"Our vocation journeys are all different, but we're still focused on the same person: on Jesus."

Fr. Craig and Fr. Drew welcome Bishop Jeffrey Monforton, auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Detroit, to the podcast studio. On this episode of Men of the Hearts, Bishop Monforton shares stories from his priesthood and episcopal ministry, including visits to Ukraine, Iraq, and other parts of the world. He reflects on growing up in a faithful Catholic family in Westland, the influence of priests in his life, and the discernment that led him to the seminary.

"I have to really take this to the Lord. Make a decision. I can't be on the fence anymore."

Fr. Craig and Dr. Drew welcome Fr. Jim Lowe, CC, to the podcast studio. On this latest episode of Men of the Hearts, Fr. Lowe shares his vocation story, about the Companions of the Cross, the religious community he's a member of, and about ministering in the Archdiocese of Detroit.

“In adoration, I could hear the Lord saying, ‘You’re giving me a little bit. I appreciate that. What if you give me everything?’”

Fr. Joe Barron, PES, who currently serves at St. Isaac Jogues in St. Clair Shores, joins the Men of the Heart podcast to share his vocation story. Raised in a large family in Minnesota, Fr. Barron studied biochemistry at the University of St. Thomas, where daily prayer, confession, and authentic Catholic brotherhood drew him closer to his faith. He eventually entered the Pro Ecclesia Sancta religious order, discerning from within the community before beginning formation in Peru and fully entrusting his life to Christ and the Church.

"Just continue praying, God will approach. He wants you to know him, so continue praying and continue opening your heart." Fr. Craig and Fr. Drew welcome Fr. Marco Kiyan, PES, parish priest at Corpus Christ Parish, Presentation-Our Lady of Victory Parish, and St. Scholastic Parish, all in Detroit. Fr. Kiyan reflects on a powerful experience of God while preparing for his confirmation and how, before entering seminary, living a materially successful life still left a feeling of emptiness in his heart.

(0:26) Fr. Craig welcomes this episodes guest, Fr. Marco Kiyan, a member of the Pro Ecclesia Sancta religious community. The three talk about the upcoming Christmas season and Fr. Marco’s getting to know the community at Corpus Christ Parish, where he was recently assigned.

(7:26) Fr. Marco talks about the history and charisma of of his religious community and about growing up in Peru. He shares that while he studied religion in elementary and high school, faith was an academic exercise for him until he had a profound experience during a confirmation retreat in tenth grade.

(20:38) Fr. Marco’s first thoughts about a vocation to the priesthood came to him when he was a senior in high school. While studying electrical engineering in university, he was involved with a lay Catholic group. After graduation, he got his dream job and was earning a large salary, traveling the world, but still felt an emptiness inside.

(31:18) While reaping the benefits of this material success, Fr. Marco began questioning whether this was the path that God wanted for him. He began praying every day, “God, help me love you.” Months later, after coming home from a friend’s birthday party, he clearly heard God speak to him and invite him to the priesthood.

(38:41) It’s after this profound experience that he hears of friends and family who had always thought he had a vocation to the priesthood.

(42:21) Fr. Marco talks about why he entered the Pro Ecclesia Sanctia religious community versus another community or the diocesan priesthood and of the blessings of being part of a larger community. He was a professed brother for 10 years prior to his ordination as a priest.

"I think the greatest thing about being a priest is seeing God work in people's lives." Fr. Craig Giera welcomes Fr. Derik Peterman, pastor of St. Anne Parish, to share his vocation story. Fr. Peterman reflects on an early encounter with God at age 10 and how he found his way back to the sacraments in college. He also offers wisdom for young men discerning the priesthood and insight into the joy of watching God work through priestly ministry.

(0:23) Fr. Craig introduces Fr. Derik Peterman and reflects on the blessings of parish life as Advent approaches. Fr. Peterman shares how he has witnessed many people returning to the sacraments, especially through confession, and reflects on how modern secular culture may be influencing some of these conversions.

(5:52) Fr. Peterman traces his vocation back to an experience at age 10, when he felt the palpable presence of God. This encounter planted a seed that would remain with him throughout his life, even though he did not yet know how to respond.

(11:21) Fr. Peterman recalls participating in high school sports, academics, friendships, and dating, all while the thought of the priesthood quietly lingered in the background. He was active in track and field, excelled in math and science, and participated in the parish youth group largely for its social aspect.

(15:33) At Michigan State University, Fr. Peterman competed as a pole vaulter while studying physics. He was invited into a non-denominational Bible study that reawakened his faith and helped him encounter Jesus as a real person.

