WEBVTT NOTE This file was generated by Descript 00:00:02.642 --> 00:00:05.412 Welcome to the Catholic School Leaders podcast, where we discuss 00:00:05.452 --> 00:00:07.072 leadership and Catholic education. 00:00:07.542 --> 00:00:10.822 I'm John Mahalio, the president and founder of Elementary Advancement 00:00:10.832 --> 00:00:15.192 Solutions, dedicated to enhancing Catholic education and connecting 00:00:15.192 --> 00:00:16.722 Catholic school leaders worldwide. 00:00:17.242 --> 00:00:19.872 Explore our services at www. 00:00:19.912 --> 00:00:21.382 elementaryadvancement. 00:00:21.382 --> 00:00:24.432 com to see how we can help your school beat its leadership, 00:00:24.722 --> 00:00:26.682 advancement, and growth potential. 00:00:27.194 --> 00:00:30.074 As a Catholic school principal, I always had a passion for supporting 00:00:30.074 --> 00:00:33.384 our seminarians as they discerned a vocation to the priesthood. 00:00:33.784 --> 00:00:38.194 And I think we have to realize that in our schools, Uh, there are young men and women 00:00:38.194 --> 00:00:42.934 who may be hearing that calling from God to discern a vocation to the priesthood or 00:00:42.934 --> 00:00:45.744 religious life or, uh, whatever it may be. 00:00:46.081 --> 00:00:49.271 and what we do as Catholic school leaders plays such a big role in the 00:00:49.271 --> 00:00:51.281 future for these young people's lives. 00:00:51.581 --> 00:00:53.961 but also for the future of our church. 00:00:54.601 --> 00:00:57.021 Now, before I introduce our guests, I just want to quickly remind you, 00:00:57.191 --> 00:01:01.701 if you enjoy this podcast, please be sure to like, subscribe, if you can 00:01:01.711 --> 00:01:05.061 leave a review, that'd be amazing, uh, and share it with others. 00:01:05.111 --> 00:01:08.581 Uh, it helps with the algorithms, it helps get this out to other 00:01:08.581 --> 00:01:12.481 Catholic school leaders, just like you, to help grow Catholic education. 00:01:12.481 --> 00:01:14.331 So, I can't say thank you enough for this. 00:01:14.412 --> 00:01:17.722 please be sure to, to like and subscribe it and, and thank you for that. 00:01:18.457 --> 00:01:20.127 So today I want to introduce my guest. 00:01:20.127 --> 00:01:23.827 It's seminarian Rob Lane, who's currently studying to become a priest for the 00:01:23.827 --> 00:01:26.037 Diocese of Raleigh in North Carolina. 00:01:26.387 --> 00:01:29.787 Now I've known Rob for a number of years, so this chance to sit down with 00:01:29.787 --> 00:01:33.717 him and get to speak with him about his journey, as well as how schools 00:01:33.717 --> 00:01:36.577 can support our seminarians, was something I was really excited about. 00:01:37.217 --> 00:01:41.117 Rob grew up with his two sisters in Raleigh, North Carolina, and as a freshman 00:01:41.117 --> 00:01:44.077 in college, he discerned that the Lord was calling him to the priesthood. 00:01:44.097 --> 00:01:47.387 And was accepted as a seminarian for the Diocese of Raleigh. 00:01:47.907 --> 00:01:51.717 He completed the Deser, the discipleship phase of his formation at St. 00:01:51.717 --> 00:01:55.827 Charles Bojo Seminary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and 00:01:55.827 --> 00:01:59.877 is now in the configuration stage of his formation, studying at St. 00:01:59.877 --> 00:02:03.344 Vincent DePaul Regional Seminary in Boyton Beach, Florida. 00:02:03.724 --> 00:02:08.004 In his free time, he enjoys reading board games and hiking. 00:02:08.621 --> 00:02:09.341 Welcome, Rob. 00:02:09.341 --> 00:02:10.531 It's great to have you here. 00:02:11.071 --> 00:02:12.051 Thanks so much, John. 00:02:12.061 --> 00:02:13.091 It's a pleasure to be here. 00:02:13.342 --> 00:02:13.812 it's an honor. 