Full Transcript for Future priests discover their unique call at Quo Vadis retreat

00:04:20.720 --> 00:04:22.160 Um what was it like? 00:04:22.240 --> 00:04:23.279 What would what do you remember? 00:04:23.360 --> 00:04:24.160 What stands out? 00:04:24.720 --> 00:04:28.639 Um there is uh it's different. 00:04:28.800 --> 00:04:32.959 Um there was a lot of talks by different pre-seminarians. 00:04:33.120 --> 00:04:39.120 Um obviously spending some time with different people who want to discern their vocation. 00:04:39.439 --> 00:04:42.079 Um that was probably one thing that stood out to me. 00:04:43.120 --> 00:04:45.839 About I think 35 or so you guys here today, right? 00:04:46.000 --> 00:04:48.240 Um and uh what was it like for you one? 00:04:48.720 --> 00:04:57.680 Um well for the first time it was kinda it was at the f at first it w I didn't really understand what it really was. 00:04:57.920 --> 00:04:58.560 What am I doing here? 00:04:59.040 --> 00:04:59.439 Yeah. 00:04:59.600 --> 00:05:02.399 I was I was just like, oh, zip lining, that's cool. 00:05:02.639 --> 00:05:04.319 Zip lining, yes, that's a big selling point. 00:05:04.560 --> 00:05:07.120 And it's I hear that zipline is broke this year, I think. 00:05:07.839 --> 00:05:09.279 Um I think, I'm not sure. 00:05:09.360 --> 00:05:11.519 But uh uh so that was an attraction. 00:05:11.680 --> 00:05:13.759 Then you got here and you experienced the day, and what do you remember? 00:05:13.920 --> 00:05:14.720 What stood out? 00:05:15.040 --> 00:05:20.720 Uh probably the outdoor mass, probably the first time I've been to an outdoor mass. 00:05:21.040 --> 00:05:23.360 And then also uh the confession times. 00:05:23.680 --> 00:05:25.519 And last year we were in the smog, right? 00:05:25.600 --> 00:05:28.240 The folk smoke from Canada, I think, was uh right. 00:05:28.480 --> 00:05:31.040 We went ahead and it was it was still a good day. 00:05:31.199 --> 00:05:35.279 Um and so um uh Rory, this is your first time. 00:05:35.439 --> 00:05:36.480 Yeah, this is my first time. 00:05:36.639 --> 00:05:42.560 Uh Monsignor Hart, your pastor, uh how did he invite you to come for the day? 00:05:42.800 --> 00:05:47.279 Well, I would just stop by his office and um he brought it up to me and he was like, hey, you should go on this trip. 00:05:47.600 --> 00:05:48.879 I think you should check it out. 00:05:49.040 --> 00:05:51.920 And it's the summer, so might as well just try it. 00:05:52.160 --> 00:05:53.040 It's not a bad spot to be, right? 00:05:53.439 --> 00:05:54.399 Yeah, no, the weather's great. 00:05:55.600 --> 00:05:59.680 Um a lot of uh activities, so chance for some fun activities. 00:05:59.759 --> 00:06:03.680 I think the Knights of Columbus are uh you remember the barbecue from last year? 00:06:03.839 --> 00:06:13.920 I think the food was pretty good, so and then uh uh activities outside and then outside mass again, I think, and uh and some and and some prayer time as well and the opportunity for confession. 00:06:14.000 --> 00:06:20.639 And Father Rama, our vocation director, along with

Father Charlie Lana, the associate vocation director, I think, who might be on with us later. 00:06:20.720 --> 00:06:22.800 Um, they do a great job organizing the day. 00:06:22.959 --> 00:06:26.240 Do you know how many times Father Christoph has been on Kol Vatist? 00:06:27.040 --> 00:06:28.319 How many times, Father Christoph? 00:06:28.480 --> 00:06:29.519 This is number 14. 00:06:29.839 --> 00:06:34.160 14 times since you were in middle school. 00:06:34.480 --> 00:06:35.360 Middle school, wow. 00:06:35.439 --> 00:06:36.959 And you grew up in what parish again? 00:06:37.040 --> 00:06:38.160 Uh Holy Rosary in Pisac. 00:06:38.319 --> 00:06:40.959 Holy Rosary and Passaic, Father Stefan Laster. 00:06:41.199 --> 00:06:42.399 And you were ordained? 00:06:42.639 --> 00:06:44.000 Uh a year and three days ago. 00:06:44.319 --> 00:06:45.360 A year and three days ago. 00:06:45.439 --> 00:06:46.319 Happy anniversary. 00:06:46.720 --> 00:06:48.879 Uh and how did you spend your first year as a priest? 00:06:49.120 --> 00:06:50.240 Uh back in school. 00:06:50.480 --> 00:06:58.800 So a little a little different, but it was uh still a really great blessing, and it was an absolute joy to be able to be a priest. 00:06:59.120 --> 00:07:03.040 And your uh seminary formation was in um well college level? 00:07:03.439 --> 00:07:03.680 Yes. 00:07:03.839 --> 00:07:05.439 So four years of college at uh St. 00:07:05.519 --> 00:07:09.360 Andrews College Seminary here in South Orange and then On the campus of Seton Hall? 00:07:09.519 --> 00:07:09.759 Yes. 00:07:09.920 --> 00:07:12.000 And then four years at the North American College in Rome. 00:07:12.240 --> 00:07:12.879 In Rome, right. 00:07:12.959 --> 00:07:17.040 Uh and so when the guys study in Rome, they get their license, right? 00:07:17.120 --> 00:07:19.199 In addition to their master's in theology. 