(20:04) Though enriched by Scripture study, Fr. Peterman felt something missing and was drawn back to the Catholic Church and the Eucharist. On his first Sunday back at Mass, he heard an announcement for a priestly discernment group, a moment he recognized as God’s unmistakable invitation.

(26:46) As college progressed, Fr. Peterman faced the pivotal decision between marriage and seminary. He ultimately chose to enter the seminary, but had to navigate some resistance from non-Catholic family members.

(48:43) As he got into his seminary studies, Fr. Peterman began to understand the harmony between faith and reason. He shares how his scientific training helped him approach philosophy and theology, drawing on a line from the Catechism of the Catholic Church that says that truth cannot contradict truth.

(53:06) Fr. Peterman describes the greatest joy of the priesthood as witnessing God actively work in people’s lives. He gives advice to men discerning the priesthood: do not be afraid, bring fears to prayer, and take concrete steps forward while discerning.

“We should not be discerning our vocations just by ourselves. We need the help of other people who love us and have the best in mind for us.” Fr. Paul Graney joins Fr. Craig Giera and Fr. Drew Mabee to share his journey to the priesthood. He describes the “light-switch moment” in his college dorm that sparked his discernment and reflects on the importance of mentors, community, and the desire to belong to something bigger than yourself. His story highlights how God uses every part of our lives—even hockey and pickup trucks—to draw us toward our vocation.

(0:25) Fr. Craig and Fr. Drew open the episode, recorded on the feast of Sts. Simon and Jude, by welcoming their guest, Fr. Paul Graney. The trio catch up on recent events in their lives and joke about the fact that Fr. Paul and Fr. Craig are often mistaken for each other. The conversation turns to Fr. Paul’s modified F-150 and love of playing hockey.

(08:30) Fr. Paul recalls growing up in Oxford, playing backyard hockey on the rink his dad built, and the joy of his high school varsity team’s first big win. He then shares how skiing trips with friends led him to a non-denominational youth ministry that he increasingly attended throughout high school. 

(18:11) Fr. Paul explains how his Protestant youth minister encouraged him to consider ministry, something he initially rejected due to a fear of public speaking. While attending Oakland University, he experiences a sudden interior prompting: “Do you want to be a pastor?” 

(27:40) Fr. Paul attends a small evangelical Bible program, learning Scripture, learning to preach, and serving in soup kitchens. He eventually moved to New York City and got a job at the Starbucks at Rockefeller Center, across the street from St. Patrick’s Cathedral. This led to an impromptu meeting with the priest and a return to the Sacrament of Confession and the Catholic faith.

(50:03) Fr. Paul attended a discernment weekend at Sacred Heart Major Seminary, where Fr. Tim Birney, the vocations director, encouraged him to live the Catholic faith for a few years while continuing to discern the priesthood. Once he finally entered the seminary, his biblical background helped him navigate the shift from a Protestant to Catholic understanding of Scripture.

(56:03) Fr. Paul recounts how his godfather and parents responded to his return to the Church, and how his renewed faith eventually drew them back to regular Mass attendance. 

(58:24) Fr. Paul offers advice to men discerning the priesthood: stay close to the sacraments, listen, seek mentors, and immerse yourself in parish life. He concludes by reflecting on the gift of belonging to the “team” of Jesus Christ and the fraternity of the priesthood. He then closes the episode with a prayer for all discerning men and for the Church’s priests.

The Lord said, “Fine. You keep on shutting the door. I'm just going to take the hinges off the door and take the door away.” Fr. Rich Dorsch joins Fr. Craig Giera to share his vocation story, with cohost Fr. Drew Mabee absent from the podcast this month. Fr. Rich reflects on his path from altar serving as a child to hearing and accepting God’s call to the priesthood. He and Fr. Craig also discuss the importance of prayer, community, and perseverance in discernment, and how even health challenges can become encounters with God’s mercy.

(0:25) Fr. Craig welcomes Fr. Rich Dorsch of St. Hugo of the Hills Parish. Fr. Rich shares early lessons from ministry, including learning to see challenges as opportunities, and moments during Mass and confession when he feels overwhelmed by God’s love for His people.

(3:17) The priests reflect on how wearing the Roman collar often draws strangers to conversation, even when they are running personal errands. Fr. Rich describes how these moments remind him of community and the presence of faith even in ordinary settings like grocery stores and gas stations.

(5:56) Fr. Craig shares about a recent discernment gathering, emphasizing how men often begin to hear God’s call in their mid-20s. Both priests encourage listeners not to fear that they are “too old” to discern and to trust that God works through every season of life.

