Chris Bartlett
Co-Host of The Catholic Dad Show
Hometown: Round Rock, TX
Ministry at Ablaze: Director of Leadership Formation
Education:
MA Theology, St. Mary University-San Antonio
BA Theology with Religious Education Concentration, Franciscan University of Steubenville
BA Business, Marketing, Franciscan University of Steubenville
Ministry Background: It was the spring of my 8th-grade year on a retreat where my relationship with Christ and His Church became personal and real. Since that time, God has been gently calling my gifts into ministry. I served on retreat teams in High School & College and was blessed by an amazing internship in youth ministry. After graduation, I was hired as the Director of Youth Ministry at St. Thomas Aquinas in College Station. It was an amazing season of growth. In 2008, I become the Director of Youth, Young Adult, and Campus Ministry at the Diocese of Austin. This is where ministry leadership became a professional passion. In 2011, I returned to parish ministry as the Director of Youth Ministry at St. William Catholic Church in Round Rock and have been there since.
Passion & Interests: I delight in my family and love playing with my kids. I enjoy guitar, soccer, and Monday Night Game Night (ask me about it). I’m a bit of a nerd and my board game collection continues to grow.
How did you become involved with Ablaze? Next Level Ministry was founded along the way as the desire to share the vision of ministry broadened beyond my parish position. I see so many ministry leaders suffering and some leaving the church. This had to change. Next Level Ministry has been building ministry leaders and fostering excellence throughout the country for over 6 years! Next Level encountered Ablaze a couple of years after it’s founding. Ablaze desired to pour more intentionally into ministry leaders and choose to partner, not compete. This partnership has grown into the 360 approach of Youth Ministry that makes Ablaze Ministries so successful. I am humbled and honored to stand with the amazing ministry leaders in the Ablaze Ministries family.
Favorite Quotes and Verses:
The Hemorrhaging Woman (Mark’s account) and the Road to Emmaus in Luke can rock my spiritual world.
“Apathy is a bigger threat to the church today than heresy” – Chris Bartlett
Chris Bartlett has hosted 59 Episodes.
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How to Prepare My Kids for Sacraments
May 4th, 2023 | 30 mins 27 secs
baptism, catholic, catholic dad, dad, dad podcast, father, fatherhood, fatherhood podcast, first communion, sacramental prep
This episode dives into moving your child through the process of sacremental formation. Matt and Chris discuss how the full process works, some obstancles that you might face along the way and how to overcome them. This episode also talks about the do's and don'ts of choosing Godparents and Confirmation sponsors.
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In Over Your Head
April 17th, 2023 | 30 mins 55 secs
busyness, catholic, catholic dad, chris bartlett, dad, dad podcast, father, fatherhood, fatherhood podcast, matt rice
Matt & Chris talk about the times where we're exhausted, over-committed and simply in over our heads. How do we get out? How do we avoid them in the future? The guys both share about times that they have been in this scenario, how it effected their ministry, family and spiritual life & their reflections on what could have gone better.
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Should I send my kids to Catholic School?
March 30th, 2023 | 39 mins 29 secs
catholic, catholic dad, catholic parents, catholic school, dad, dad podcast, faith formation, father, fatherhood, fatherhood podcast, home school, public school
The age old question: Catholic school, public school or home school. In this episode, Matt and Chris ponder what the benefits may be of sending your kids to Catholic schools in regards to their faith formation. They also discuss how you should approach your kid's faith formation based on which schooling option you choose.
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Kids at Mass: 5 Essentials for Catholic Fathers
March 16th, 2023 | 35 mins 26 secs
catholic, catholic dad, catholic mass, catholic parenting, dad, dad podcast, father, fatherhood, fatherhood podcast
Matt and Chris talk about the steps parents take to compel our children to behave in Mass. They discuss tactics that they have used to help their own kids focus in Mass and not be a distraction to others.
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How to Fast for Catholics (and also how NOT to fast)
March 2nd, 2023 | 30 mins 58 secs
catholic, catholic dad, dad, dad podcast, fasting, father, fatherhood, fatherhood podcast, lent
In the first episode of Lent, Chris and Matt talk about how fasting can help in the spiritual life by taking the responsibility away from the physical body and putting the spiritual soul back in charge. They discuss some of the health & spiritual benefits of the practice and how fasting can be used in many different avenues in life to grow closer to God & the people you love.
