In this episode, Msgr. Landry speaks with Father Daniel Barnett of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Walla Walla, Washington about his own call to the priesthood, serving as vocations director and what mercy truly is, and he also reflects on his 25 years of priestly ministry.00:00 Introduction 01:45 Catholic upbringing as a middle child03:10 Asking for application to seminary in high school05:42 Entering into a period of discernment06:21 Growing in seminary07:23 Memories of ordination day8:21 Leading pilgrims to the tomb of St. Peter in Rome11:21 What is life like in the Diocese of Spokane 15:12 Anti-Catholic backlash within the state 16:28 The challenge of immigration within the diocese19:15 The role of mercy within parish life 21:00 Essential need for daily prayer25:00 The work of guiding young seminarians29:00 If you're not failing, you're not doing it right32:00 Importance of good advisors including laity34:30 Helping people to encounter Christ38:50 Making healing more ordinary 41:50 The priesthood of Jesus, not me 43:10 Burying the dead, the unclaimed 44:50 Mercy is creative before it's redemptive 46:50 Blessing of working with the Missionaries of Charity

On this week's episode, Msgr. Landry speaks with Father Jeffrey Kirby, Catholic priest, moral theologian, writer, and pastor of Our Lady of Grace Parish in Indian Land, South Carolina, about his own vocation calling beginning with his time in Boy Scouts, serving the faithful during the summer in Myrtle Beach, and what he has learned from being a Missionary of Mercy. To learn more about the Napa Institute and our priest formation programs, please visit Napa-Institute.org00:00 Introduction 02:21 Priestly vocation came from parents 04:00 Impact of Scouts involvement08:14 Experiencing the indulgence in the Baroque12:10 We are formed and fashioned for our vocations12:48 Entering the North American College in Rome 15:15 Meeting the Holy Father 17:22 Memories of ordination 19:05 Greatest miracle of all occur in your fingertips24:07 Assignments with Diocese of Charleston 27:29 Founding pastor of a new community 29:39 Joys and challenges of starting a new parish33:25 Being named a missionary of mercy40:00 Writing for Crux 43:50 Advice for anyone discerning the priesthood

On this week's episode, Father Roger Landry speaks with Msgr. James Shea, president of the University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota about his own calling to the priesthood, learning from then-Msgr. Timothy Dolan, and his tips on mastering the art of preaching. To learn more about Napa Institute and our priest formation programs, please visit Napa-Institute.org.00:00 Introduction04:10 Childhood on the farm06:42 Discerning the priesthood7:15 Pre-conceived notions of seminary life8:45 Differences between CUA & North American College11:50 Learning from Msgr. Timothy Dolan13:23 Ordination and First Mass 15:47 Being sent back to the states amid Church scandal19:45 Saying no twice before becoming president of U of Mary25:00 What students should know about university 26:55 Highest ranking nursing program, jazz, and sports program29:35 Reflecting on St John Henry Newman and education34:35 The art of preaching and advice to young priests36:50 Wisdom from Peggy Noonan39:10 Aristotle and Logos, Pathos, and Ethos41: 10 Practical tips for writing good homilies42:30 Listening to Fulton Sheen45:20 Shout out to George Weigel 47:00 Good preaching should draw one upward48:20 Human vs. supernatural 51:50 Greatest joys of preaching 54:30 Hopes for the church today58:00 Cultural shift in young college students today59:13 Hungry for faith after pandemic

In this week's episode Msgr. Roger Landry speaks with Father Leo Patalinghug about his own faith journey beginning as a child not really like Mass, to discerning his own vocation to the priesthood, and the theology of food as he not only talks faith in the kitchen, but helps to serve those in need, both with nourishment of the body and soul. He also discusses his culinary showdown with celebrity chef Bobby Flay and the intersection between food and faith. To learn more about Napa Institute and our priest formation programs, please visit Napa-Institute.org.00:00 Introduction02:57 Answering the call to the priesthood04:40 Impact of conversion moments on pilgrimage05:10 Being bored at Mass to captivating the attention of millions06:10 The real meaning of homiletics07:22 The awkward days of seminary09:12 The fruits of studying politics alongside religion10:30 Growing into an ontological identity as a priest12:22 The world of liberal vs. conservative viewpoints13:18 Weathering the storm of not getting along at times15:09 Working at Mount St. Mary's Seminary16:00 A letter from a former student16:20 The cooking battle against Bobby Flay17:32 Intersection of food and faith18:15 Fruits of a regular family meal23:58 Conversion stories of food and faith25:25 Hospitality Retreat for 12 priests28:45 Balancing time in the kitchen with the faithful30:00 Bite-sized moments for Holy Hour 31:30 The art of living without complaining32:52 Discerning the Voluntas Dei Insittute37:20 Seeing the fruits of the connection to the institute40:00 Ministry of feeding others42:50 Sharing the same name as Pope Leo 45:38 Greatest joys of being a priest

In this week's episode, Msgr. Landry talks with Msgr. Thomas Richter, a priest of the Diocese of Bismarck about his call to the priesthood and the role his father played in honing that decision, what Archbishop Fulton Sheen taught him about daily Holy Hours, and what true fraternity looks like among priests. 00:00 Introduction 03:28 Witnessing marriage of parents06:55 The day his father called him 'Son' 08:30 Discerning every day12:18 Fulton Sheen and daily Holy Hour14:15 Recipe for.a good Holy Hour 16:55 The need for fraternity within the priesthood18:15 Monthly check-ins with fellow priests20:15 Vocation boom in the Diocese of Bismarck with young priests21:48 Remembering the day of ordination

On this week's episode, Msgr. Landry talks with Father Christopher Marino, rector of the southernmost diocese at the Basilica of St. Mary Star of the Sea located in Key West, Florida. The two discuss his calling as a priest while working at his parent's fish market, his friendship and love for his brother Joey, and why the beauty of the liturgy even at the young age of 7 drew him to the Mass. 00:00 Introduction

02:28 Growing up in his parent's fish market

03:27 His father's love for the Mass despite dementia

04:40 Mom... what's a nun?