(8:40) Fr. Rich remembers a difficult and overwhelming first time altar serving, an experience that almost made him quit. Later, he gets involved in campus ministry at Grand Valley State University.

(15:36) As Fr. Rich’s faith grows, friends, family, and even his girlfriend suggest the priesthood. Though resistant, he begins to recognize that his deepest joy comes from serving in the Church. After college, Fr. Rich works in hospital emergency transport and later joins his family’s dental insurance company. 

(26:13) A young man recognizes Fr. Rich from a hospital interaction that helped bring his family back to faith. Fr. Rich says that after years of him firmly closing the door to the priesthood, it was like the Lord had removed the hinges and taken the door away, awakening in Fr. Rich the certainty of his vocation.

(31:28) Fr. Rich begins taking evening theology classes and attending daily Mass before finally enrolling in Sacred Heart Major Seminary. The priests discuss some of the challenges of adapting to seminary structure and community life, and Fr. Rich admits he nearly left twice before learning to go all in on his discernment.

(50:09) Fr. Rich recalls how some health challenges and dietary restrictions became unexpected avenues of grace and early ministry. His time in the hospital also deepened his compassion for those who suffer and helped him unite his priesthood with Christ’s own suffering on the Cross. He then offers some advice to young men discerning the priesthood and closes the episode with a prayer.

“It's in the midst of all the struggle that the Lord really draws us ever closer to His Most Sacred Heart.” Fr. Bryan Shackett joins Fr. Craig Giera and Fr. Drew Mabee to share his vocation story. Fr. Bryan reflects on his journey from resisting the priesthood to embracing God’s call, the importance of prayer and confession in his discernment, and how teaching church history has deepened his faith. Along the way, the priests swap stories about parish life, discuss American Catholic history, and even dive into Tolkien’s wisdom on faith and perseverance.

(0:24) The episode opens with lighthearted banter over energy drinks and the “cross” of small inconveniences. Fr. Craig and Fr. Drew welcome Fr. Bryan to the podcast studio. He shares how he balances parish responsibilities with teaching at Sacred Heart Seminary and later touches on his love of history and J. R. R. Tolkien.

(2:12) Fr. Bryan explains the courses he teaches, including U.S. Church history and the age of iconoclasm. The priests reflect on the importance of art and beauty as a window into the divine, safeguarding the truth that God became man. This sparks a discussion on how religious imagery serves as catechesis for the faithful.

(5:38) The conversation turns to the anti-Catholic laws in the colonies and how difficult it was for priests to minister. Figures like Archbishop John Carroll and Fr. Gabriel Richard are highlighted as courageous leaders who built the foundation of the Church in America.

 (11:51) Fr. Bryan says that the study of history is important because God “broke into history” to bring about our salvation. Thus, learning Church history helps Catholics understand their family story and see God’s hand at work.

(12:38) Fr. Craig and Fr. Drew share humorous ministry moments, including “incensing through the plants” and Fr. Craig’s beard-themed homily.

 (15:57) Fr. Bryan segues to his vocation story, recounting how, as a college student, he initially resisted suggestions that he might be called to the priesthood. A discernment weekend at the seminary, prayer before the Blessed Sacrament, and gentle encouragement from his pastor began to open his heart. He describes experiencing God’s love in a powerful way, even when he was reluctant to accept it.

(26:54) Through confession, adoration, and spiritual direction, Fr. Bryan slowly broke down the obstacles he had placed before God. He recalls the pivotal experience of World Youth Day in Sydney, where his call to the priesthood was confirmed in a profound way. Mary’s intercession and the support of faithful mentors helped him find peace in saying “yes.”

(56:26) Fr. Bryan offers his advice to men discerning the priesthood and offers a brief reflection on the life and writings of J. R. R. Tolkien. Then, he closes the episode with a prayer of thanksgiving.

“Just be open to the Lord’s will.” Fr. Patrick Bruen joins Fr. Craig and Fr. Drew to share his second vocation story. Following a 40-plus-year marriage, the death of his wife, repeated encounters with the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and lots of prayer led to hearing God’s call to the priesthood. In this episode of Men of the Hearts, Fr. Bruen talks about the challenges and blessings of the vocations of marriage and the priesthood and of the experiences of his first few months as a priest.

0:25: Fr. Craig and Fr. Drew welcome this month’s guest, Fr. Patrick Bruen, a priest of the Archdiocese of Detroit who was ordained in June of this year and serves at Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish in Plymouth. The three share how they’ve spent the summer. Fr. Craig, who became Vocations Director in 2020, mentions that Fr. Pat is the first man he has guided all the way through the discernment process—from entrance to ordination.

