work. He points out that many teens today are overwhelmed by loneliness and anxiety, and what they really need is connection, not just another class or program. “We need to waste time with teenagers,” he says. “Sit with them, enter into their world, and when the time is right, that’s when the real conversations about faith can happen.” Mark challenges parishes to rethink what success looks like, lead with joy, and above all, prioritize the salvation of souls over simply maintaining the status quo.
Guest: Mark Hart
Title: Chief Innovation Officer, Life Teen International
Follow us on social media: Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn | Instagram
To contact the podcast, email twb@steiergroup.com.
ABOUT THE HOST, CHRISTOPHER BEAUDET
President of Diocesan Engagement for the Steier Group
Twelve Wicker Baskets host Christopher Beaudet hails from Massena, New York. He obtained a B.A. in History and Philosophy at the University of Notre Dame; a Master of Divinity and an M.A. in Dogmatic Theology from the University of Saint Thomas (Saint Paul, MN); a License (J.C.L.) and Doctorate in Canon Law (J.C.D.) from the Catholic University of America; and an M.A. in History from Boston College. Previously, Christopher served as Vice Rector for Administration at the Saint Paul Seminary School of Divinity of the University of Saint Thomas in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Chiefly responsible for engaging the hierarchy and diocesan leaders across the United States and Canada to address fundraising needs, Christopher gains familiarity with the unique pastoral context of each diocesan Church, assists in identifying and defining their funding needs, and then orchestrates the Steier Group’s design and implementation of planning studies and capital campaigns to address them.