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Knights of the Cross w/Stephen Roberts
February 16th, 2023 | 31 mins 48 secs
catholic, catholic dad, dad, dad podcast, father, fatherhood, fatherhood podcast, knights of the cross, medieval catholicism, medieval times, stephen roberts
In this episode, Matt and Chris sit down with Stephen Roberts who is a leading member of the production of "Knights of the Cross". They talk about the show and discuss the importance of displaying the true history of Catholicism within medieval times. They also discuss the ways that the mindset of medieval Catholics can apply to whatever our "crusade" may be today.
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The Competitive Conundrum
February 2nd, 2023 | 31 mins 34 secs
catholic, catholic dad, dad, dad podcast, faith, father, fatherhood, fatherhood podcast, parenting, sports, sports and faith
Matt and Chris discuss how to foster your children's talents through life and faith. Children will have a wide range of interests with school, church, sports and other activities. The conundrum lies in the moments where you have to prioritize & make a choice between faith obligations and other things going on simultaneously.
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Getting Spiritually Unified
January 19th, 2023 | 32 mins 25 secs
catholic, catholic dad, dad, dad podcast, father, fatherhood, fatherhood podcast, marriage, spirituality
In this episode, Matt and Chris explore the many opportunities that exist within relationship, specifically marriage, to work together as spouses and grow together in faith. They discuss how these activities are actually a way to stay spiritually connected to each other and on the same page with the other's faith journey.
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Dad on an Empty Tank
January 5th, 2023 | 27 mins 21 secs
catholic, catholic dad, dad, dad podcast, father, fatherhood, fatherhood podcast, parenting, parenting tips
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3 Books You Should Be Reading to Your Kids
December 8th, 2022 | 29 mins 54 secs
books, catholic, catholic dad, dad, dad podcast, father, fatherhood, fatherhood podcast, kids books, matt meeks, reading to kids
Chris & Matt are joined by Matt Meeks to discuss the 3 books you absolutely need to be reading to your kids!
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5 Gifts dads can give their kids for Christmas that don’t cost a dime
November 24th, 2022 | 27 mins 48 secs
catholic, catholic dad, christmas, christmas gifts, dad, dad podcast, father, fatherhood, fatherhood podcast
Chris and Matt have some fun (and one potentially dangerous) gift you can give your kids for Christmas this year! And the best part is...it won't cost you a dime! This way your kids AND you can enjoy Christmas morning :)
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The Catholic Dad Handbook w/J.P. Quinn
November 10th, 2022 | 30 mins 23 secs
catholic, catholic dad, dad, dad podcast, father, fatherhood, fatherhood podcast, j.p. quinn, new parents
Rocket scientist and friend of the show J.P. Quinn returns to the show to share some things he's learned as a young father. He has two kids under 3 and came in to parenting with all these lofty ideas and was hit with reality like all of us parents are. He, Chris and Matt discuss how they have adapted their parenting over the years and learned how to be a parent to each of their kids particularly.
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Allowing Failure
October 27th, 2022 | 32 mins 6 secs
catholic, catholic dad, dad, dad podcast, failing, father, fatherhood, fatherhood podcast, parenting, parenting fails, parenting failure
We all want our children to succeed. So should we let them fail? How do we find the balance between protecting them and allowing them to grow from failure? Matt and Chris have the answers.
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Wives Spirituality
October 13th, 2022 | 28 mins 34 secs
catholic, catholic dad, couples, dad, dad podcast, father, fatherhood, fatherhood podcast, marriage, spouse
In this episode, Chris and Matt discuss the role that husbands play in their wives faith formation. They provide critical advice on how to approach the subject of faith within a marriage and how both spouses can work together to ensure they are walking together with Christ.
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Virtues & Vices | Anger
September 29th, 2022 | 32 mins 16 secs
anger, anger issues, anger management, catholic, catholic dad, dad, dad podcast, father, fatherhood, fatherhood podcast, parenting
Chris & Matt kick off their virtues and vices series with a conversation about dealing with anger as a parent. Let's be honest, we've all gotten angry with our kids. How do we handle that? What are some of the tips and tricks to aid us? Chris and Matt have the answers :)
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Milestone to Manhood Part 2 w/Stephen & David Arms
September 15th, 2022 | 36 mins 12 secs
catholic, catholic dad, dad, dad podcast, david arms, father, fatherhood, fatherhood podcast, manhood, milestone to manhood, stephen arms
This week they are rejoined by Stephen Arms and welcome his dad and co-author to the show, David. They dive further into the topic and David gets to shed his light as the father who led Stephen through his own rite of passage.