00:02:13.842 --> 00:02:15.112 So, thank you for having me. 00:02:15.112 --> 00:02:15.742 I'm excited. 00:02:16.132 --> 00:02:17.152 the honor is mine. 00:02:17.162 --> 00:02:17.792 The honor is mine. 00:02:17.792 --> 00:02:21.422 So, we, we just, I, talking before we started recording, and I said, 00:02:21.522 --> 00:02:25.112 I feel like I've had a front row seat, uh, for your journey over 00:02:25.112 --> 00:02:26.552 the past, uh, couple of years. 00:02:26.552 --> 00:02:29.632 Even before that, maybe I said I, I was, I had a ticket or trying 00:02:29.632 --> 00:02:30.902 to get a ticket outside because. 00:02:31.282 --> 00:02:35.122 Uh, where I was the principal at before, you were a parishioner at, uh, long 00:02:35.122 --> 00:02:36.722 before you, you entered the seminary. 00:02:37.072 --> 00:02:40.082 So tell us a little bit about yourself, your upbringing, and, 00:02:40.082 --> 00:02:43.902 and the role that faith, your faith has played in your growing up. 00:02:44.282 --> 00:02:47.572 uh, to be honest, John, it wasn't anything super extraordinary, right? 00:02:47.802 --> 00:02:51.112 Kind of just your typical, you know, mass on Sunday because 00:02:51.112 --> 00:02:52.262 that's, that's what you do. 00:02:52.622 --> 00:02:55.281 And, uh, you know, pray before meals at the dinner table. 00:02:55.616 --> 00:03:00.718 Uh, which is good and great, but yeah, that was kind of the extent, so nothing, 00:03:00.728 --> 00:03:04.308 nothing too extravagant, we weren't one of those, you know, super holy 00:03:04.308 --> 00:03:08.739 families, uh, that like pray the rosary every night or anything like that, but 00:03:08.739 --> 00:03:12.829 yeah, so grew up, um, came to North Carolina, came down to Raleigh, as 00:03:12.829 --> 00:03:17.381 many people do, and uh, from when I was young, and so really, raised in Raleigh, 00:03:17.791 --> 00:03:20.311 which was, oh, I'm just so grateful. 00:03:20.851 --> 00:03:21.881 Uh, that mom and 00:03:21.906 --> 00:03:23.036 area here, for sure. 00:03:23.066 --> 00:03:23.816 Beautiful area. 00:03:23.856 --> 00:03:26.466 And, and knowing your parents, great, great people as well. 00:03:26.476 --> 00:03:28.106 I'm going to say that as well, great people. 00:03:28.106 --> 00:03:30.676 And so, uh, wonderful role models there for sure. 00:03:30.973 --> 00:03:31.773 right, right, right. 00:03:31.783 --> 00:03:33.103 So proud. 00:03:33.183 --> 00:03:36.563 Um, and we'll get to that when I talk about joining the diocese of Raleigh. 00:03:36.563 --> 00:03:40.993 So proud to be a part of Raleigh and, uh, grateful to go up there and yeah. 00:03:41.003 --> 00:03:44.723 So I just grew up kind of typical, um, yeah, typical upbringing, with 00:03:44.723 --> 00:03:47.588 my sisters, I have two sisters and, um, Good, happy family. 00:03:47.588 --> 00:03:50.699 Like you mentioned, you know, parents sent us to Catholic school. 00:03:51.019 --> 00:03:53.279 That's an important value for them, right? 00:03:53.547 --> 00:03:56.747 yeah, that was just a good, definitely a positive experience, 00:03:56.942 --> 00:03:58.602 growing up in Catholic school there. 00:03:58.967 --> 00:04:03.505 yeah, so now I had a chance a couple weeks ago, as, uh, you've been with 00:04:03.505 --> 00:04:06.495 us here at the, at the parish that I belong to, and so we've gotten to 00:04:06.495 --> 00:04:09.545 know each other a little bit better there, uh, and a couple weeks ago, 00:04:09.555 --> 00:04:12.345 maybe it's been even longer than that, now time flies when we're having fun, 00:04:12.815 --> 00:04:19.385 you had a chance to, preach, uh, after the gospel and really talk about your 00:04:19.415 --> 00:04:25.185 discernment and your journey into making that decision, to enter the seminary. 