Dcn. Wilson and Jacob discuss St. Nicholas and Advent. In this episode, the two of them talk about how advent is a time of preparation and how they prepare for the Coming of Christ on Christmas. How are you preparing for Christ's Comings?

"Jesus was born in a cave in Bethlehem because, Sacred Scripture tells us, 'there was no room for them in the inn.' I am not departing theological truth when I say that Jesus is still looking for shelter in your heart." -St. Josemaria Escriva

Deacon Wilson, Pat Wille, and Jacob discuss the final four things: death, judgment, heaven, and hell. In this episode, the group talks about how the faithful need to keep in mind the end of our earthly life and start living now what will be our eternal life. “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Mt 6:19-21). What are ways that you store up your treasure in heaven?

"There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, "Thy will be done," and those to whom God says, in the end, "Thy will be done." All that are in Hell, choose it. Without that self-choice there could be no Hell. No soul that seriously and constantly desires joy will ever miss it. Those who seek find. Those who knock it is opened." - C.S. Lewis, The Great Divorce

Note: Halloween comes from the name "All Hallows' Eve" also known as All Saints' Eve since it is the night before All Saints' Day. (Hallow means holy, in this case referring to the holy ones.)

Deacon Wilson and Jacob are joined by Pat Wille and Nick Conner to discuss the saints. In this episode, the group talks about how the Church celebrates the saints and why the Church celebrates them. The seminarians share saints that they have devotions to and how to grow closer to those who are more alive than us. Who are your favorite saints?

"Suffering is the greatest treasure on earth; it purifies the soul. In suffering, we learn who our true friend is." - Saint Maria Faustina

Jacob and Deacon Wilson discuss their summer experience in the diocese. Now, back in seminary, the two talk about what they are going to bring into their seminary formation that they learned from their summer assignments. What do you need to change or add in your life in order to grow closer in your relationship with Christ?

"To live is to change, and to be perfect is to have changed often." -St. Cdl. John Henry Newman

Jacob interviews Nic Wilson and Austin Bosse as they prepare for their diaconate ordination. They cover topics such as what the diaconate is and how they have been and are preparing for the 1st degree of Holy Orders. In what ways do you follow God's will and serve His Church?

“O Lord and Master of my life, take from me the spirit of sloth, faintheartedness, lust of power, and idle talk.

“But give rather the spirit of chastity, humility, patience and love to your servant.

“Yea, O Lord and King, grant me to see my own sin and not to judge my brother, for You are blessed from all ages to all ages. Amen” -Saint Ephrem, Deacon and Doctor

Nic, Francis, and Jacob to discuss their relationship with Mary, the Mother of Jesus. They discuss practical devotions to Mary and their favorite Marian titles. How are you growing in your relationship with your Heavenly Mother?

"We never give more honor to Jesus than when we honor his Mother, and we honor her simply and solely to honor him all the more perfectly. We go to her only as a way leading to the goal we seek - Jesus, her Son. " -Saint Louis Marie de Montfort

Nathan Hopper returns to join Nic and Jacob to discuss how they are learning more about themselves and the false idols they still have in their life through quarantine. They discuss the Church's advice for detaching themselves from these comforts. Remember to be patient with yourself in your disciplines, but how are you growing in quarantine?

"The unexamined life is not worth living" -Socrates

Nic and Jacob are joined by Francis Strong (Class of 2025) to discuss how they are continuing formation now back in the diocese at rectories and under the stay-in-place order from the government. They continue by giving advice on how this time can be fruitful as we unite our sufferings with Christ's on the Cross during these difficult times. Remember to be patient with yourself in your disciplines, but how are you going to become a saint along with those around you in this quarantine?

“They did not talk, not because they hated conversation, but because they wanted to listen intently to the voice of God in silence; they did not dislike eating, but were feeding on the Word of God so that they did not have room for earthly food or time to bother with it; they did not avoid company because it bored them, but, as one of them said, ‘I cannot be with you and with God.’34 It was not a dislike of sleep that made them keep vigil, but an eager and longing attitude of waiting for the coming of Christ:”

― Benedicta Ward, The Desert Fathers: Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

Nic, Nathan, and Jacob are joined by special guest Msgr. Michael Heintz, Academic Dean at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary, priest from Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, and was at St. Matthew's Cathedral in South Bend with our very own Bishop Jenky to discuss more about how their formation is being adjusted in response to the coronavirus. They continue by giving advice on how to grow in your spiritual life during these difficult times. What practices are you going to begin to ensure your faith life does not go to the wayside? "“The good man is neither uplifted with the good things of time, nor broken by its ills; but the wicked man, because he is corrupted by this world's happiness, feels himself punished by its unhappiness...Real and secure felicity is the peculiar possession of those who worship that God by whom alone it can be conferred.” -St. Augustine, De civitate Dei

Nic, Nathan, and Jacob are joined by Patrick Wille to discuss discovering God's will in their spring break plans and evangelization. The guys start with explaining how God's will is revealed to them through Bishop Jenky in the midst of the corona virus. They continue by telling stories about how God confirmed His will was to be on the evangelization trip and with the Missionaries of Charity. How are you growing in your relationship with Christ and how are you helping those around you grow as well? “The world offers you comfort. But you were not made for comfort. You were made for greatness” -Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI