Father and Dad

Last month we discussed how during his final semester Steven has been practicing administering the various sacraments. Over the past month Steven was able to perform several "practice" confessions with his brother seminarians.     Afterwards, Steven and his classmates were able to review each other's styles. We discuss the challenges that lay people face with the sacrament of Reconc...

With Priestly Ordination right around the corner, Steven  started his final semester at school.   This period of time is unique in that it offers the opportunity to prepare and pray through the mass and the sacraments. His "Mass Practicum" class during this final semester of formation involves practicing reciting the mass parts.    It's been an edifying experience going through this...

Steven is home for the Christmas Break.   At the beginning of the break he went shopping for a chalice. For Steven it is important to choose a chalice that reveals the beauty of what is happening during consecration.   The priests actions at the altar and the chalice gives a message.   It can serve as a catechesis. When choosing, there are guidelines for chalices.      These Guidelines can be foun...

After a quick visit home during the Thanksgiving Break, Steven is back at Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit. Steven is in the middle of a Marian Consecration that he is SHARING with several fellow seminarians.    This consecration is timed with the Feast of the Immaculate Conception on December 8th. Steven first learned about the Marian Consecration while in college and was initially resistant to t...

Architecture matters. Last weekend, while visiting Detroit-area college friends, Mom & Dad were able to attend mass where Steven serves as a deacon and got to hear him preach.    One of our friends is an adult student at Sacred Heart Seminary and so we took the opportunity to take a tour of the school. The design of Sacred Heart seminary reinforces its mission.    Contained in a single buildin...

At the end of the Summer, Steven was offered the chance to join a trip to Medugorje.    While a visit to Medugorje was not on the top of his list of places to visit, Steven happily joined. On his first evening, a group of pilgrims shared that they were witnessing the miracle of the Sun.    Steven was also blessed to be able to witness the miracle as well.    Also, at the end of his trip Steven exp...

Steven has been enjoying his Deacon assignment this Summer.    The opportunity to get more engaged with parish life has been a blessing and full of joy. One of the highlights has been preaching the homily at Sunday masses.   Unlike his first homily for which he had several months to get ready, Steven enjoys the weekly cadence of reflecting on the next week's readings while preparing a homily....

On June 3, 2023 at Holy Angels Cathedral by the power of  the Most Reverend Robert J. McClory Bishop of Gary, Steven Caraher was ordained into the order of the Diaconate. I was a beautiful day both in weather and the ceremony.    Though he did not sleep much the night before, Steven woke up full of energy. Seeing most of the priests of the diocese and many of the deacons participating in the cerem...

As Steven counts down the days until his ordination into the Transitional Diaconate, he has a couple of weeks of free time which raises the question; how do seminarians and priests spend their free time? First and foremost it is important to remember that time off is not a vacation from the vocation.    The idea is not to escape, but more so to breath fresh air and gain fresh perspective The key i...

As a Seminarian and in the future as a Priest, Steven has set himself up to be a target of temptation. When he first announced his interest in the priesthood to Fr. Mike, Steven experienced the feeling that he did something wrong.    Reflecting on that moment, Steven realized that this was a "word from the Enemy". One  avenue of attack is what St Ignatius refers to as the "false lov...

Being ordained to the diaconate is the first step towards Holy Orders.     This step involves Steven make several promises; notably one of Obedience to the Bishop and a promise of celibacy.  During the last 4 years of seminary, a seminarian goes through different evaluations.    The process of priestly formation is not just the discernment of the seminarian but it also involves a series of evaluat...

Steven recently took a trip to Washington DC to participate in the March for Life.     This was his second time participating in the march.    He found it important to be there with others, publicly witnessing. One aspect of the march was that Steven participated while wearing clerics.     The first time that Steven had ever worn clerics was the prior time Steven had participated in the March.   ...

Steven is in town for the Christmas Break.   Over the break he spoke at the local Holy Name Society and shared in a Bible class on Hebrews.    The teacher of his class authored a book of Catholic Commentary on Hebrews.  It was great that Steven could share what he had learned, but it brought up a bigger question for Dad, "How does the Bible fit it with seminary?" Steven mentioned the Fou...

