The Saint Paul Show

Every priest has a vocation story. Then there’s that of Fr. Donald Calloway. The former Japanese mafia drug mule turned Catholic priest of 20 years is the author of “Consecration to St. Joseph: The Wonders of Our Spiritual Father.”  He’s also a member of the Congregation of Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary. He leads tours to Marian shrines around the world, including with actor Jim Caviezel. He’s known in many circles as the “surfing priest.” And yet those are hardly the most interesting things about him. We dive into Fr. Calloway’s story and how Catholics can maintain a transformational devotion to St. Joseph in this edition of the Joyful Catholic Leaders Show. Produced by The Saint Paul Seminary, the Joyful Catholic Leaders Show features monthly conversations with leaders from around the Catholic Church -- from the seminary, to the parish, to the classroom, to the office, to the sports field and everywhere in between. Learn more and subscribe: https://bit.ly/3oS4QRM Check out Fr. Calloway’s book, Consecration to St. Joseph: https://bit.ly/3BDfGCH

Pope Francis often says “we are not living in an age of change, but a change of the ages.” By and large, contemporary society is no longer friendly to Judeo-Christian values; increasingly, it is hostile toward them. So what’s a practicing Catholic to-do in a world that seems increasingly anti-Catholic? Certainly, the answer isn’t despair. Msgr. James Shea, president of the University of Mary, stops by the Joyful Catholic Leaders Show to discuss how the Church can best operate given the cultural narratives of our day. The conversation takes place through the lens of a book called From Christendom to Apostolic Mission: Pastoral Strategies for an Apostolic Age which was published by the University of Mary. An excerpt from the book: “What we face is not a culture so corrupt that it is immune to the Gospel nor a populace for whom Catholicism has altogether lost its bite or its or its attractiveness. Our problem is rather that much of the Church is still in a Christendom mode, either seriously compromised by the ruling vision of the wider culture or using outmoded strategies that were devised for a different context, and so it is unable to cope with the current culture. The task at hand is to find ways to successfully engage members in the Church – and those outside of it – with the truths of the Faith.” Produced by The Seminaries of Saint Paul, the Joyful Catholic Leaders Show shares stories and insights from those who lead with faith -- from the seminary, to the parish, to the classroom, to the office, to the sports field and everywhere in between. Check out From Christendom to Apostolic Mission: Pastoral Strategies for an Apostolic Age: https://bit.ly/3HYMLKu

Becoming a priest is a countercultural choice. Priests dress differently. They're celibate. And they give their life over completely to a Church in the name of a God they can't "see" (in the traditional sense).   Why?   In their final days before being ordained, we posed this question and others to Deacons John Utecht (Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis), Nathan Pacer (Rockford, Illinois) and Scott Padrnos (Duluth, Minnesota). We also discussed their time in seminary and their journeys as priests that have really only just begun.   Produced by The Seminaries of Saint Paul, the Joyful Catholic Leaders Show shares stories and insights from those who lead with faith -- from the seminary, to the parish, to the classroom, to the office, to the sports field and everywhere in between.

Can you "pray the gay away"? Are members of the LGBTQ community welcome in the Catholic Church? What does God want for someone who identifies as transgender? What should I do if my child or friend comes out? We explore these important questions and more in the latest episode of the Joyful Catholic Leaders Show. Fr. Philip Bochanski lays out the Church's official teaching on homosexuality and transgenderism -- in terms the average Catholic can understand and articulate. Bochanski has served as Executive Director of Courage International since 2017. Before that, he was chaplain for the Courage apostolate in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia for five years, then was appointed to the position of associate director in January 2015. An award-winning author, he has written and edited several books, audio series, and articles on various aspects of Church history, catechesis and spirituality. In 2019, Pope Francis awarded Father Bochanski the Cross Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice, given in recognition of “sustained and exceptional service” to the Church. Produced by The Seminaries of Saint Paul, the Joyful Catholic Leaders Show shares stories and insights from those who lead with faith -- from the seminary, to the parish, to the classroom, to the office, to the sports field and everywhere in between. Learn more about Courage and Encourage: https://couragerc.org/ Learn more about The Seminaries of Saint Paul: https://semssp.org/

Why are we here? Where are we going? How do we get there? The answers, according to Saint Paul Seminary Spiritual Director Monsignor Steven Rohlfs, actually lie in another question. God asks, “Do you love me more than anyone or anything else?” “The notion of purgatory has always given me hope, because it means God never gives up on me as long as I don’t give up on God,” Rohlfs says. Enjoy this lenten reflection from one of the seminary’s wisest priests. Rohlfs serves as a spiritual director and teacher for seminarians and is the former rector at Mount Saint Mary’s Seminary in Maryland. Produced by The Seminaries of Saint Paul, the Joyful Catholic Leaders Show shares stories and insights from those who lead with faith -- from the seminary, to the parish, to the classroom, to the office, to the sports field and everywhere in between.