00:07:19.360 --> 00:07:24.079 And uh what uh so they go back usually for a year after to complete that license. 00:07:24.160 --> 00:07:26.480 And where your course of study was Church history. 00:07:26.800 --> 00:07:31.120 Church history, so um you'll be helping Monsignor Kupke, right? 00:07:31.199 --> 00:07:33.120 Uh and Father Calabro, I think, also. 00:07:33.199 --> 00:07:36.560 Um uh and uh you just got an assignment. 00:07:36.800 --> 00:07:37.279 I did, yeah. 00:07:37.360 --> 00:07:40.800 So I'm happy to be starting in Morris Town this actually this upcoming Monday. 00:07:41.040 --> 00:07:41.439 Which parish? 00:07:41.600 --> 00:07:42.079 At Assumption. 00:07:42.319 --> 00:07:42.639 Assumption. 00:07:42.800 --> 00:07:44.879 And so you're meeting with the exact opposite. 00:07:45.439 --> 00:07:46.879 I'm meeting my first year's, which is great. 00:07:47.360 --> 00:07:48.399 Great, great, great. 00:07:48.639 --> 00:07:57.600 Um, and um we're here to uh did you guys hear about the phrase what do you know why we call it Covadis? 00:07:58.480 --> 00:07:59.279 Something in Latin. 00:07:59.839 --> 00:08:00.959 Something in

Latin, right? 00:08:01.120 --> 00:08:03.759 It means um where you're going. 00:08:04.079 --> 00:08:14.399 And there's a story that um when the persecution of the church started um uh in Rome, I believe. 00:08:14.560 --> 00:08:24.560 Uh or um there's a story of Saint Peter um kind of running away from the uh persecution that was taking place in Rome, I believe, or in the Holy Land, Jerusalem. 00:08:24.720 --> 00:08:43.360 Uh and as he's leaving, Father Christoph may have a better uh interpretation of the story because it's a well-known story, uh, as he was leaving um to get away from the persecution, uh, he's going outside of the city, going away from the city, and coming towards him, he sees someone and he sees that it's Jesus. 00:08:43.519 --> 00:08:48.879 Um and I think Peter says to Jesus, Quovatis, where are you going? 00:08:49.120 --> 00:08:52.159 And Jesus says, I'm going to Rome to be crucified. 00:08:52.320 --> 00:08:55.519 Um so um is that the basic story, right? 00:08:55.600 --> 00:09:10.480 Uh so um, and then Peter realized that um he was called to uh be faithful to the to the name of the Lord and uh and take that responsibility that he had as leading the early church and eventually he would um be crucified in Rome. 00:09:10.559 --> 00:09:12.320 Uh his feast day is coming up with St. 00:09:12.559 --> 00:09:16.960 Paul uh on Saturday, June 29th, the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul. 00:09:17.200 --> 00:09:22.320 Um uh Juan, you were on the vocation retreat we had, right? 00:09:22.879 --> 00:09:23.840 And uh just was there? 00:09:24.159 --> 00:09:25.519 In in Morristown, right? 00:09:25.600 --> 00:09:26.080 Yes, yes. 00:09:26.320 --> 00:09:27.279 Were you there also, Jacob? 00:09:27.440 --> 00:09:27.519 Yeah. 00:09:28.000 --> 00:09:30.639 What do you remember from the vocation retreat? 00:09:55.699 --> 00:09:59.939 Um probably that there were a lot of Mary statues everywhere. 00:10:00.419 --> 00:10:02.419 A lot of statues of Mary, our blessed mother, yes. 00:10:02.500 --> 00:10:02.980 Yeah, the retreat. 00:10:03.299 --> 00:10:04.179 Greatly appreciated. 00:10:04.339 --> 00:10:04.659 Sorry? 00:10:04.819 --> 00:10:05.539 It was greatly appreciated. 00:10:05.939 --> 00:10:07.299 Greatly appreciated, yes. 00:10:07.699 --> 00:10:13.779 Um probably the liturgy at the hours waking up early, you know, stopping in the middle of the day to pray. 00:10:14.019 --> 00:10:17.539 Oh, that's probably the morning prayer, evening prayer, night prayer, right? 00:10:17.620 --> 00:10:18.740 And mass each day. 00:10:19.059 --> 00:10:21.939 Um Rory, uh have you ever been on a retreat? 00:10:22.259 --> 00:10:23.620 No, this is my first ever. 00:10:24.179 --> 00:10:25.539 How about uh an oratory? 00:10:25.620 --> 00:10:26.899 Do they have any retreat days? 00:10:27.219 --> 00:10:28.419 Yeah, they have retreat days. 00:10:28.500 --> 00:10:31.459 Um the one last year was also focused on faith. 00:10:31.860 --> 00:10:35.860 So um they took us up near um, I believe it

was near Newark. 00:10:36.259 --> 00:10:37.939 And uh it was just a religious retreat. 00:10:38.019 --> 00:10:44.259 We like sat in deep thought and we tried um this like it was just bond as a class. 00:10:44.980 --> 00:10:45.459 Bond as a class. 00:10:45.779 --> 00:10:46.339 It was just a bond. 00:10:47.219 --> 00:10:48.819 Was it in the school building or someplace else? 00:10:48.980 --> 00:10:50.179 It was some someplace else. 00:10:50.339 --> 00:10:53.620 It was um I believe it was in a church, but I can't recall the name. 00:10:53.860 --> 00:10:54.100 Right. 00:10:54.339 --> 00:10:59.059 But um it was a faith-focused, like bonding retreat for our our grade. 00:10:59.379 --> 00:10:59.939 Good experience? 00:11:00.100 --> 00:11:01.139 It was a good experience, yeah. 00:11:01.219 --> 00:11:08.819 So hopefully you'll have something similar today with uh beautiful scenery and uh and uh opportunity for outside out outdoor activities. 