00:04:25.665 --> 00:04:27.825 Can you tell a little bit about that? 00:04:27.835 --> 00:04:31.735 Uh, maybe just like, I guess, kind of give a recap or a, a, a version 00:04:31.735 --> 00:04:34.575 of, of what you really talked about because I thought it was very moving. 00:04:34.575 --> 00:04:37.915 I thought it was a wonderful, wonderful talk and it really helped a lot of us 00:04:37.945 --> 00:04:42.645 get to know you on a, on a more personal level, but also what led you to this, 00:04:42.675 --> 00:04:44.135 uh, this discernment in your life. 00:04:44.822 --> 00:04:45.142 right. 00:04:45.222 --> 00:04:48.742 And, uh, yeah, John, I was, I was thinking about this, you know, considering the, 00:04:49.012 --> 00:04:53.192 the context of this podcast we're on, and I really think of it as really 00:04:53.462 --> 00:04:58.944 a real success story of Catholic education, um, because, you know, Right. 00:04:58.954 --> 00:05:05.344 So, uh, really my vocation, the vocation part of my story, uh, starts, starts 00:05:05.344 --> 00:05:09.799 in high school, starts in high school where I was just very, very blessed, to 00:05:09.799 --> 00:05:11.629 go to a fantastic Catholic high school. 00:05:12.009 --> 00:05:16.313 And the way I like to describe it is, uh, you know, although I said that I was, 00:05:16.403 --> 00:05:20.623 you know, raised culturally Catholic and cradle Catholic, um, it really wasn't 00:05:20.623 --> 00:05:25.804 till high school, till I was really evangelized for the first time, um, 00:05:25.814 --> 00:05:28.004 in a deep and meaningful way, right? 00:05:28.284 --> 00:05:32.153 So going into high school, yeah, Catholic faith, you know, I guess like 00:05:32.153 --> 00:05:37.028 most 8th graders going to high school, um, kind of, uh, ambivalent about my 00:05:37.028 --> 00:05:38.868 faith and the importance in my life. 00:05:38.878 --> 00:05:45.058 But, um, yeah, really was just so blessed to go to, um, a Catholic high school. 00:05:45.198 --> 00:05:49.398 It was a small school, um, a small Catholic high school, and a 00:05:49.398 --> 00:05:52.418 little bit different that it was an independent, um, high school. 00:05:52.578 --> 00:05:56.728 So we, you know, operate as Catholic and call ourselves Catholic under 00:05:56.728 --> 00:06:00.498 the blessing of the diocese, but not officially associated with the diocese. 00:06:00.798 --> 00:06:01.848 So, anyway, 00:06:02.488 --> 00:06:03.378 and it's a great school. 00:06:03.448 --> 00:06:05.318 It's a, I've had the chance to visit the school. 00:06:05.318 --> 00:06:07.098 It's a beautiful campus, a beautiful school. 00:06:07.098 --> 00:06:10.148 It's a, it's a, it's a great, uh, one of the best kept secrets in Raleigh. 00:06:10.148 --> 00:06:11.028 It's a beautiful campus. 00:06:11.668 --> 00:06:12.408 Right, right. 00:06:12.458 --> 00:06:16.138 And yeah, just so I call it like going to that school. 00:06:16.138 --> 00:06:19.458 I was just like immersed in this, in this fervently Catholic culture, 00:06:19.538 --> 00:06:21.414 I'd say, really for the first time. 00:06:21.424 --> 00:06:25.834 So, you know, I had professor teachers who could, who were one 00:06:25.844 --> 00:06:28.484 really invested in their faith and could explain it really well. 00:06:28.714 --> 00:06:33.264 So getting that intellectual aspect really for the first time, and I had 00:06:33.264 --> 00:06:36.904 classmates and just who were, yeah, actually cared about their faith, 00:06:37.664 --> 00:06:39.634 Yes, it goes a long way, right? 00:06:40.004 --> 00:06:40.774 which was new. 00:06:40.804 --> 00:06:45.177 So just, yeah, really just thrown into this sort of crazy new environment 00:06:45.177 --> 00:06:49.357 where, um, everyone is pretty on fire for their Lord in the Catholic faith. 