Steven’s vocation has given our local community witness to the process of Discernment.    People are able to see that discernment is not instant magic.    Rather, it is a real process that involves time and work. Steven reviews several practical tools of discernment.     First off is Commitment.    You have to actively engage.    It won’t come to you, you need to work to open yourself up.     Also...

Mom and Dad visited Steven at Sacred Heart Major Seminary to witness his installation to the minor order of Acolyte.     The minor order of Acolyte marks Steven’s progression on the road to ordination.     There are many different descriptions of the minor order of Acolyte one of which is that he can officially serve at the altar. Part of Mom and Dad’s visit was a tour of Sacred Heart Major Semina...

We begin the episode reviewing Steven's daily routine at Seminary.      Each week day does follow a pattern.    Dad looked back on his college days and recalled how he would try to schedule as much activity as he could, even scheduling to do homework on Friday evenings - which never happened. We all need rest.   Even God rested on the 7th day. Steven recalls how he sought rest from sources th...

Entering his 5th year of school and with the Transitional Deaconate a year away, the risk running on autopilot is real.    With the routine of the school schedule, work must be done to stay focused. Habits are important to make this happen.  Starting with a Morning Holy Hour, before the rest of the day gets busy and while his mind is clear, Steven has found great benefits from this habit. This iss...

As Steven’s Summer 2022 assignment draws to a close, we reflect on his experiences.     During the Summer, Steven worked an internship at a local parish. Steven previously worked Summer assignments but now that he has a few years of experience he has additional perspective to appreciate and understand the work that is entailed. Parish culture plays a key role in pastoral life.    The parish where...

In this episode Steven turns the tables and interviews Dad for his perspective on being the father of a seminarian. Dad discusses what life was like before Steven declared his vocation.     He and Mom saw the calling in Steven but they gave him room to grow and mature, wanting the decision to be an organic one. At first Mom and Dad struggled supporting Steven.    We didn’t want to pressure him but...

Steven recently returned from a class trip to Italy.   Traveling with fellow seminarians, Steven’s journeys took him to several notable sites. Starting with Assisi, where Steven was able to celebrate mass at the tomb of St. Francis Steven was also able to pray at the tomb of Blessed Carlo Acutis.    These two holy men offer a flesh and blood example of living a holy life. Next stop was Florence an...

It’s springtime at the seminary and with that comes ordinations.    Five of Steven’s housemates were ordained to the transitional diaconate. One of the most common questions that Steven gets as a seminarian is, “Are you a deacon yet?”.    There are three different levels of holy orders.    The first is the level of Deacon, the second is Priest and the third is Bishop. Seeing people that he knows b...

One of the segments of formation has been weekly evangelization visits to a local college campus every week. Evangelization was something new for Steven and it was also new for most fellow seminarians.   In order to prepare them seminarians first receive training before going out in the field.    A street ministry group came to offer them advice and tools.    A big tool is to establish the relatio...

Steven is taking a class in learning how to give homilies.     It’s important that this class is given before being installed in the diaconate, when Steven may be called upon to give homilies. Speaking in public on a regular basis is a scary thing, but shouldn’t dissuade one from the seminary.    There are classes available and you will be guided in what it takes to prepare.     And remember; God...

This month we discuss Spiritual Direction.    Steven’s first encounter was when he began discerning for the priesthood he read a book that spoke of Spiritual Direction.     At its core Spiritual Direction is when you and another person who is more mature in the Faith both walk together and discuss how the Lord is working in your heart in prayer. We discuss the different phases of Spiritual Directi...

Steven was in for Christmas Break and Dad commandeered him to speak at our local Holy Name Society. Steven based his discussion on a talk that he heard about the different ages of The Church.     This talk was based on the following book;    From Christendom to Apostolic Mission: Pastoral Strategies for an Apostolic Age by Monsignor James P. Shea Christendom is the age when the institution and str...