What happens when the interviewer becomes the guest? In this episode, Tom flips the script and sits down with Melissa to hear her story—from a “cradle Catholic” upbringing (and a surprising family connection to parish life), to an eighth-grade encounter with the Holy Spirit, to seasons of doubt, leadership lessons from Target, and the moment God pulled her back into the Church in a deeper way.
Melissa shares the full-circle threads that shaped her vocation: The Purpose Driven Life, Walking with Purpose, discovering Rebuilt, and how a simple “don’t leave your church—change your church” nudge became a turning point. You’ll also hear how COVID-era webinars connected her to Rebuilt more directly, what it was like rebuilding a parish team from the inside, and the discernment that led her from local parish leadership to serving the wider Church through Rebuilt.
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Chapters with Timestamps
- 00:01 Turning the tables: Tom interviews Melissa
- 00:06 Cold remedies: bone broth vs. raw garlic (and the “man cold”)
- 02:20 Behind the curtain: how Melissa usually prepares for interviews
- 02:46 Why this episode: hearing Melissa’s faith story
- 03:11 Growing up Catholic + Puerto Rican roots and a parish-planting surprise
- 04:07 An eighth-grade invitation to an evangelical youth group
- 05:06 Encountering the Holy Spirit + what felt different than CCD
- 07:04 “Devastated”: being told she couldn’t go back—and what she learned there
- 07:50 A stronger Catholic youth group experience in high school
- 08:16 Penn State years: faith drift, Mass inconsistency, and accessibility challenges
- 11:27 Doubts in college: The Da Vinci Code + youth minister scandal
- 12:59 Target leadership: running a $30M store at 25
- 14:04 Biggest leadership lessons: delegation, layers, accountability, follow-up
- 16:04 Anxiety, remodel season, and stepping away to start a family
- 17:49 A leap of faith: money, identity shifts, and learning to rely on God
- 20:10 Faith reignited: a faith-based company and praise & worship
- 21:10 2017 turning point: The Purpose Driven Life and “change your church”
- 22:40 Why she almost left St. Mary’s: welcome, kids ministry, and culture gaps
- 25:25 A mom’s prayers + The Word Among Us + learning Scripture
- 27:50 Pastoral Council, website rebuild, and the COVID connection to Rebuilt
- 29:42 Laying down a personal project: the faith journal “cease and desist” moment
- 33:49 Going full-time at the parish + NextGen rebuild
- 34:29 Rebuilding the parish team: culture, structure, and hard decisions
- 40:12 Lessons learned the hard way (including passwords and online giving!)
- 41:08 Discernment to join Rebuilt: “global impact” and a Holy Spirit-led opening
- 45:47 Favorite podcast guests: Rick Warren, Lisa, Jeff Cavins, partner parishes
- 47:29 Dream guests + Catholic voices she’d love to interview next
- 49:19 Wrap-up and thanks
Key Takeaways
- Faith formation isn’t just information - it’s encounter and community. Melissa’s story highlights how fellowship, real conversation, and prayer can awaken faith in a lasting way.
- Leadership skills translate—when they’re rooted in mission. Delegation, clear roles, and accountability matter in parish life, especially when rebuilding culture and team health.
- God weaves “full circle” moments over time. Books, studies, and relationships that once shaped Melissa’s faith became part of her vocational path years later.
- Renewal often requires courageous change. Sometimes that means restructuring roles, setting standards, and making hard decisions for the health of the mission.
- Discernment happens in community. Melissa shares how prayer, pastoral conversations, and timely invitations clarified her next “yes.”
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Rebuilt Parish Podcast, Melissa Wilkinson, Tom Corcoran, faith story, cradle Catholic, Catholic testimony, Holy Spirit encounter, youth ministry, Penn State Catholic, Our Lady of Victory, The Da Vinci Code faith doubts, delegation, accountability, parish staff leadership, parish renewal, Rebuilt book, Walking with Purpose, The Purpose Driven Life, Rick Warren, Jeff Cavins, Catholic discipleship, parish culture, church communications, parish website, COVID church ministry, NextGen ministry, rebuilding parish teams, discernment, vocation, Catholic leadership development, Hallow app, Jonathan Roumie, Craig Groeschel, Carey Nieuwhof