05:44 Drawn to the beauty of the Mass

06:35 Clowns around the altar

07:35 Faith of his parents

08:20 Hearing his father's confession at the fish market

09:23 Moving down to Florida

10:23 After 10 years of trying, his mother is pregnant with his brother

11:41 Called to the priesthood at 7 years old

12:32 Having a sibling who has Down syndrome

13:10 Learning to love his little brother

16:25 Deciding to attend CUA

19:25 Being named the 'neighborhood snake boy'

22:00 Parents support vocation but first, college

23:10 The decision to leave college to join the seminary

24:35 "There is no humility without humiliation"

27:44 The gift of determination to make it through seminary

28:55 Ordination day

33:00 First Mass

34:50 Say the black and do the red

35:58 Growing in love through priestly ministry

37:30 Communion and Liberation

40:35 Being present to the presence of Christ

43:30 Serving the faithful in Key West

50:00 Biggest joys of the priesthood

In this week's episode, Msgr. Landry speaks with Father Paul Hoesing of the archdiocese of Omaha, Nebraska, who also serves as president of Kenrick-Glennon Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. Father Hoesing speaks about his own call to the priesthood including a tale of two fatherhoods he witnessed as a child, the impact of losing a cousin that was like an older brother to him, and his incredible 'side gig' as he works to help those discerning. To learn more about the Napa Institute and our priest formation programs, please visit Napa-Institute.org00:00 Introduction 02:22 Growing up on a farm and unique school life 05:15 Entering into seminary07:06 Growing as a seminarian 08:42 Remembering ordination day10:35 First assignment as a priest12:31 Studying dogmatic theology13:57 The work of forming other fathers15:10 Lessons learned from the people served18:11 Trying to bring in more laborers for the harvest20:31 The informal side gig that keeps on giving25:15 Proudest moments as a vocations director 32:23 Were you excited to go work at a seminary?36:27 The work of forming priests for the vineyard39:55 How to accompany men through the process 42:28 What is the Augustine Way? 45:15 Going from academic to an integral vision of the priesthood49:00 Greatest joys of priesthood

On this week's episode, Father LoCoco talks with Father Greg Parent of the Diocese of Green Bay about his own vocation story to the surprise of his parents, the impact Catholic Youth Expeditions had on his own faith, and now the role he gets to play forming young Catholics as the executive director of CYE. To learn more about Napa Institute and our priest formation programs, please visit Napa-Institute.org.00:00 Introduction 01:28 A day in the life of a priest02:54 The seeds that were planted for discernment04:20 A mother's watchful eye and love05:27 The role youth ministry played in formation 06:42 Faith fostering fraternity and friendship 07:34 Importance of truth and integrity learned at a young age08:50 Rediscovering the beauty of the hierarchy within the Church09:40 The role sports and athletics plays in formation 11:55 When did the priesthood idea crop up? 14:25 What is Catholic Youth Expeditions? 21:04 ...and why is it not camping?26:30 Life-giving moments with CYE & difficulties of not being in a parish31:03 Practical advice for those discerning the priesthood 32:18 Importance of pursuing a relationship with the Lord

In this week's episode, Msgr. Landry speaks with Father Boniface Hicks of the Benedictine Archabbey of St. Vincent's in Latrobe, Pa., about his own conversion as a student at Penn State, his life in the monastery in prayer, study, and teaching, and what is was like to lead 50,000 people in Eucharistic adoration during the National Eucharistic Congress. To learn more about Napa Institute and our priest formation programs, please visit Napa-Institute.org.00:00 Introduction 02:26 Growing up in a loving home but no knowledge of who love is...2:57 Entering Penn State as an atheist 03:05 Getting invited to Bible Study on campus 04:05 My conversion was two phases 08:08 Visiting the Archabbey for the first time11:23 Entering into a year of discernment 13:56 Studying computer science but moonlighting in campus ministry14:40 Maybe God wants me to go to Saint Vincent 15:32 Memories of ordination and first Mass 18:30 Helping others in spiritual formation 20:18 The importance of spiritual direction in the life of a priest23:13 Teaching the mastery of prayer 24:27 3 things necessary to be a spiritual director26:22 Seminarians and priests can enter into Father's program 29:03 Writing a book on spiritual direction 29:30 Understanding the interior life 31:37 Leading Eucharistic Adoration for 50,000 faithful36:53 Latest book, The Hidden Power of Silence in the Mass

On this week's episode, Father LoCoco speaks with Father Michael Friedel of the Diocese of Springfield, Ill. all about his own call to the priesthood, the road from chemical engineering to clerical life, and the importance of getting to know the Lord for all those discerning religious life. To learn more about the Napa Institute and our priest formation programs, please visit Napa-Institute.org00:00 Introduction 05:42 Remembering the truth from a theology teacher09:05 Taking classes with seminarians09:41 From chemical engineering to clerical life 12:25 Connection between science at faith 14:03 Near-death experience after career fair20:13 Choosing priesthood over secular life and career25:10 Finding confidence as a priest32:51 Working with children and parish school 36:00 Advice for those discerning: get to know the Lord