'Really? You too?'November 2022 Picture on left: Childhood friends Father Colin and Father Stephen began their journey to priesthood at a youth conference. Grateful for friendship and a shared vocation, I was sitting in a gymnasium filled with more than…
Meet our new seminariansOctober 2022 Last year, we were blessed to have seven men enter seminary formation. It was a good year for us! People were very excited about it, and I remember saying to them, “We shouldn’t expect that…
‘A lesson in the power of prayer’ September 2022 Last month I wrote about Father Mark Bauer and how he helped me in my journey toward the priesthood. In that article, I told the story of a woman I encountered…
God’s messengers July/August Faith Magazine It was a typical summer day at D&W Fresh Market in Caledonia. Since I was only 17 at the time, I worked most often as a service clerk or, more colloquially, a “bagger boy.” That…
June 2022 ‘OK, God ….Embracing the call to priesthood By Fr. David Jameson I never set out to fall in love with Christ through his Church and sacraments. The path into the Catholic Church was, for me, paved with a…
May 2022 The Gift of the Priesthood By Fr. Noah Thelen The best gift I received growing up was a full set of football gear. I remember it all very vividly: Christmas morning, my brother and I getting identical packages…
April 2022 Meeting Jesus Changes Everything By Fr. Stephen Durkee, Director of Priestly Vocations Several weeks ago, the middle schoolers at my parish had their winter retreat. It is very common during these retreats for there to be an opportunity…
Isolated but not alone March 2022 By Fr. Stephen Durkee At the moment, I am sitting in the Dominican Republic. I am “stuck” here. By the time this article reaches print, the COVID-19 omicron surge and the new year will…
January/February 2022 A Pivotal Weekend...the Vianney Visit helps young men discern whether seminary is right for them by Fr. Stephen Durkee. “May I use your pen?” I asked nervously to the lady seated next to me in the airport. I…
December 2021 A fresh Incarnation Father Stephen Durkee is director of priestly vocations for the Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids. One of my favorite prayers at Mass is probably one most of us never hear. It is one of those…