00:11:09.059 --> 00:11:14.579 Um uh Juan and Jacob, you're both from the same parish, right? 00:11:14.740 --> 00:11:15.939 Our Lady of Fatima St. 00:11:16.100 --> 00:11:17.860 Nicholas in Passaic. 00:11:18.019 --> 00:11:20.419 Um Father Roland Zaribe, right, is the pastor? 00:11:20.500 --> 00:11:20.579 Yes. 00:11:20.819 --> 00:11:22.819 Are you involved in some of the parish activities? 00:11:23.219 --> 00:11:24.419 No, we're altar service. 00:11:25.939 --> 00:11:27.620 Big group of altar service there, right? 00:11:27.860 --> 00:11:37.779 Um and um when you're when you told your family you were going on a vocation retreat or coming back for another retreat day, how did they um how did they respond? 00:11:38.419 --> 00:11:39.219 Have fun. 00:11:39.779 --> 00:11:40.500 Have fun. 00:11:42.019 --> 00:11:43.219 No problems with it, right? 00:11:43.379 --> 00:11:44.579 They were happy you were going? 00:11:44.740 --> 00:11:44.980 Yeah. 00:11:45.219 --> 00:11:45.379 Good. 00:11:46.339 --> 00:11:52.179 Uh for me it was because I always tell whenever I have retreats, my mom somehow finds out before me. 00:11:52.500 --> 00:11:56.500 So she was like, Oh, you should go, and I'm like, yeah, that's the one we had last year. 00:11:56.740 --> 00:12:02.019 Uh my dad was like just surprised that it was this early in the morning. 00:12:02.419 --> 00:12:02.819 Oh yeah. 00:12:03.219 --> 00:12:03.459 Yeah. 00:12:03.860 --> 00:12:05.699 Did uh you guys get a ride here this morning? 00:12:05.939 --> 00:12:06.179 Yeah. 00:12:06.500 --> 00:12:07.139 Great, great. 00:12:07.299 --> 00:12:13.860 Um, and Father Christoph, what do you remember from all those years um from middle school, I guess, into the seminary coming here? 00:12:14.100 --> 00:12:15.059 Well, it wasn't always here, right? 00:12:15.939 --> 00:12:16.179 Right. 00:12:16.339 --> 00:12:16.500 Yeah. 00:12:16.659 --> 00:12:30.899 This was this is much more recent, so um, yes, overall, the big big thing that stuck out to me was uh the talks that were given and the ability to speak to priests and seminarians that you know they're more normal than you would expect. 00:12:31.059 --> 00:12:37.939 That they're you're able to encounter them on like on like a casual more basis, you know, playing soccer with them, just hanging out and talking with them. 00:12:38.019 --> 00:12:48.819 And it's you know, it that it this is something, especially, you know, seminary priesthood is something that is open to everyone, that they have the like, you know, that these guys here have the opportunities. 00:12:48.899 --> 00:13:03.459 It's like, hey, seminary is an option, should definitely be an option because it's you know, I mean, I like to think that I just do everything I do everything I was doing beforehand, now just some added things that are just nothing but source of it. 00:13:07.860 --> 00:13:10.899 It was uh you weren't the only one thinking, you know, maybe God's calling me to be a priest. 00:13:10.980 --> 00:13:14.100 There are a lot of other guys who are open to the to the possibility. 00:13:14.339 --> 00:13:18.980 Um uh uh Juan and Jacob, you've met some seminarians last year and on the retreat. 00:13:19.139 --> 00:13:20.740 Um how was that experience? 00:13:21.059 --> 00:13:23.299 Um for me it was good. 00:13:23.459 --> 00:13:24.980 I got to meet other people. 00:13:25.059 --> 00:13:30.419 Uh like Father Christoph said that people might think that aren't like normal people, but they are. 00:13:30.579 --> 00:13:36.980 Um they were friendly, um, and they helped me a lot to learn more about my faith. 00:13:37.299 --> 00:13:37.620 Great. 00:13:38.500 --> 00:13:46.500 For me it was kind of like an eye-opening experience because you know, as a child you just see them doing the mass and they look all serious and stuff. 00:13:46.740 --> 00:13:57.299 And when I go on retreats like these, they kind of show you the humanity that they have and how like relatable they can be. 00:13:57.620 --> 00:14:00.500 You saw the video I think that they're watching now, Fisher's Amen, right? 00:14:00.579 --> 00:14:01.539 We showed it on retreat. 00:14:01.620 --> 00:14:05.779 There's a guy who was uh a priest, he was had been a baseball player and an actor. 00:14:05.860 --> 00:14:10.899 Um he's a New Yorker and he says, regular guys, the Lord called regular guys, right? 00:14:10.980 --> 00:14:17.620 Uh so uh we don't always maybe realize that, but when you come on days like this, um have you had any sense of that already, Rory? 00:14:17.779 --> 00:14:20.419 Are you uh um have you met seminarians before? 00:14:20.659 --> 00:14:21.299 Oh yeah, yeah. 00:14:21.459 --> 00:14:28.019 Um as like Jacob said there, they're always very friendly and they um they always try to like they they always want to talk to you. 00:14:28.100 --> 00:14:37.539 Like they're like they um they like um if they're trying to uh maybe be your friend, it was may help you along the way. 00:14:37.860 --> 00:14:43.939 Uh and um I think you've had some seminarians and young priests uh come to uh

