On this week's episode, Father Duffy talks with Father Luke Mata of Opus Dei about his upbringing in a fun Catholic family that always put Mass first, his call to the priesthood, and why camaraderie is so key in the life of a priest.

00:00 Introduction

02:08 Offering spiritual direction at Napa's summer conference

03:33 Blessed with a beautiful family growing up in Madrid

05:02 Growing up the 2nd of nine kids

05:20 Learning from his father as he was dying

08:30 Faith was 'free to choose' in the Mata household

11:00 Memories of his dad at the lake during childhood

14:10 Impact of a good father on faith formation

14:35 At 14, wanting to come to the United States

16:55 Roots founded in Opus Dei at a young age

17:30 The fostering of a priestly soul even within laity

18:50 An ordination day Father Mata will never forget

22:00 Moving to Los Angeles to serve as a priest

23:00 Lessons in offering spiritual direction

25:16 A calling isn't just to the priesthood, it's a call to be holy

26:10 As priests, Jesus has to be our best friend

27:00 The importance of being in the confessional for Catholics

29:33 Depression within the priesthood and many growing up without a dad

30:55 As priests, looking out for brother priests to foster friendship

31:40 The vital importance of prayer in the life of a priest

33:15 Sad reality of a priest dying alone and not found for 3 days

35:00 Making time to attend a priest's funeral

37:00 Fraternity is like 'water in the desert'

38:40 The importance of fraternal correction given with love

39:42 Always think: is this getting me closer to Heaven or not?

40:10 The profound beauty and truth of the Eucharist at every Mass

42:00 The hope we can all find in our Blessed Mother

43:35 Clinging to the Holy Spirit while hearing Confession

44:14 The hope found in our new Holy Father Pope Leo

45:20 Seeing the excitement of students when Holy Father was named

On this week's episode, Msgr. Landry speaks with Archbishop Thomas Wenski of the archdiocese of Miami about his own calling to the priesthood as a young 3rd-grader, working with immigrants who have come to our country, and the many lessons he's learned from the Haitian Catholics he has served in Florida. 00:00 Introduction 02:10 Memories of a 3rd grader aspiring to be a priest03:30 Wanting to please the Lord during time in seminary 03:55 Attending the funeral of the priest who baptized little Thomas05:20 A Kennedy sighting in the 8th grade 06:55 Remembering the Eucharistic congress 8:45 Learning Spanish by listening to the radio11:15 Winning the 'seminarian of the year' award13:05 Working in a parish with a Haitian Mass 15:50 Learning from the Haitians and the Cubans 18:55 Being a parish priest for those navigating new homeland21:23 Bringing cultures alive for the community at the parish 24:20 Making the church visible to Haitians and Haitians visible to Church25:50 Priests learning Creole to serve the community 27:20 Building parishes that are earthquake proof and hurricane resistant28:45 Special ways to support the Catholic Church in Haiti29:25 The surprise news of becoming archbishop of Miami at 46 33:57 The current state of the Church in Cuba 35:38 Words of wisdom from an archbishop to his priests42:01 The role of a controlled border in a Catholic response to immigration45:18 Greatest joys of being a priest

On this week's episode, Cardinal Raymond Burke joins discussing his own call to the priesthood as a young boy playing Mass with his siblings, his memories of being ordained a priest by Pope Paul VI, and also being consecrated a bishop by Pope John Paul II. 00:00 Introduction 03:10 Early life growing up on a dairy farm in Wisconsin04:15 Memories of priests visiting the house when his father was sick.06:20 Playing Mass at home with siblings 07:10 Beginning school days with Holy Mass 10:30 Attending the minor seminary boarding school in La Crosse. 12:20 The great upheaval of 1968 13:20 The importance of persevering with the faith amid upheaval 15:00 The fruits of good camaraderie during the seminary 17:00 Blessed time during seminary in the holy city of Rome 18:40 Being ordained alongside more than 350 other men18:47 The Holy Year and Pope Pius VI20:40 Memories of ordination day and first Mass 21:25 First memories of being a parish priest 25:00 The greatest task is offering daily Mass 25:30 The importance of a daily Rosary27:00 The absence of Mass during suffering 29:30 The days of the Second Vatican Council 30:30 The importance of praying for your flock 31:00 The difficulties of standing up to dangerous ideologies32:00 Priests are in it for the long haul33:01 Priests cannot fall into the 'nice guy' syndrome34:30 Standing up for life from conception to natural death 35:00 Ministering to women that have had abortions 35:30 A powerful homily leading someone to the confessional37:20 The importance of proper catechesis37:35 Being consecrated a bishop by Pope John Paul II 39:00 Celebrating 30 years as a bishop this year 39:50 Being a spiritual father to the priests in the diocese 39:55 Priests facing spiritual warfare and discouragement42:00 Strengthening the bond between priests and their bishop 46:50 The importance of fellowship and fraternity among priests48:10 The dilemma of young priests leaving their vocation these days49:55 Without good priests, no way to accomplish the mission of bishop50:30 Hope in the Holy Father Pope Leo 51:48 Pope Leo's missionary heart after 30 years in Peru 52:30 Advice for priests: never lose faith in grace you received on ordination day

