Money. Alcohol. Even Husker football. Plenty of things compete for people's worship, but the Church needs to help redirect and invite people into the only discipleship that gives life: Jesus.

Jake Olson is in the trenches of that work as one of 49 new evangelization coordinators in the Archdiocese of Omaha. With his pastor, Father James Keiter, and other leaders in their family of parishes in Knox, Antelope and Cedar counties, Olson is making connections to enrich adult faith formation in ways that help share the Gospel.

The archdiocese's Parish Support Team has been busy training even more evangelization coordinators over the past year.

This training, along with continued guidance, workshops and resources provide inspiration and direction on how parishes, programs and groups can work together to bring people deeper into a relationship with Jesus.

It's not easy and there's not always a playbook. However, meetings, brainstorming with peers, prayer and trust in Jesus help focus this effort.

Olson is grateful for this collaborative work, which impacts lives in this faith-filled corner of northeast Nebraska. Small groups continue to form. Monthly fellowship events held off church grounds over BBQ or a local craft brew have drawn crowds. The testimony at one event led a man back to weekly Mass for the first time in nearly a decade.

Jesus has commissioned us each to share His Good News by building relationships and sharing how He has worked in our lives. Leaning into this call and with the grace of the Holy Spirit, holy families are being built and renewed.

Growing up, Deacon George Butterfield had never spent time with sick or dying people. so the prospect of doing so made him uneasy. His perspective changed when he volunteered at a retirement center in college. There, he witnessed the residents' humanity and realized how much they had to offer.

As the director of pastoral care at New Cassel Retirement Center in Omaha and a staff chaplain at University of Nebraska Medical Center, Deacon Butterfield continues to treasure the time he spends with the elderly, soaking in their joy and faithfulness.

Along with his fellow deacons. priests and approximately 4,000 Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion throughout the archdiocese, Deacon Butterfield brings the Body of Christ to those unable to attend Mass. He visits the sick and homebound, tending to their physical and spiritual needs and listening to their unique stories.

Deacon Butterfield also arranges for priests to hear confessions, celebrate Mass and administer the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. On any given day. you will find him singing hymns with residents or leading a Bible study.

This year, a new diaconate class begins its formation program. As deacons, these men will go out to minister to the sick and the dying. Deacon Butterfield believes they will discover what he has. that despite physical and mental limitations, "the elderly are strong, and have a keen understanding of what is most important in life: Jesus Christ in the Eucharist."

And although many of them are facing death, they are exceptionally joyful and not at all fearful.

"I don't see the need for fluffy stuff to make them feel better," he said. "These are people who come to Mass every day and receive'the sacraments. Being afraid of death? That doesn't even
register with them."