about four o'clock

There's been some restructuring in the Vocations Office, so the three priests work to find a new title for Fr. Drew. Then we share experiences of the beauty and joys of saying "goodbye" in priestly ministry. 

We continue our coverage of the riveting Schibi Classic baseball game.  With special guest, Vince Schibi, the patriarch of the family.

This week, in the background you can hear the crack of the bat, the ball hitting the backstop and the sounds of the crowd.  In what became a two part episode we set up the studio right behind home plate for the annual Schibi Classic; a 4th of July baseball double header where the teams are made up of the Schibi family, friends, priests and seminarians.  The three priests are a little all over the...

After messing around for most of the first half of the interview, we actually get to Fr. Clay's vocations story.  We are very professional.

The plan was to have a normal episode with Fr. Clay.  But, Fr. Garett and Fr. Chad decided to suprise the other two priests with important news.  The news (a change in assignments) is public now, but at the time, it was completely unknown.  And it kind of derailed us from other topics.  Enjoy.

Historic moment in the podcast...our very first religious sister!  Sr. Jaime Mitchell of the Franciscans of the Eucharist of Chicago.

The three priests focus this week on the role of Mass and Confession for those who are discerning a religious vocation.

This week the priests sit down with Fr. Adam Grelinger, chaplain of Newman University and second degree Nacho Master.

This week we pray with the passage of Elijah at Mount Horeb.  We also discuss the evils of chat GPT.  Come and get me AI.

The former vocations director, Fr. Mike Simone joins us today.  He was the vocations director for almost the entirety of Fr. Drew and Fr. Garett's time in seminary.  

Typically, if a man is discerning diocesan priesthood, the expectation is he will serve out his priesthood as a parish priest.  Occasionally a priest is asked to serve in a way outside the parish.  In this espisode we respond to a listener's question and discuss some non-parish assignments a diocesan priest may be called upon to do.

This week we are blessed to be joined by Fr. Mike Baldwin, assistant vicar for retired priests...assistant to the vicar for retired priests...assistant vicar to the vicar of priests specializing in retired priests?  We'll let him explain it.

A topic everyone is curious about.  Also, candy recommendations.

We are privileged to be joined this week by Fr. Joe Gile who oversees the academic curriculum for the men at the House of Formation.  He also hired Fr. Chad for his first job and began his love for reading biographies of the saints.

Every day, the three priests make a holy hour.  But what do they do in that holy hour?  How do they pray?  This week the priests of the Vocations Office share how they spend that 60 minutes before the Lord every day.  

The stirring conlcusion of the Fr. Bernie interview.  Any of the episodes could easily have been titled, Short Story Long.  Also, this is the first time ever, the final word goes longer than our outro music.  It may be the most fitting way to end this episode.  We hope you have enjoyed it as much as we did.

The saga continues.  In this thirty minute segment we travel from 1987 to 1994.  We also try to teach Fr. Drew what a word processor is.  You can hear the train coming off the rails at the end.  Enjoy.

Fr. Bernie Gorges joins us in the studio for an extended visit.  He weaves together his vocation story, the start of Totus and his history with dairy farms, Medjugorje, and adoration.  This is part 1 of a 3 part series.  It wasn't planned that way, it is just how it is.  If you know Fr. Bernie, you understand.  Enjoy--we did!

Its Holy Week!  After discussing some of their favorite memories from the Easter Triduum, the priests turn to talking about their experiences at ordinations, priest funerals, seminary visits and retreats.  

Another member of the Burns family steps into the podcast studio.  For long time listeners, we finally hear Fr. Devin's side of the story of how he told his parents he was leaving KU and going to seminary.

What was Fulton Sheen's experience right before entering seminary?  The priests read a section from Sheen's masterful work, Treasures in Clay, and discuss how it challenges them.  Plus it gets a little heated over the Beatles.

This week, one of the three newest priests of the diocese joins us to discuss his first year of priesthood and red headed saints (spolier alert--we don't know any).

Is this a sign I should join seminary?  Is this a sign I should stay where I am?  What about this sign?  Is everything a sign!?  There is a danger in what we might call 'hyper-focused discernment.'  Discernment is not meant to be a detective's game.  This week the priests discuss discerning from a calm and trusting heart.

Another priest of the chancery stops by today.  Fr. Brian Nelson is pastor of St. Mark Parish, Judicial Vicar and Chancellor.  It took a lot of arm twisting to get him to share his vocaiton story.  But in the end we were victorious.