On this week's episode, Msgr. Roger Landry talks with Bishop James Conley of Lincoln, Nebraska about his call to the priesthood through the humanities, a defining moment seeing John Paul II in person in Iowa, and what he has learned about mental health in the life of a priest from his own personal experiences. 00:00 Introduction02:07 Personal priestly autobiography04:00 Knowledge of God himself08:00 Introduction to the Great Books 14:30 Fruits learned while farming 18:20 Falling in love with philosophy and theology20:00 Learning the wisdom of Cardinal John Henry Newman22:15 Impact of Blessed Stanley Rother 24:20 The pro-life witness 27:00 Shepherding kids in university 30:40 The splendor of Rome on the hearts of minds of youth32:30 Praying for the conversion of his parents 36:10 The beauty of parish life within a community 38:30 Learning from Archbishop Chaput 40:30 The fertile soil of Lincoln, Nebraska46:10 New evangelization at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln 51:00 Perfect storm of bad news in the church

In this week's episode, Msgr. Landry interviews Bishop Erik Varden of Trondheim, Norway about his own vocation fueled by his witness of a Dominican nun and his love for music. He also gives glimpses into the life of a Trappist monk and what it's like to serve as bishop in his homeland of Norway. 00:00 Introduction01:07 Meet Bishop Erik Varden02:17 Seeds of vocation 05:07 Exploring Catholicism at 19 studying in Cambridge08:20 Discovering the Church Fathers 13:30 How music moves one closer to God15:40 First monastic experiment18:30 Understanding the many orders of monks 21:10 Not about mortification but following a narrow path23:00 Becoming ordained at the age of 3324:20 Serving brother monks as a priest27:05 Becoming a spiritual father 28:45 Any aspirations about your home country of Norway? 29:42 Being appointed by Pope Francis as Bishop of Trondheim33:00 Seeds of hope germinating in Trondheim 35:36 Trying to form ambassadors with a sense of integrity37:15 The role of chastity in our calling to be saints 41:50 Learning to love with the heart of Christ

In this week's episode, Bishop Thomas Paprocki of the Diocese of Springfield discusses his call to the priesthood at an early age playing Mass with his siblings, his call to the study of law and the importance of justice, and his thoughts on an American Pope from Chicago! 00:00 Introduction01:00 Meet Bishop Paprocki02:15 Paprocki's priestly autobiography 05:00 His mother's faith06:50 Preparing for the priesthood at an early age09:57 Majoring in political science in seminary11:00 Straddling priesthood and law school 15:13 Memories of ordination day 17:33 Growing as a student in Rome19:48 Becoming chancellor within the archdiocese of Chicago23:30 Lessons from being a parish priest27:30 Learning from Cardinal George & Cardinal Bernardin31:48 What have you learned about the priesthood serving as bishop? 36:20 The importance of fitness in the life of a priest41:40 The fruits of canon law43:50 Receiving the news of Pope Leo as a Chicagoan!

On this week's episode, Msgr. Roger Landry speaks with Father Marcel Taillon of the Diocese of Providence about his own vocation story after working as an executive for CVS, forming hearts and minds as a chaplain, and what he has learned serving the parishes on the shores of Narragansett for over 18 years, with a brief stint helping the Archdiocese of Military Services in the vocations department. 00:00 Introduction03:25 Growing up in a devout French-Canadian family 05:10 The Catholic world of a French Canadian 08:10 French-Catholic architecture and schools 10:20 A formation in beauty12:40 Working in the corporate world for CVS15:30 Entering seminary and shock of living in Rome 16:10 Learning to pray and discovering the Holy Hour 17:29 Memories of Ordination day and first Mass19:00 How did studying moral theology impact priesthood?21:00 Helping form young men at all-boys high school in Rhode Island22:20 Helping students deal with tragedy as chaplain23:35 Life at St. Thomas More and St. Veronica's in Narragansett25:05 Serving as vocations director for the Military Archdiocese of USA29:05 The fruits of faith formation and chaplaincy31:00 Understanding the differences between branches of military31:50 Working to quell the shortage of priests in the military33:50 Lessons from being chaplain to police officers and first responders35:50 Serving as spiritual director to Boston Celtics coach 41:20 Importance of liturgy and being a missionary parish43:13 Surprises of the priestly life