00:06:49.707 --> 00:06:51.797 And yeah, just kind of stepping into that. 00:06:51.797 --> 00:06:53.237 I was just, one, it was a shock. 00:06:53.297 --> 00:06:57.597 It's a little bit of a culture shock, but I said, but it wasn't long before 00:06:57.597 --> 00:06:59.420 I said like, Whoa, this is amazing. 00:06:59.604 --> 00:07:01.334 And I'm extremely attracted to this. 00:07:01.554 --> 00:07:03.534 And I want, I want more. 00:07:03.534 --> 00:07:04.314 I want to jump in. 00:07:04.594 --> 00:07:08.539 Um, I want to start, maybe having a serious prayer life for the first time. 00:07:08.539 --> 00:07:12.491 I want to start learning more, about this faith where I'm seeing all this 00:07:12.551 --> 00:07:14.121 truth in so many different areas. 00:07:14.325 --> 00:07:19.145 so yeah, just that blessing to be in that environment and then the subsequent, 00:07:19.605 --> 00:07:22.075 um, desire to just, to just jump in. 00:07:22.565 --> 00:07:27.975 And then it was in that jumping in, in that kind of spending time in chapel 00:07:28.185 --> 00:07:32.479 just for an extended time for the first time that, yeah, I started having this, 00:07:32.509 --> 00:07:35.749 this crazy thought, well, shoot, I'm really loving this Catholic faith. 00:07:35.838 --> 00:07:39.069 you know, maybe, maybe I'm, I have a vocation, to be a 00:07:39.069 --> 00:07:40.349 priest and to serve the church. 00:07:40.589 --> 00:07:42.769 So that's kind of how it started. 00:07:43.069 --> 00:07:47.369 And, uh, I like to say that it's just started as a thought, not a big vision, 00:07:47.669 --> 00:07:52.159 uh, nothing super, super grand or special or anything like that, but just. 00:07:52.654 --> 00:07:53.814 A thought that didn't go away. 00:07:53.814 --> 00:07:55.197 Right, 00:07:55.214 --> 00:07:59.594 I think that, that, the, the, the listening piece, because I think 00:07:59.614 --> 00:08:03.634 oftentimes that, uh, and I remember hearing this a couple of years ago, uh, 00:08:03.644 --> 00:08:07.524 that, that I think it was the Dominican sisters would say that first God whispers, 00:08:07.634 --> 00:08:10.634 and then he talks, and then he yells, and, and you don't want to get into the 00:08:10.634 --> 00:08:13.324 point where he yells, you know what I mean, kind of thing, because, you know, 00:08:13.484 --> 00:08:15.924 he's going to speak through us, and we just have to be willing to listen. 00:08:16.024 --> 00:08:18.714 We have to be listening, willing to what it is that he's trying to tell us. 00:08:19.304 --> 00:08:21.854 And I think by you saying, Hey, listen, I just spent some time in the 00:08:21.864 --> 00:08:26.694 chapel and, and that intentionality behind it, uh, is so important. 00:08:27.013 --> 00:08:31.503 And I'm guessing too that, that, um, you know, one of the things that I often get 00:08:31.513 --> 00:08:36.183 asked by teachers, especially, is, is, well, I'm just not comfortable talking 00:08:36.183 --> 00:08:40.308 about my faith or, or, you know, I don't want to, And I think the big thing is 00:08:40.598 --> 00:08:44.848 people don't have to like walk around with, uh, saying the rosary in between 00:08:44.848 --> 00:08:46.018 classes and everything like that. 00:08:46.018 --> 00:08:49.518 Hey, it's a bonus if you can do so, but, but that's not what I think has 00:08:49.518 --> 00:08:51.028 the biggest impact on our students. 00:08:51.296 --> 00:08:56.526 it's just teachers who live their faith outwardly and, and showcase it. 00:08:56.566 --> 00:08:59.506 Because I'm guessing at the school you went to, That was probably 00:08:59.506 --> 00:09:00.656 a big piece of it right there. 