Assumption over the years, right? 00:14:44.100 --> 00:14:44.339 Yeah, it was. 00:14:44.659 --> 00:14:45.219 There was many. 00:14:45.379 --> 00:14:49.699 Um there was uh I forget his name. 00:14:49.860 --> 00:14:53.139 Um Father John. 00:14:53.219 --> 00:14:54.259 Uh uh Deacon John. 00:14:54.740 --> 00:14:55.219 Deacon John. 00:14:55.379 --> 00:14:58.500 Uh he I believe he was from um Colombia. 00:14:58.659 --> 00:15:01.379 And um he was uh he was very friendly. 00:15:01.459 --> 00:15:02.259 I talked to him a lot. 00:15:02.339 --> 00:15:08.740 He was uh he helped me altar-serve, and um yeah, it was all very nice. 00:15:09.459 --> 00:15:21.939 And um as a seminarian to give a talk at a um uh to uh a group of young guys um i uh can help I think uh confirm your vocation that I can do this, right? 00:15:22.179 --> 00:15:23.299 Did you have some of that experience? 00:15:23.539 --> 00:15:24.899 Uh yeah, especially for me. 00:15:24.980 --> 00:15:26.740 I don't enjoy public speaking. 00:15:26.980 --> 00:15:29.059 So I mean That's great, you got into priesthood. 00:15:29.379 --> 00:15:30.819 No, I know exactly that. 00:15:31.299 --> 00:15:33.539 Um it's uh but you're getting used to it, right? 00:15:33.620 --> 00:15:42.179 You know, it's it's you really get to see it's like you're the Lord is really giving you the strength to do it, which is which is what I I really noticed during giving these talks. 00:15:42.259 --> 00:15:50.019 It's like sometimes you forget what you're gonna say, but yeah, you still end up saying something, and then somebody comes up to you afterwards and is like, hey, I was really moved by that, what you said. 00:15:50.259 --> 00:15:52.339 And it's you can really see the work of the Lord in this. 00:15:52.659 --> 00:15:56.819 You prepare, then you give it to the Holy Spirit, then you start speaking, and it's the rest of the Lord. 00:15:57.219 --> 00:15:57.539 Exactly. 00:15:57.939 --> 00:15:59.939 And you're about to give a talk in a little bit now, right? 00:16:00.500 --> 00:16:09.299 Um well, thank you very much uh for coming on the day and for sharing on the podcast, and hopefully you enjoy um uh a great day. 00:16:09.379 --> 00:16:12.019 And we thank Father Christoph for being with us. 00:16:12.100 --> 00:16:20.419 And uh we ask you that everyone listening and watching to pray for our young men and pray for an increase in vocations to priesthood and consecrated religious life. 00:16:20.659 --> 00:16:21.620 Thank you very much. 00:16:22.019 --> 00:16:22.500 Thank you. 00:16:22.899 --> 00:16:23.860 God bless. 00:16:27.219 --> 00:16:32.740 We're back at our Quo Vatis episode of uh Beyond the Beacon, uh second annual, I guess. 00:16:32.819 --> 00:16:38.259 Uh we're on site here at Shiloh Bible Camp in Hewitt, beautiful Hewitt, on this beautiful day. 00:16:38.419 --> 00:16:46.659 And we have a few more of our attendees, uh, and I'm gonna ask them to introduce introduce themselves, name and parish, and where you go to school. 00:16:46.899 --> 00:16:48.259 So I'm Zach Rizette. 00:16:48.419 --> 00:16:53.860 I go to Our Lady of Mount Carmel Bootin, um, and I go to school at Koinania Academy in Plainfield. 00:16:54.100 --> 00:16:54.419 Right. 00:16:54.659 --> 00:16:56.259 Uh I'm Stephen Howell. 00:16:56.500 --> 00:16:57.699 I go to St. 00:16:57.860 --> 00:17:04.579 Lawrence in Chester, and I just graduated from Westmore Swenham High School, and I will be attending Elon University in the fall. 00:17:04.819 --> 00:17:05.059 Great. 00:17:05.140 --> 00:17:06.180 Um, congratulations. 00:17:06.259 --> 00:17:08.180 Um how was graduation? 00:17:08.420 --> 00:17:09.460 It was hot, it was hot. 00:17:10.259 --> 00:17:12.740 It was but it was it was nice. 00:17:12.980 --> 00:17:16.100 Uh it's good to finally be done and ready to move on to the next part of my life. 00:17:16.259 --> 00:17:17.059 Do you have siblings? 00:17:17.220 --> 00:17:17.539 I do. 00:17:17.620 --> 00:17:19.620 I have a younger brother who's been here a few times. 00:17:19.779 --> 00:17:20.100 Oh, good. 00:17:20.259 --> 00:17:22.100 And I have a younger sister who's in middle school. 00:17:22.259 --> 00:17:22.900 Uh, you're the oldest? 00:17:23.059 --> 00:17:23.700 Yes, I'm the oldest. 00:17:23.940 --> 00:17:26.100 So exciting for your parents, I'm sure that you're graduating from the school. 00:17:26.420 --> 00:17:28.900 Very, very stressful, especially for the first time. 00:17:29.380 --> 00:17:30.500 Zach, do you have siblings? 00:17:30.660 --> 00:17:31.540 I have an older sister, yeah. 00:17:31.779 --> 00:17:32.660 Older sister, yes. 00:17:32.900 --> 00:17:37.779 And we have uh Gabriel Nelson from Sacred Heart Parish in Rockaway. 00:17:37.940 --> 00:17:38.900 I'm homeschooled. 00:17:39.220 --> 00:17:39.860 Homeschooled. 00:17:39.940 --> 00:17:40.660 And what grade? 