Father and Dad

Father Steven has been at his parish assignment for 2 months and has been settling in to the life of a parish priest.Along with parish life, Father Steven has been assigned as priest for both a pre-K through 8 grammar school and a local Catholic High School. Father Steven has been doing his best to be available and getting to know everyone.We discussed how these assignments came about and ultimately, it is the Bishop who makes these assignments. It is the Bishop's job to underst...

Father Steven and Dad both attended the 2024 National Eucharistic Congress the past weekend and shared their experiences.The 2024 National Eucharistic Congress was the first held since 1976. This gathering was the culmination of several years of work in coordination with the National Eucharistic Revival. Eucharistic procession pilgrimages from the North, South, East and West all converged on Indianapolis for the start of the Congress.Dad had not originally planned on...

The day following his ordination, Steven celebrated his first mass at his home parish. Numerous brother priests and fellow seminarians celebrated this mass with Steven.Steven found the mass a mixture of both the surreal and natural. Natural in that he had prepared for this and surreal in the realization that this had all come to fruition.The homily for this first mass was given by Fr. Chris Stanish who served served as Steven's first Spiritual Director. Fr. Chris's h...

Ordination Day finally arrived!The day Steven has been preparing for these last 6 years - and even his last 28 years - came and with it a full cascade of moments, memories and emotions.Steven and Dad review the Ordination mass itself and various highlights of the day.Also discussed are particular moments that stuck out for each. Key among these were the anointing of Steven's hands with the Chrism oil, Steven being vested by Fr. Mike and then concelebrating his first mass.An...

Steven graduated from Sacred Heart Major Seminary and with that, ended 23 consecutive years of schooling!Steven took this time to reflect back on his academic priestly formation which began in 2018 at Mundelein Seminary.The transition from college where he studied Mathematics to the seminary and Philosophy proved more challenging than expected. Figuring that the logic and mathematical thinking would easily segue into philosophy, Steven discovered things more challenging.Steven wo...

[Production note: apologies for the imbalance of the sound on this episode.]Steven was in town for Easter and got to serve as a deacon during the Triduum at his home parish.Before the Easter break Steven partook in his final Scrutiny with the Bishop. This was a time to check in and make certain that there was no ambiguity at all.One last set of Final Exams await Steven as he wraps up his seminarian career. He has an upcoming 2 day comprehensive exam, the first day wr...

Last month we discussed how during his final semester Steven has been practicing administering the various sacraments.Over the past month Steven was able to perform several "practice" confessions with his brother seminarians. Afterwards, Steven and his classmates were able to review each other's styles.We discuss the challenges that lay people face with the sacrament of Reconciliation. Regular confession helps aid the conscience and allows it to be better formed.We a...

With Priestly Ordination right around the corner, Steven started his final semester at school. This period of time is unique in that it offers the opportunity to prepare and pray through the mass and the sacraments.His "Mass Practicum" class during this final semester of formation involves practicing reciting the mass parts. It's been an edifying experience going through this with his brother seminarians.Steven and his brother seminarians have also practiced confessi...

Steven is home for the Christmas Break. At the beginning of the break he went shopping for a chalice.For Steven it is important to choose a chalice that reveals the beauty of what is happening during consecration. The priests actions at the altar and the chalice gives a message. It can serve as a catechesis.When choosing, there are guidelines for chalices. These Guidelines can be found in General Instruction on the Roman Missal.At the start of the upco...

After a quick visit home during the Thanksgiving Break, Steven is back at Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit.Steven is in the middle of a Marian Consecration that he is SHARING with several fellow seminarians. This consecration is timed with the Feast of the Immaculate Conception on December 8th.Steven first learned about the Marian Consecration while in college and was initially resistant to the idea. During the Summer after his first semester in seminary, Steve...

Architecture matters.Last weekend, while visiting Detroit-area college friends, Mom & Dad were able to attend mass where Steven serves as a deacon and got to hear him preach. One of our friends is an adult student at Sacred Heart Seminary and so we took the opportunity to take a tour of the school.The design of Sacred Heart seminary reinforces its mission. Contained in a single building with several wings, the center of the structure is the chapel. Surroun...

At the end of the Summer, Steven was offered the chance to join a trip to Medugorje. While a visit to Medugorje was not on the top of his list of places to visit, Steven happily joined.On his first evening, a group of pilgrims shared that they were witnessing the miracle of the Sun. Steven was also blessed to be able to witness the miracle as well. Also, at the end of his trip Steven experienced the smell of roses when no one around him did.Moved, and en...

Steven has been enjoying his Deacon assignment this Summer. The opportunity to get more engaged with parish life has been a blessing and full of joy.One of the highlights has been preaching the homily at Sunday masses. Unlike his first homily for which he had several months to get ready, Steven enjoys the weekly cadence of reflecting on the next week's readings while preparing a homily.Steven has also been able to preside over the sacraments of baptism and last rites.Steve...

On June 3, 2023 at Holy Angels Cathedral by the power of the Most Reverend Robert J. McClory Bishop of Gary, Steven Caraher was ordained into the order of the Diaconate.I was a beautiful day both in weather and the ceremony. Though he did not sleep much the night before, Steven woke up full of energy.Seeing most of the priests of the diocese and many of the deacons participating in the ceremony, it felt part of the Mystical Body of Christ.During the Litany of the Saints, wh...

As Steven counts down the days until his ordination into the Transitional Diaconate, he has a couple of weeks of free time which raises the question; how do seminarians and priests spend their free time?First and foremost it is important to remember that time off is not a vacation from the vocation. The idea is not to escape, but more so to breath fresh air and gain fresh perspectiveThe key is to not stop praying. Life in the seminary provides structure that en...

As a Seminarian and in the future as a Priest, Steven has set himself up to be a target of temptation.When he first announced his interest in the priesthood to Fr. Mike, Steven experienced the feeling that he did something wrong. Reflecting on that moment, Steven realized that this was a "word from the Enemy".One avenue of attack is what St Ignatius refers to as the "false lover". Someone who is not liked by the parents or society but you keep around and can't ...

Being ordained to the diaconate is the first step towards Holy Orders. This step involves Steven make several promises; notably one of Obedience to the Bishop and a promise of celibacy. During the last 4 years of seminary, a seminarian goes through different evaluations. The process of priestly formation is not just the discernment of the seminarian but it also involves a series of evaluations. For Steven's formation, he just completed the fin...

Steven recently took a trip to Washington DC to participate in the March for Life. This was his second time participating in the march. He found it important to be there with others, publicly witnessing.One aspect of the march was that Steven participated while wearing clerics. The first time that Steven had ever worn clerics was the prior time Steven had participated in the March. Steven shared how he felt a little awkward...

Steven is in town for the Christmas Break. Over the break he spoke at the local Holy Name Society and shared in a Bible class on Hebrews. The teacher of his class authored a book of Catholic Commentary on Hebrews. It was great that Steven could share what he had learned, but it brought up a bigger question for Dad, "How does the Bible fit it with seminary?"Steven mentioned the Four Pillars of the Program of Priestly Formation which are Spiritual, Intellectual, Pastora...

Steven’s vocation has given our local community witness to the process of Discernment. People are able to see that discernment is not instant magic. Rather, it is a real process that involves time and work.Steven reviews several practical tools of discernment. First off is Commitment. You have to actively engage. It won’t come to you, you need to work to open yourself up. Also, building up a prayer life ...