In this week's episode, Msgr. Roger Landry talks with Father Paul-Anthony Halladay who serves as vocation director for the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA. Father Halladay discusses his calling to the priesthood and specifically, serving as a military chaplain, and what his experience on the ground in war-torn regions brings to his role as vocations director for the military. 00:00 Introduction02:21 A 'normal' call to the priesthood03:30 Being an altar server as a young boy with brother04:15 Parents planting the seed for vocations06:16 Discerning the priesthood 07:50 A letter from the Archbishop 8:50 Going to seminary 09:50 Understanding we are incarnational 10:50 Learning from living in community 12:10 Being ordained by then-Cardinal Ratzinger13:35 Memories of ordination day and first Mass15:00 First assignments in Mobile 16:05 You never forget your first parish 17:55 Road to being a military chaplain22:00 Serving in Iraq, Afghanistan, Jordan... 25:45 Always making Adoration available to military29:45 If you don't like the outdoors, don't join the army31:05 Serving at St. Patrick's Seminary in Menlo Park 33:00 Converts having call to priestly vocations 34:30 How does the military form its priests? 36:40 Succeeding Father Marcel Taillon as vocations director40:30 The incredible need for military chaplains 42:50 'A call within a call...'44;30 What to do if you feel a call toward military chaplaincy45:55 Fruits of serving as vocations director with military background47:35 Is it Major Halladay or Father Halladay now? 48:56 Greatest joys serving as a priest

On this week's episode, Msgr. Roger Landry and Father Jim Sichko of the Diocese of Lexington, KY, discuss his call to the priesthood, serving as a missionary of mercy, and ways to see the face of Christ in everyone we meet. 00:00 introduction02:49 The youngest of 5 children09:11 First assignments as a priest12:34 Pastoral year in the mountains of Appalachia 15:45 The joy of teaching youth and teens 19:25 Rising up to difficult situations21:40 Watching a parish grow and flourish28:00 Working as a full-time domestic missionary30:30 The art of being a welcome parish 34:55 The trials of being a nomadic priest 38:30 Offering to pay for funerals and works of mercy42:20 How has giving so graciously changed the giver44:00 Seeing the face of Christ in everyone we meet

This week's episode features Archbishop Paul Coakley of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City in an episode taped in July on the sidelines of the Napa Summer Conference. Now serving as the USCCB president, the prelate discusses his road to the priesthood after dramatic events during.a trip to Ireland, the importance of priestly fraternity and friendship including his close camaraderie with Bishop James Conley, and the impact on the priesthood given the breakdown of family life, and ultimately what gives him hope. 00:00 Introduction01:17 Archbishop Paul Coakley 02:44 Serving as ecclesiastical advisor to the Napa Institute04:10 Following Archbishop Charles Chaput04:48 Childhood and family life 06:30 Great books program in college 07:11 Tragedy in Ireland 09:30 Understanding why we call priests Father12:25 'Let them be born in wonder...'13:31 Memories of seminary 15:00 Learning about Blessed Stanley Rother17:25 Famous quote from Father Rother02:55 Recollections of your first assignment24:40 2 years at the Casa Santa Maria 25:20 What stands out from Spirituality studies 27:10 Opening diocesan retreat center 28:10: Fruits of the JPII pontificate29:20 Impact of World Youth Day in Denver31:28 Surprises from serving as bishop 33:10 Shortage of priestly vocations34:15 Why are young men leaving the priesthood?35:15 Breakdown of marriage and family life 37:00 Lacking the ability to commit 37:50 The fruits of Napa's Shepherd Circle 38:25 Importance of priestly fraternity40:45 Spending time with brother bishops 42:50 Promoting not only mental health but physical health45:30 Advice for young men discerning47:10 What gives you hope?