00:17:40.820 --> 00:17:41.300 What year? 00:17:41.540 --> 00:17:42.740 Um, I'm a junior right now. 00:17:43.060 --> 00:17:44.340 Junior in high school, yes. 00:17:44.500 --> 00:17:45.300 You have siblings? 00:17:45.540 --> 00:17:46.100 Uh six. 00:17:46.580 --> 00:17:47.300 Six, wow. 00:17:47.460 --> 00:17:48.340 What number are you? 00:17:48.580 --> 00:17:49.220 Uh number two. 00:17:49.620 --> 00:17:50.660 Number two, great. 00:17:51.060 --> 00:17:54.340 Uh you you gotta help mom and dad with some of the younger kids. 00:17:54.660 --> 00:17:54.740 Yeah. 00:17:55.140 --> 00:17:55.460 That's great. 00:17:55.620 --> 00:17:56.100 That's great. 00:17:56.259 --> 00:18:00.100 And I'm Eric Hossumbein, uh new seminarian for the diocese. 00:18:00.259 --> 00:18:02.740 I am my home parish is Notre Dame, Mont Carmel. 00:18:02.980 --> 00:18:06.019 And in the August, I'll be entering to St. 00:18:06.180 --> 00:18:08.259 Joseph's Seminary in Dudawood, New York. 00:18:08.500 --> 00:18:09.700 In the Propodudic year. 00:18:09.860 --> 00:18:14.980 In the Propaduki, it's the new formation year, discernment year for the di for the church. 00:18:15.300 --> 00:18:35.620

The church is um always trying to review what we do, and um the formation of men who uh are considering a call to the priesthood, especially when they formally enter a formation or seminary program, uh, is reviewed from time to time by the bishops of the country along with um the offices in Rome that have those responsibilities. 00:18:35.779 --> 00:18:47.860 And recently um uh it's been discerned that um men entering the seminary should have a year, um, almost like a you could call it a full retreat year or preparation year. 00:18:48.180 --> 00:18:48.820 Step away from the world. 00:18:49.220 --> 00:18:53.060 Propadic is a fancy, I think, Latin word for uh a year to get ready, right? 00:18:53.300 --> 00:18:53.860 Yeah, yeah. 00:18:54.100 --> 00:19:08.259 A year to step away, to really enter, to know where the Lord lives, spend that time with him a lot in the sacraments, spend a lot of time in community, and figure out is this a serious call, is this a real environment that I feel comfortable in in? 00:19:08.340 --> 00:19:09.380 So I'm very much looking forward to it. 00:19:09.540 --> 00:19:11.060 And a little less time with your phone and technology. 00:19:11.460 --> 00:19:12.500 They take it away, yes. 00:19:12.580 --> 00:19:14.500 Uh don't be once a week, one day a week. 00:19:15.220 --> 00:19:16.100 Take the whole week away. 00:19:16.180 --> 00:19:17.860 They get it back one day a week. 00:19:17.940 --> 00:19:23.140 Um And the reactions we've had the ProPeductic Year release program started last year. 00:19:23.220 --> 00:19:28.660 We didn't have a Patterson seminary, and from what I've heard, guys doing the ProPeduity Year said, wow, it was great. 00:19:28.980 --> 00:19:29.540 Oh, they loved it. 00:19:29.940 --> 00:19:34.340 I was speaking to one of them this week, actually, and they said, You don't won't even want your phone. 00:19:34.500 --> 00:19:40.019 You're getting your phone back on Saturdays, read these emails and finances, and you want to get back to the seminary. 00:19:40.100 --> 00:19:41.940 Uh so much looking forward to it, yeah. 00:19:42.340 --> 00:19:46.580 Jesus says we have to be in the world but not of the world, and that balance can be a challenge sometimes. 00:19:46.900 --> 00:19:47.060 Exactly. 00:19:47.300 --> 00:19:51.940 Um so uh Zach and Gabriel, um, you were here last year, right? 00:19:52.259 --> 00:19:52.500 Yep. 00:19:52.580 --> 00:19:54.980 Uh and Stephen, you've been here a few times before. 00:19:55.060 --> 00:19:55.620 How many times? 00:19:55.940 --> 00:19:58.180 Uh this will be my fourth Quilvadus. 00:19:58.500 --> 00:20:04.740 And uh what stands out from uh previous uh uh years and and coming on the Quilvatis Day? 00:20:05.140 --> 00:20:09.540 Um I think the one that the thing that stands out the most is the nature hike. 00:20:09.620 --> 00:20:11.860 I remember last year was the first time we did it. 00:20:12.100 --> 00:20:13.860 The first two years you didn't have it. 00:20:13.940 --> 00:20:16.180 I don't I

don't know what for, but I remember that. 00:20:16.340 --> 00:20:17.060 The view was very nice. 00:20:17.140 --> 00:20:19.060 I think it was nice to have the rosary up there. 00:20:19.220 --> 00:20:23.060 You kind of get to see like the whole uh view of Passaic County. 00:20:23.140 --> 00:20:24.820 I'd I'd never seen something like that before. 00:20:24.900 --> 00:20:28.340 It was it's a it's a tough hike, but it's it's very nice to go up there. 00:20:28.500 --> 00:20:28.660 Yeah. 00:20:28.980 --> 00:20:31.220 Uh so that stood out from from last year. 00:20:31.380 --> 00:20:32.820 You guys uh were here last year. 00:20:32.980 --> 00:20:34.100 What stood out for you? 00:20:34.340 --> 00:20:37.540 Um where you you came in not knowing what to expect, right? 