Father and Dad

Steven was recently installed to the ministry of Lector.     This comprises one more step along the path towards ordination. Steven is now in his 4th year of his 6 year path.     We discuss the differences between the 8 year path, in which a seminarian's 4 years of college work towards the end goal, and the 6 year path in which a seminarian begins his path after college, first studying 2 year...

Steven had a long weekend and used the chance to visit the home of a fellow seminarian.     This reminded Dad of a concern he and Steven’s Mom had that the priesthood would be a lonely life.    Just the opposite has been shown to be true.    This is not a solitary life.     At the start of his discernment, Steven shared these concerns as well.   He wondered if the life of priesthood would be lonel...

It's time for a check in with Steven and his discernment process and how it has matured. First, we define what discernment is and what it isn’t. Discernment is a process.   Steven speaks to his discernment process during college and his wish for a ‘St. Paul Moment’.     It never (or hasn’t yet) came. We discuss some of the touch points and challenges along Steven’s path of discernment.    A l...

We welcome Steven back to the World of the Talking after completing a 30 day silent retreat.     Based on the exercise of St. Ignatius, the participant goes through the Life of Christ. Moving forward from the retreat Steven gained a new sense of life to the scriptures. Second year of Seminary at Sacred Heart is set to begin.    We discuss the upcoming class schedule. Finally we talk about how disc...

What do Seminarians do during the Summer?    This is Steven’s 4th Summer while being a seminarian and we review all 4 Summers. During Steven’s first Summer, he participated in Totus Tuus - a traveling Vacation Bible School. The next Summer Steven spent the Summer in a local parish, living at the rectory.   This provided a picture of the life of a parish priest from the inside. Last year was “Covid...

The Bishop announced today that the universal dispensation from attending mass on Sunday and holy days is being lifted.     It's time to get back to mass! It's time for the 'smells and bells' of church.    Time to be physically present. Steven recalls his time as an altar server offered an intimate look at the mass and the eucharist.      Even before he was an altar server he s...

As Steven wraps up the school year, ordination is 3 years away.    This brings up the questions; What is a Priest? and the more important question is; Who is the Priest? What then, is the role of the Laity?    We all have a Universal Call to Holiness. Jesus has atoned for our sins, but this desires a response from us.      This response flows from the understanding that we have been rescued.     ...

A blessing of the age in which we live in is our access to scripture.    This can be seen as a fulfillment of Vatican II which calls for bringing the sacred scriptures into the hands of the people. We have a wide array of materials available to us now.     In particular, for Lent we discuss two items, an online Bible Study and a TV Series (The Chosen). We discuss Creative Prayer.   St. Ignatius te...

Steven and Dad reflect on childhood thoughts of Lent.     The season seemed negative and an empty desert. Now, as adults, we welcome this time.   We discuss the three Pillars of Lent; Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving.     Using Spring Training as a metaphor, Lent can be an opportunity to focus on working on issues that need improvement. Embrace the communal aspect of Lent as the whole Church encount...

Pope Francis declared 2021 to be the Year of St. Joseph and Steven's rector at Sacred Heart Major Seminary is devoting a series of his monthly lectures to this topic. Steven and Dad review Pope Francis's Apostolic Letter “Patris corde”.   We discuss how St. Joseph serves as a model of the virtue of Obedience. As a 'man in the shadows' St. Joseph serves as an unsung hero who is...

Home for Christmas, Steven spends time in a new rectory during the break.    We discuss their daily routines.     We discuss daily requirements of priests.   Steven breaks open his breviary as we review the Liturgy of the Hours.

We discuss our childhood introduction to the Rosary and our adult rediscovery.   We share our perspectives on how we pray and the fruits we find. Overcoming the fear of saying it wrong and how sometimes it can be a struggle. The Rosary is a prayer that puts us in the place to be found by Mary.     We discuss the special place of Mary for priests.    Before Jesus began his public ministry, he was f...

How do we get through tough times?  Faith, Hope and Charity - the Theological Virtues - offer a wellspring of prayer. Faith: There is a strong desire to be with other people.    We are not made to be alone.    Being together means being vulnerable.   The fundamental principle of Faith is one of Relationship. Hope: The early church provides a powerful example of Hope.   Their hope was the saving me...

A new semester at a new Seminary - Sacred Heart in Detroit.  Once again the new kid in school.  We discuss the upcoming semester and what the rhythm of daily life is like in the seminary. The new semester brings new classes in Theology and Church history. This school year began with a one week Silent Retreat.    What was it like to be silent for a week?   What fruits did this retreat bear? 

We discuss Steven’s candidacy and what this means on his path towards the priesthood.     What does it mean to be a candidate and what impact does it have.    Thoughts on the candidacy mass.  The joy of making a commitment.  Sharing that joy with brother seminarians. Priesthood means spreading love like a flashlight, rather than a laser beam. Moving on to a new seminary; Sacred Heart in Detroit.  ...

You can't Google Life's big questions.    Opening yourself up to mystery versus being in control. Grace builds upon Nature.   We are not just spiritual, we are physical as well. It’s OK not to have all of the answers. Mystery in the family while growing up.    Opening up time to play and reflect.

In our inaugural episode we discuss the calling to the priesthood and the process of discernment.    We review the historical growth of Steven's calling. Steven talks about the challenges of publicly announcing the decision to attend the seminary and Dad offers his thoughts from a parent's perspective. We briefly discuss the tremendous opportunity that our generation promises for those c...