October 2026

Host Dr. Brian Reynolds, Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Louisville, welcomes John Knowles, Executive Director of the Diocesan Fiscal Management Conference, and Shirley Pajanor, Chief Financial Officer for the Diocese of San Diego. In this episode, recorded on location at the Omni Hotel at the Diocesan Fiscal Management Conference (DFMC), we discussed the purpose of the conference and how Catholic financial leaders benefit from the experience, professionally and spiritually.

New episodes of What's New in ArchLou will be available on the first Tuesday of each month here.

Melissa Herberger has served as the Coordinator for Annual Giving and Stewardship for the Archdiocese of Louisville since August 2020. She and her husband, Dan, have two adult children and are members of St. Stephen Martyr parish.

By Melissa Herberger

A thriving parish is more than a place where people attend Mass. It is a community where people feel welcomed, known, valued, and connected. It is a place where parishioners recognize that they are not simply recipients of the Church’s ministry – they are an important part of its mission.

For many parishes, increasing parishioner engagement can feel like a difficult challenge. How do we encourage more people to participate? How do we reach families who rarely attend parish activities? How do we get our school families more engaged with parish life? How do we invite people to become more involved without making them feel pressured?

The answer begins with something simple: belonging.

People are more likely to participate when they feel they are part of something meaningful. Before we can ask parishioners to volunteer, serve or give, we need to help them understand that there is a place for them within the parish community.

It Starts with the Welcome

A parishioner’s experience of engagement begins long before they sign up for a ministry. It begins the moment they walk through the doors.

Hospitality should be more than a greeting at the entrance. It should be woven throughout parish life. Hospitality should be a focal point for parish leaders. Engagement begins with belonging. Do people know where to go? Do they have opportunities to meet others? Are new parishioners personally welcomed? Do families with children feel comfortable and supported? Do parish communications make people feel invited rather than simply informed?

A warm welcome can be the first step toward...Read More

The Louisville Catholic Youth Conference (LCYC 2027) is coming, and we want you to be part of it! This February, hundreds of Catholic high school students from across the Archdiocese of Louisville will gather for a weekend of faith, friendship, worship, and a life-changing encounter with Jesus, The One who knows them, loves them, and calls them to follow Him. We want to get as many of our high school-aged teens to this amazing conference. If your teen wants to attend, please contact your Parish Youth Minister or their Catholic School. Take a moment to watch our new LCYC 2027 promotional video and catch a glimpse of what God is already beginning to build through this new conference.

LCYC is more than an event; it is an investment in the next generation of the Church. Businesses, Catholic organizations, ministries, and community partners are invited to join us as sponsors or vendors. Your support helps make this experience possible while giving you an opportunity to connect with Catholic young people, families, parishes, schools, and ministry leaders from across the Archdiocese. Come be part of something new and help us invest in the young Church! Visit archlou.org/lcyc to learn more about sponsorship and vendor opportunities.