00:20:37.940 --> 00:20:38.100 Yeah. 00:20:38.259 --> 00:20:39.620 And what did you find out? 00:20:39.940 --> 00:20:42.820 Um everyone who runs it is super nice. 00:20:42.980 --> 00:20:48.580 Um I had a very good uh experience with the holy hour last year. 00:20:48.900 --> 00:20:53.060 Uh yeah, it's all very uh very well run. 00:20:53.460 --> 00:20:53.779 Yeah. 00:20:54.019 --> 00:20:56.259 I mean it's a great time, you know, a lot of fun. 00:20:56.420 --> 00:21:00.660 Um great to be able to do sports, play games with, you know, meet new people. 00:21:00.820 --> 00:21:07.620 Um I think what really stuck out for me both last year and then this year was the um Fissures of Men, the grassroots film. 00:21:07.860 --> 00:21:10.420 I found I found that very powerful. 00:21:10.580 --> 00:21:10.900 It's really good. 00:21:11.140 --> 00:21:12.580 You just got to see it again this morning, right? 00:21:12.820 --> 00:21:12.980 Yeah. 00:21:13.140 --> 00:21:18.019 Uh what what about that um video uh uh strikes you the most? 00:21:18.259 --> 00:21:24.580 Um I really like the scene where the during the crash where the priest uh like is running down and uh help them. 00:21:24.660 --> 00:21:25.620 I thought I found that very powerful. 00:21:25.860 --> 00:21:30.820 The sacrament of the anointing of the sick and a moment when, as they say, preparing the soul to go home to God, right? 00:21:31.060 --> 00:21:31.860 Yeah, very powerful. 00:21:32.180 --> 00:21:32.580 Yeah. 00:21:32.820 --> 00:21:35.380 Um are you guys involved in your parishes? 00:21:35.540 --> 00:21:38.660 So um, well, I think we have four parishes represented, right? 00:21:38.820 --> 00:21:41.300 Uh um Zach, your parish? 00:21:41.620 --> 00:21:43.460 Yeah, uh Our Lady of Mount Carmel. 00:21:43.700 --> 00:21:50.420 So I served there for like a year, um, and I help out with the youth group and as an altar server, right? 00:21:50.900 --> 00:21:50.980 Yep. 00:21:51.220 --> 00:21:53.140 Um, Father Daniel O'Malle, right, as a pastor. 00:21:53.380 --> 00:21:53.779 Yes, yes. 00:21:54.420 --> 00:21:56.660 And Stephen, are you involved in your parish? 00:21:56.900 --> 00:22:01.060 Yeah, so before COVID, I used to be an altar server. 00:22:01.460 --> 00:22:10.980 So, and then now I'm doing vacation Bible school in the summers, and from time to time, I think I've done the ministering of the Eucharist like once or twice. 00:22:11.300 --> 00:22:14.740 And I've done the reading of the the first two readings a few times as well. 00:22:15.300 --> 00:22:20.660 And Father Nick Boz is the parish and is the pastor, and Father Ain Father Angel, right? 00:22:20.740 --> 00:22:22.980 Is the on Hill, right, right. 00:22:23.140 --> 00:22:26.259 Um what's it been like since Seeing a new priest come to the parish. 00:22:26.500 --> 00:22:28.580 I think Father Angela is two there two years now, right? 00:22:28.900 --> 00:22:30.019 Yeah, it's been a few years. 00:22:30.259 --> 00:22:38.420 Um, Father Nick, the whole time I've been there, he's been the pastor, but in terms of having another priest with him, it's kind of it's been a few different ones. 00:22:38.580 --> 00:22:40.580 So it's it's nice. 00:22:40.660 --> 00:22:44.340 I don't know how long he'll stay, but I really I really like him. 00:22:44.420 --> 00:22:46.660 I think he he does a good job at what he does. 00:22:46.980 --> 00:22:52.980 Sometimes it's it's kind of hard because he has a very strong accent, it's kind of hard to understand it, but I think you you get used to it eventually. 00:22:53.220 --> 00:22:54.019 He's working at it, right? 00:22:54.180 --> 00:22:54.980 Yeah, he's working on it. 00:22:55.220 --> 00:22:59.620 We've we he's not the first priest that we've had in our country, right? 00:22:59.940 --> 00:23:00.980 It's come from another country. 00:23:01.220 --> 00:23:04.420 So and there's a Spanish-speaking community in the powers, right? 00:23:04.900 --> 00:23:05.779 Father Anna would be. 00:23:06.019 --> 00:23:09.700 Yeah, we have a very strong uh Spanish-speaking community. 00:23:09.779 --> 00:23:18.180 We have its own built-in mass on Sundays at 1230, and they have a lot of songs that are done with uh with the guitar that we don't have at the other. 00:23:18.660 --> 00:23:19.380 Enthusiasm, right? 00:23:19.620 --> 00:23:21.140 Very uh very enthusiastic. 00:23:21.700 --> 00:23:28.340 So it's I've been to it a few times, and it's it's very different from the traditional English-speaking mass that we have. 00:23:28.660 --> 00:23:29.220 Right, right. 00:23:29.460 --> 00:23:31.380 And Gabriel, what'd you parish again? 00:23:31.779 --> 00:23:34.660 Same Sacred Heart Rock with Father Pavel Bala, right? 00:23:35.060 --> 00:23:35.620 Are you involved? 00:23:35.700 --> 00:23:36.180 Do you help out? 00:23:36.420 --> 00:23:45.540 Um yeah, I alter serve, and uh my mom runs C C D so I uh I teach the the younger class, my little brother. 00:23:45.700 --> 00:23:49.140 It's a smaller CCD right now, so just my little brother and another kid. 00:23:49.300 --> 00:23:52.580 I teach the preschool class for um for faith formation. 00:23:52.820 --> 00:23:54.900 Are you guys familiar with Carlo Acudis? 00:23:55.140 --> 00:23:55.620 Yeah. 00:23:55.860 -->