00:09:00.726 --> 00:09:04.156 Uh, you, you have amazing teachers over there, but I'm guessing that the way that 00:09:04.156 --> 00:09:08.466 they live their lives in that outward way that they present themselves and are the 00:09:08.466 --> 00:09:10.846 role models made a big impact as well. 00:09:11.221 --> 00:09:15.531 yeah, I speak of it very much, very intentionally, uh, in terms of attraction. 00:09:16.391 --> 00:09:20.171 And yeah, the, ultimately what's attractive, what is 00:09:20.171 --> 00:09:21.611 most attractive is love, right? 00:09:22.044 --> 00:09:24.894 having the devotions, having all that is certainly helpful. 00:09:25.133 --> 00:09:29.223 Yeah, but really the, the fundamentally attractive thing that I was really 00:09:29.223 --> 00:09:34.023 attracted to and that, uh, that I was invited into that, yeah, really prompted 00:09:34.023 --> 00:09:37.483 me to spend that time in that chapel where I kind of first thought about 00:09:37.483 --> 00:09:41.593 the vocation, was just Just really the love, more so than anything else. 00:09:41.623 --> 00:09:41.873 Right. 00:09:42.239 --> 00:09:45.909 these people care about the faith and they're living attractive lives. 00:09:46.220 --> 00:09:47.240 I want some of this. 00:09:47.790 --> 00:09:48.280 Yes. 00:09:48.393 --> 00:09:51.303 and, and I think one of the interesting things that you talked about too was 00:09:51.978 --> 00:09:57.138 You know, you feel this calling, but I think like any of us, the thing, the 00:09:57.138 --> 00:09:58.648 first initials like, no, I can't do that. 00:09:59.068 --> 00:10:00.658 Nah, I don't know if this is the right thing. 00:10:00.698 --> 00:10:05.797 And that, whatever it is, that self doubt starts creeping in and such like that. 00:10:06.117 --> 00:10:09.062 And so there is that piece of things to, you know, hear the 00:10:09.062 --> 00:10:12.622 Lord's calling, but then also to say yes to, to what you're hearing. 00:10:12.772 --> 00:10:14.852 Um, because I think it's very easy to kind of go, I'm just going 00:10:14.852 --> 00:10:17.702 to ignore that and put it in the corner, uh, and maybe it'll go away. 00:10:17.972 --> 00:10:21.611 But when you just keep hearing that, calling coming over and over and over 00:10:21.611 --> 00:10:22.861 again, you can say, you know what? 00:10:22.861 --> 00:10:24.751 I think, I think I better, better listen here. 00:10:24.751 --> 00:10:25.701 What's going on here. 00:10:26.488 --> 00:10:28.188 And yeah, that's pretty typical. 00:10:28.228 --> 00:10:29.868 Uh, yeah, I think of every vocation. 00:10:29.988 --> 00:10:32.348 and we see, we see it even in the scriptures, right. 00:10:32.648 --> 00:10:36.328 Uh, the Lord calls someone there, there's the call, And then, then come 00:10:36.328 --> 00:10:37.818 the questions and objections, right? 00:10:38.558 --> 00:10:40.368 Like Moses, like Gideon, like everyone. 00:10:40.658 --> 00:10:41.048 Yep. 00:10:41.228 --> 00:10:42.008 Are you sure me? 00:10:42.218 --> 00:10:42.368 Yeah. 00:10:42.608 --> 00:10:43.618 right, right, right. 00:10:44.075 --> 00:10:49.574 one of the things that, that I know, that people get to see outwardly is kind of 00:10:50.084 --> 00:10:55.354 what it is that, you know, a priest or a seminarian does at Mass, okay, but they 00:10:55.354 --> 00:10:59.224 don't get to see that whole other piece of things that, that goes on in your life. 00:10:59.294 --> 00:11:02.914 Uh, they get a small glimpse each week, but maybe the rest of, of 00:11:02.924 --> 00:11:04.004 things they don't get to see. 00:11:04.579 --> 00:11:09.569 Walk us through what a typical day in the seminary looks like for you and for the 00:11:09.569 --> 00:11:13.139 other seminarians, obviously when you're, when you're on, at, not within a church, 00:11:13.139 --> 00:11:16.099 but maybe, maybe so, I mean, because you've been stationed at a, a church for 00:11:16.099 --> 00:11:19.889 the past year, but walk us through what a, what a typical day looks like for you. 00:11:20.422 --> 00:11:22.642 And yeah, I'm glad to talk about this. 00:11:22.642 --> 00:11:25.862 This is something I kind of, I kind of want to, I jokingly 00:11:25.862 --> 00:11:29.012 call it, like proclaiming the good news of seminary formation. 