3:26: Fr. Craig asks Fr. Pat to reflect on his recent ordination and the first few months of his priesthood. Fr. Pat shares how he’s somewhat surprised by how much he loves celebrating Mass and that the most fulfilling part of his ministry is hearing confessions.

12:23: Fr. Pat tells his vocation stories: first as a husband and father and, following the death of his wife, his call to the priesthood. He shares how, from the time his wife went into hospice care, he kept encountering the Sacred Heart of Jesus. These encounters continued, eventually leading to his decision to enter the seminary.

17:49: Fr. Pat talks a little about the role his parents had in shaping his faith, particularly his father, who was a permanent deacon for the Archdiocese of Detroit.

22:25: Fr. Craig and Fr. Pat discuss the ebb and flow of vocational discernment.

25:09: Fr. Pat, Fr. Craig, and Fr. Drew talk about the difference between pursuing what we think will make us happy versus pursuing what God wants for us.

38:56: Fr. Craig and Fr. Pat talk about the conversations they had early in Fr. Pat’s discernment of the priesthood and, particularly, the differences in discernment for a man in his mid-fifties versus a young man in his late teens or early twenties.

 44:07: Fr. Pat talks about his time at St. John XXII Seminary in Boston, a seminary specifically for older men studying for the priesthood.

46:34: Fr. Craig asks Fr. Pat how his family—especially his children—have reacted to his discernment, time in seminary, and ordination.

51:32: Fr. Pat shares a powerful experience he had during a Holy Hour a short time before he was ordained.

59:25: Fr. Pat closes the episode with a blessing.

“Don't be afraid of your heart—God's working there.” Fr. Colin Fricke joins Men of the Hearts podcast hosts Fr. Craig Giera and Fr. Drew Mabee to share how he discerned his call to the priesthood through the grace of the sacraments, unexpected encouragement from the Archbishop of Detroit, and appreciating the joys of everyday life. He reflects on how these blessings and more helped him grow in confidence and freedom, ultimately leading him to say “yes” to God’s call.

(0:25) Fr. Craig and Fr. Drew kick off the episode with a joyful welcome to Fr. Colin Fricke, a priest of the Archdiocese of Detroit who serves at St. Anastasia. The trio swaps stories about recent summer activities, including fireworks, parish life, and addressing the ongoing need for vocations in the Archdiocese of Detroit.

(1:24)  Fr. Colin shares how he celebrated the 4th of July with his family in Grand Rapids, where he enjoyed fireworks, sparklers, and wiffle ball with his nieces and nephews. He talks about the blessing of spending time with loved ones and witnessing their joy. He then talks about the joy he finds in playing volleyball, which leads to a discussion about how simple passions like sports can become powerful tools for evangelization.

(8:34) Fr. Colin begins his vocation story by recalling the moment he watched a priest elevate the Eucharist at Mass and thought to himself, “I want the big Eucharist.” At the time, he didn’t fully understand what that meant, but looking back, he recognizes it as one of the first seeds of his vocation to the priesthood. He then talks about growing up in Grosse Pointe, attending Mass regularly, and being inspired at his Confirmation to start reading the Bible. 

(16:00) Fr. Colin describes himself in high school as reserved and uncertain about his identity. In college, he began going to confession more regularly and discovered healing through that sacrament. While studying at Siena Heights University to become a teacher, Fr. Colin became involved in campus ministry, where others would occasionally suggest that he consider the priesthood. One day, while walking up the stairs to his dorm, he interiorly heard, “You should be a priest,” a moment that reignited the call he had sensed as a child.

(22:00) After college, Fr. Colin began teaching in Catholic schools. He reflects on how the experience gave him a front-row seat to the joy of children, a gift that helped him understand how God sees us and invites us to be ourselves. As he continued teaching, Fr. Colin began reading St. John Paul II’s Theology of the Body, where he learned about authentic love, the beauty of the human person, and the gift of masculinity in service to others.

(34:00) Fr. Colin started spending more time in Eucharistic adoration, especially at Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish, where he encountered a faithful group of praying mothers who encouraged him. He also received encouragement from an unexpected source: The Archbishop of Detroit, after visiting Fr. Colin’s school, sent the young man a personal letter encouraging him to consider the priesthood.

(38:30) Father Colin entered seminary in 2014, joining a class of men that included many of his friends today. Seminary was both a confirmation of his call and a time of deep personal growth. He learned to be more emotionally honest, to recognize and process his anger, and to live with greater freedom. He offers his advice to young men discerning and closes the episode with prayer.