00:23:57.700 Um we'll be hearing more about him. 00:23:57.779 --> 00:23:59.860 He's gonna be, I think, the soon named a saint. 00:23:59.940 --> 00:24:01.460 Uh a great story. 00:24:01.540 --> 00:24:06.660 Um, but um he was so close to the Lord from very young, and his parents weren't uh practicing. 00:24:06.740 --> 00:24:11.060 I know your parents are practicing uh uh uh very faithfully. 00:24:11.140 --> 00:24:23.380 Um I've gotten to meet your mom and and your dad, and uh, but you made me think of Carlos because um uh his mom became a catechist to allow Carlo to be her assistant catechist, right? 00:24:23.540 --> 00:24:27.779 So um so it's nice when families are uh helping out in the parish together. 00:24:27.940 --> 00:24:28.980 And Eric, your parish? 00:24:29.220 --> 00:24:32.180 Notre name and Mark Carmel up in uh Cedar Knowles. 00:24:32.580 --> 00:24:35.220 Going through a little at the moment, yes. 00:24:35.700 --> 00:24:38.660 It's uh it's it's always tough, but the parish is going through well. 00:24:38.820 --> 00:24:42.500 We're very excited for the coming of Father Videl. 00:24:42.900 --> 00:24:49.779 We're very sad, obviously, for the leaving of Father Patty and Father Alex, but it's the nature of things, and we're excited that we're gone. 00:24:50.259 --> 00:24:51.540 Trying to keep serve the whole diocese. 00:24:52.019 --> 00:24:54.259 Exactly, yeah, yeah, and and we're taking it well. 00:24:54.340 --> 00:24:57.779 But uh, you know, Father Patty is coming to a well-deserved retirement. 00:24:57.860 --> 00:24:59.140 I think 52 years is a pretty good. 00:24:59.380 --> 00:25:01.140 52 years, yes, celebrations tonight. 00:25:01.620 --> 00:25:03.300 But he's gonna stay active in many ways. 00:25:03.860 --> 00:25:04.420 Oh, he will be. 00:25:04.500 --> 00:25:06.180 He very active in many ways, yes. 00:25:06.500 --> 00:25:06.660 Right. 00:25:06.820 --> 00:25:10.820 Uh and Father Alex will be um heading to the city of Patterson, St. 00:25:10.980 --> 00:25:11.540 Bonaventure's. 00:25:11.779 --> 00:25:13.060 Yep, it's gonna be Patterson Spanish. 00:25:13.300 --> 00:25:14.019 Right, yeah, right, right. 00:25:14.900 --> 00:25:26.740 Um being um on a Quo Vatis or a vocation event, um, you get the opportunity to meet um some guys like Eric who are entering the seminary or have been in the seminary for a few years. 00:25:26.900 --> 00:25:36.340 Um what's that like getting to know some of the guys who are taking that next step to enter formation and and um be in a seminary program? 00:25:36.980 --> 00:25:37.779 Um I'll go. 00:25:37.940 --> 00:25:39.220 It's it's really cool. 00:25:39.380 --> 00:25:48.980 Um and also like really helpful because you kind of get to see their journey and how you know God spoke to them and how He they kind of answered that call. 00:25:49.220 --> 00:25:51.540 So it's really cool and also like kind of reassuring. 00:25:51.700 --> 00:25:57.779 Um and they can kind of help you with any questions that you're having or feelings about the voting. 00:25:58.019 --> 00:26:00.019 And you see that they're ordinary regular guys, right? 00:26:00.180 --> 00:26:00.340 Yep. 00:26:00.500 --> 00:26:00.980 Right, right. 00:26:01.380 --> 00:26:02.500 Stephen was like this. 00:26:02.900 --> 00:26:08.740 Uh similar to that, it kind of feels like since they're your age, they're around your age, they're only a few years older. 00:26:08.900 --> 00:26:11.940 I think one of them is in the same graduating class as me. 00:26:12.180 --> 00:26:20.500 So it it kind of helps you see what your life would be like in their steps because they're they're your age and they're relatable to you. 00:26:20.580 --> 00:26:25.779 And you when you understand them on a personal level, you can kind of see how life is like in the seminary. 00:26:25.940 --> 00:26:34.100 So I think that that's very helpful to kind of see, to kind of get a good feeling of it instead of it being just an unknown mystery. 00:26:34.500 --> 00:26:37.220 Uh you're thinking that you're going to college. 00:26:37.300 --> 00:26:43.779 Um, do you know if Elon has a uh campus ministry program or if there's a Catholic um I believe so? 00:26:44.259 --> 00:26:45.540 I'd be surprised if they didn't. 00:26:45.860 --> 00:26:49.620 You'll be looking to find where you can go to Mass and how you can get involved and keep practicing your faith. 00:26:49.779 --> 00:26:50.019 Of course. 00:26:50.259 --> 00:26:51.620 Eric, that you've had that experience, right? 00:26:52.019 --> 00:26:53.060 Yes, I was very involved. 00:26:53.140 --> 00:27:01.060 I went to Virginia Tech, I studied engineering, I just graduated in May, and campus ministry was one of the best decisions I ever made. 00:27:01.300 --> 00:27:02.180 Highly, highly recommended. 00:27:02.259 --> 00:27:04.019 I'll talk about it probably later today. 