Other Studies and Data with Hans Plate, Josh Packard, and Fr. Joe Gibino

Quick Summary

In this insightful episode of Religion to Reality, hosts Dave Plisky and Fr. John Gribowich step back from theory to examine the hard data behind Catholic discipleship and faith formation. They explore surprising findings from their comprehensive discipleship study and discuss what the numbers reveal about modern spiritual practices, evangelization comfort levels, and the changing landscape of faith in America.

Featuring interviews with three leading voices in faith research, Hans Plate (Vinea Research), Josh Packard (Future of Faith), and Fr. Joseph Gibino (Diocese of Brooklyn), this episode bridges the gap between data and pastoral practice. Discover what Gen Z really thinks about God, why 100% of people with spiritual directors found them through a spiritual community to which they already belong, and how the Synod on Synodality is reshaping the Church’s approach to listening.

Key Takeaway: Data isn’t just for businesses—it’s essential for understanding how to meet people where they are in their faith journey and creating meaningful pathways to deeper discipleship.

In This Episode, We Explore:

[00:00:00] Opening Reflection

• “Listen and silent share the same letters” – the importance of silence in listening

[00:01:00] Why Data Matters for the Church

• How businesses use data to serve customers
• Applying data-driven insights to church ministry
• Understanding where people stand in their faith journey

[00:02:00] Surprising Study Findings

• Both physical and digital prayer aids are used across all generations (only 6% use exclusively one type)
• 100% of people with spiritual directors found them through their parish or faith community
• Prayer apps correlate with increased prayer frequency
• The challenge of measuring interior spiritual life

[00:04:00] The Omnichannel Approach to Faith

• Why multiple touchpoints matter in spiritual formation
• The integrated life as the ultimate goal
• Different seasons require different spiritual resources

[00:06:00] Interview with Hans Plate (Vinea Research)

• Majority of respondents pray over an hour daily
• 76% are comfortable evangelizing; 56% are proactive about it
• High interest in learning more about evangelization
• The need to understand what “evangelization” actually means to people

[00:09:00] Rethinking Evangelization

• Moving beyond agenda-driven approaches
• The importance of relationship before proclamation
• Why “evangelizing always, using words when necessary” isn’t quite right
• Catholics as “human billboards” for the faith

[00:13:00] The Mormon Example

• Comparing Catholic and LDS approaches to living faith
• The disconnect between Catholic doctrine and lived witness
• Why both credible beliefs AND compelling witness are necessary

[00:15:00] The Lived Gospel

• Authentic joy as the most compelling gospel message
• Head vs. heart approaches to faith
• Everyone is on a journey—meeting people where they are

[00:17:00] Interview with Josh Packard (Future of Faith)

• Understanding Gen Z’s diverse images of God
• Moving beyond “Moralistic Therapeutic Deism”
• The problem with trying to capture the most diverse generation with three words

[00:22:00] “Young People Aren’t Leaving—Their Parents Already Did”

• Reframing the conversation around disaffiliation
• Over half of Josh’s sociology students had never been in a house of worship
• The Church is decades behind on this trend
• What it’s like to walk into a church for the first time with no frame of reference

[00:25:00] A Golden Opportunity

• Creating faith formation from scratch for spiritually seeking people
• Why we can’t just replicate mid-20th century approaches
• Meeting real needs vs. perceived needs
• The Eucharist as a real need that isn’t a perceived need

[00:28:00] The Power of Lived Example

• Why liturgy alone won’t draw everyone in
• Starting from scratch as a blessing (less baggage from scandals)
• The shift from guilt-based faith to other motivations

[00:31:00] Interview with Fr. Joe Gibino (Diocese of Brooklyn)

• Bishop Brennan’s genuine listening throughout the Synod process
• The challenge of getting people to silence themselves to truly listen
• “Listen and silent share the same letters”
• The fruits of good listening: hearing the Holy Spirit’s “gentle whispering breeze”

[00:36:00] The Synod’s Impact on Parish Identity

• Shifting from parish-specific identity to neighborhood Catholic community
• Moving from “we’ve always done it this way” to collaborative faith formation
• The role of family ministry in uniting neighborhoods

[00:39:00] Synod vs. Discipleship Study

• Similar themes: formation, youth focus, better communication
• Both heard from mass-attending Catholics about unmet needs
• The challenges and controversies surrounding the Synod

[00:41:00] Addressing Both Sides

• To traditionalists: listening is valuable; doctrine develops over time
• To progressives: seemingly small changes are actually big strides
• Comparing Vatican I’s “anathema” tone to Vatican II’s pastoral approach
• The Synod as Vatican II’s continuation 60 years later

[00:47:00] Trusting in God’s Love

• Taking risks while being present to those affected
• The impossibility of God’s love collapsing through this process

Meet Our Guests 

Hans Plate – Founder & President, Vinea Research. Hans partnered with Religion to Reality to conduct the discipleship study. He also runs Pensari, a healthcare research company, and brings extensive expertise in understanding highly engaged Catholics.

Josh Packard – Co-founder, Future of Faith. Formerly the Director of Spring Tide Institute for Research, Josh provides custom research for faith communities and offers crucial insights into Gen Z’s relationship with faith and spirituality.

Father Joseph Gibino – Vicar of Evangelization, Diocese of Brooklyn, Pastor of St. Charles Borromeo Church. Father Joe led diocesan-level Synod on Synodality efforts and champions family-centered faith formation.

Notable Quotes

“Listen and silent share the same letters, and if we haven’t silenced ourselves, then we can’t listen.” – Father Joe Gibino

“The most compelling gospel is the one that’s lived.” – Father John Gribowich

“Young people are not leaving the church. Their parents are. In many cases, their parents left the church.” – Josh Packard

“We as Catholics are always directly and indirectly advertising our faith—we are human billboards.” – Hans Plate (quoting Matthew Kelly)

“What could possibly happen in this whole process that’s going to lead to the utter collapse of God’s love? It’s just impossible.” – Father John Gribowich

Resources Mentioned

• Vinea Research: vinearesearch.com
• Future of Faith: futureoffaith.org
• Synod on Synodality Resources: https://www.synod.va/en.html
• Religion to Reality Website: religiontoreality.org
• Called Learning Community: calledcommunity.com – Join Father John Gribowich’s free online gatherings

Next Episode Preview 

Join us for the season finale as Dave and Fr. John tie everything together and explore how to truly live an integrated life. Don’t miss this culminating conversation that brings together all the insights from Season 1!

Connect With Us

• Visit religiontoreality.org
• Join the Called Learning Community: calledcommunity.com

Learn More About the Discipleship Study: Religion to Reality is built on comprehensive research into how Catholics are living their faith today. Visit our website for more details and resources from the study.

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