The road to the priesthood is known in some circles as a long, arduous academic haul. While this isn't entirely inaccurate -- just ask one of the men taking 128 credits in 4-6 years -- there's a lot more to it than that. Dr. Christopher Thompson, academic dean at The Saint Paul Seminary, joins the show to talk through what a man learns on his journey from disciple to seminarian to priest. Thompson also shares some of his own story of faith, including oversight of the lay graduate theological programs that are available at the seminary. Produced by The Seminaries of Saint Paul, the Joyful Catholic Leaders Show shares stories and insights from those who lead with faith -- from the seminary, to the parish, to the classroom, to the office, to the sports field and everywhere in between.

Renowned catechist Jeff Cavins, an instructor at The Saint Paul Seminary, shares his insights on what makes an effective Catholic leader, what makes a true disciple, and how the two are related. The co-creator of the Bible in a Year podcast also shares his story of falling away from the Catholic faith, only to return and become one of the Church’s most popular lay evangelists. Produced by The Seminaries of Saint Paul, the Joyful Catholic Leaders Show shares stories and insights from those who lead with faith -- from the seminary, to the parish, to the classroom, to the office, to the sports field and everywhere in between. Check out Jeff and The Saint Paul Seminary alum Fr. Mike Schmitz’s Bible in a Year podcast: https://bit.ly/32PjqSO Check out the Jeff Cavins Show: https://bit.ly/3IPPi99

Paul Ruff, director of counseling services at The Saint Paul Seminary, joins the Joyful Catholic Leaders Show to discuss the importance of mental health as a man goes through seminary — and its implications after ordination. Produced by The Seminaries of Saint Paul, the Joyful Catholic Leaders Show shares stories and insights from those who lead with faith -- from the seminary, to the parish, to the classroom, to the office, to the sports field and everywhere in between.

Why would a young, outgoing guy ever willingly choose to pursue a life of celibacy and simplicity? For Deacon Mike Selenski, a seminarian set for ordination in the spring of 2022, the better question is "who." Our conversation with Selenski dives into why he chose to enter major seminary, what life has been like at The Saint Paul Seminary during the pandemic, and how Catholics can be joyful during a time that's fraught with challenges. Deacon Mike also delves into his interests outside of priestly formation, including cooking, sports and spending quality time with fellow future priests. Produced by The Seminaries of Saint Paul, the Joyful Catholic Leaders Show shares stories and insights from those who lead with faith -- from the seminary, to the parish, to the classroom, to the office, to the sports field and everywhere in between.

On the inaugural episode of the Joyful Catholic Leaders Show, Saint Paul Seminary Rector Fr. Joseph Taphorn explains what goes on behind the scenes at the seminary. How are young men discerning the priesthood being prepared for the world they'll enter upon ordination? Fr. Taphorn also shares stories from his "jail days" -- he was once arrested multiple times while protesting at abortion clinics -- and how spending his spare time training for marathons or sailing at one of Minnesota's 10,000 Lakes helps him maintain balance as a joyful, Catholic leader. Produced by The Seminaries of Saint Paul, the Joyful Catholic Leaders Show shares stories and insights from those who lead with faith -- from the seminary, to the parish, to the classroom, to the office, to the sports field and everywhere in between.

Produced by The Seminaries of Saint Paul, the Joyful Catholic Leaders Show shares stories and insights from those who lead with faith -- from the seminary, to the parish, to the classroom, to the office, to the sports field and everywhere in between.

Produced by The Seminaries of Saint Paul, the Joyful Catholic Leaders Show shares stories and insights from those who lead with faith -- from the seminary, to the parish, to the classroom, to the office, to the sports field and everywhere in between.  New episodes will drop every month on the first Friday of the month in honor of Our Lady of Fatima and the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. Be sure to subscribe wherever you find your podcasts and follow both The Saint Paul Seminary and Saint John Vianney College Seminary on social media, and at semssp.org. Thanks for listening, and God bless! Music - Unity by Kevin MacLeod - Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4564-unity - License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license