00:27:04.180 --> 00:27:08.900 Um but you nourish the faith, you really meet a lot of people who are serious about it. 00:27:09.060 --> 00:27:11.220 Um it's just a great place, great environment. 00:27:11.300 --> 00:27:12.180 It's it's where you want to be. 00:27:12.340 --> 00:27:13.380 So you would encourage Stephen Right? 00:27:13.779 --> 00:27:20.660 I would encourage any young male, any young female, anyone who's entering, thinking about going to college, any any guy here. 00:27:20.740 --> 00:27:22.580 Uh wonderful experience. 00:27:22.740 --> 00:27:25.700 Most of them are very well run with their chaplains and all that. 00:27:25.860 --> 00:27:27.460 I would highly recommend anyone, yeah. 00:27:27.700 --> 00:27:28.259 Great, great. 00:27:28.420 --> 00:27:31.700 Gabriel, getting to know guys in the seminary, you've been able to do that a little bit? 00:27:32.100 --> 00:27:48.420 Um, yeah, here it's easy to um, I think here better than anywhere else, I'm able to feel the call to the priesthood better because you're surrounded by all these awesome guys who, like they said, you can relate to and are kind of uh closer to your age. 00:27:48.740 -->

00:27:51.620 So uh they're yeah, they're all very nice. 00:27:51.700 --> 00:27:55.140 And uh yeah, it makes me want to be a priest even more. 00:27:55.700 --> 00:27:56.019 Great, great. 00:27:56.340 --> 00:27:57.700 And you have some fun today as well, right? 00:27:57.779 --> 00:27:58.500 You'll have some fun. 00:27:58.660 --> 00:28:02.259 Uh you mentioned the uh the the uh nature hike, right? 00:28:02.340 --> 00:28:06.259 Up to the high point and see the beautiful valley here surrounded. 00:28:06.420 --> 00:28:11.060 Um uh uh any other out outdoor activities that you enjoyed or you're looking forward to? 00:28:11.380 --> 00:28:13.700 Uh the the ultimate frisbee game at the end of camp. 00:28:13.860 --> 00:28:14.100 Oh, nice. 00:28:14.259 --> 00:28:14.900 And that's a nice one. 00:28:15.140 --> 00:28:16.180 I thought that's always fun. 00:28:16.740 --> 00:28:18.259 Uh the zip line's awesome. 00:28:18.340 --> 00:28:19.940 I did that like three times last year. 00:28:20.019 --> 00:28:20.580 It was awesome. 00:28:20.820 --> 00:28:21.700 It was fun, great. 00:28:21.940 --> 00:28:24.180 Yeah, definitely the ultimate frisbee. 00:28:24.740 --> 00:28:26.259 And Eric, this is your first time, right? 00:28:26.420 --> 00:28:28.019 This is actually my first covadis. 00:28:28.180 --> 00:28:32.259 Yeah, so it's different perspective that I'm coming in as a seminarian. 00:28:32.420 --> 00:28:36.980 Um, you know, I was I was very involved in campus ministry in college, so that's where I discerned. 00:28:37.060 --> 00:28:46.580 So now it's interesting, okay, what advice can I give to these young high schoolers, many of them going to college like Steven, and saying, you know, here's my recommendation, here's what I went through. 00:28:46.740 --> 00:28:48.500 I it's still kind of fresh in my memory. 00:28:48.580 --> 00:28:49.700 I'm only 22. 00:28:49.860 --> 00:28:55.220 Um, and just saying, you know, open your hearts, let the Lord enter in your hearts and maybe give them your life. 00:28:55.300 --> 00:29:03.860 You know, the journey is along ahead, and they're just starting it, and this is a beautiful time in their lives to figure out you know what they want in life, and it's just a beautiful journey. 00:29:03.940 --> 00:29:08.660 And it's great to see all the high schoolers and seminarians here so they can witness that life. 00:29:08.740 --> 00:29:10.820 And I just don't want to let them see what it's like. 00:29:10.900 --> 00:29:15.460 And just I'm an ordinary guy, and just like then from their towns, went to their high schools and all that. 00:29:15.540 --> 00:29:16.500 So it's wonderful. 00:29:16.820 --> 00:29:17.700 Thanks, thanks. 00:29:17.940 --> 00:29:25.779 Uh the with the previous guys in the we were thinking remembering the outdoor mass from last year, and we had the smoke from Canada. 00:29:25.860 --> 00:29:26.820 Do you remember last year? 00:29:26.900 --> 00:29:29.300 We had the smoke that was coming down from Canada. 00:29:29.380 --> 00:29:37.460 But we're about to um head out to Mass uh to um kind of get the day started as or continue the day and look forward to to the rest of the day. 00:29:37.540 --> 00:29:40.500 And the uh do you remember the KFC barbecue lunch? 00:29:40.580 --> 00:29:42.820 Uh was that that's just the highlight, right? 00:29:43.540 --> 00:29:45.300 Um well, thank you very much, guys. 00:29:45.380 --> 00:29:50.340 I appreciate you being on and um and and being here today and your openness to God's call. 00:29:50.420 --> 00:29:58.820 Um we're gonna ask everyone to pray for you and um we'll pray for um uh especially an increase in vocations, the priests of the Cot's Great Religious Land. 00:29:59.140 --> 00:29:59.700 Thanks very much. 00:30:00.259 --> 00:30:00.500 Thank you. 00:30:00.660 --> 00:30:00.900 Thanks. 00:30:01.060 --> 00:30:02.420 God bless you guys.