00:11:29.312 --> 00:11:31.362 Just because I think there is such mystery about it, right? 00:11:31.922 --> 00:11:34.992 I never thought about it, you know, once in my life, till I 00:11:34.992 --> 00:11:36.312 actually started discerning, right? 00:11:36.422 --> 00:11:37.292 So I had no idea. 00:11:37.472 --> 00:11:41.452 And I think a lot of people in, you know, in the pews just don't have an idea. 00:11:41.802 --> 00:11:42.442 And so yeah, 00:11:42.527 --> 00:11:43.557 Or the wrong idea. 00:11:43.577 --> 00:11:44.097 You know what I mean? 00:11:44.127 --> 00:11:45.147 Oh yeah, yeah. 00:11:45.497 --> 00:11:47.507 Like there is that sense of like, oh, what's seminary? 00:11:47.507 --> 00:11:49.997 Are you just like sitting in a cell all day reading the Bible? 00:11:49.997 --> 00:11:50.447 Right. 00:11:51.357 --> 00:11:54.467 Or like the monks, I'm thinking, you know, in terms of, you 00:11:54.467 --> 00:11:55.837 know, things like that as such. 00:11:55.837 --> 00:11:58.657 So, so talk us through, I mean, you're gonna lift the shroud, you're 00:11:58.657 --> 00:12:01.568 gonna tell everybody what, what's a typical day like for a seminarian? 00:12:02.411 --> 00:12:02.891 it's good. 00:12:02.891 --> 00:12:03.581 It's a blessing though. 00:12:03.586 --> 00:12:08.381 So, um, so yeah, we, we, uh, wake up and, uh, day, the day starts in prayer. 00:12:08.816 --> 00:12:11.820 And I love, the seminary I go to our campus. 00:12:12.040 --> 00:12:15.943 the chapel is like, far and away, just like the biggest building on 00:12:15.943 --> 00:12:17.113 campus and it's right in the center. 00:12:17.377 --> 00:12:18.317 beautiful in that sense. 00:12:18.327 --> 00:12:20.087 So, the day starts in the chapel. 00:12:20.332 --> 00:12:21.722 we pray the liturgy of the hours. 00:12:22.342 --> 00:12:25.782 Which is another good and beautiful thing that the church is always doing 00:12:25.782 --> 00:12:31.202 that people don't realize is that, um, yeah, every like priest, every, uh, all 00:12:31.212 --> 00:12:35.362 seminarians and like religious sister, all around the world, we're praying 00:12:35.372 --> 00:12:37.032 the Psalms, uh, five times a day. 00:12:37.414 --> 00:12:41.405 Yeah, it's the church, where we pray as church for the church. 00:12:41.715 --> 00:12:45.985 Um, so it's this beautiful tradition we have for, for centuries of praying 00:12:45.985 --> 00:12:47.405 the Psalms together as a church. 00:12:47.620 --> 00:12:50.150 that's what we start the day with is, is, is morning prayer. 00:12:50.449 --> 00:12:54.299 of course, next comes Mass, so we have the communal celebration of the Mass 00:12:54.329 --> 00:12:59.193 as a community, again, this all happens in community, as brothers, yeah, and 00:12:59.193 --> 00:13:03.448 then after Mass, there's some time for breakfast, uh, the, we call it, This is 00:13:03.448 --> 00:13:06.168 a fun little tidbit about the seminary. 00:13:06.208 --> 00:13:07.638 We love the Catholic Church. 00:13:07.638 --> 00:13:09.608 We love our fancy Latin words, right? 00:13:10.368 --> 00:13:12.268 We can't just call it a cafeteria. 00:13:12.268 --> 00:13:15.828 It's called a refectory, is where we have our meals. 00:13:15.998 --> 00:13:19.563 So it comes from the Latin word, vacio, vacere, to make. 00:13:20.128 --> 00:13:20.648 Okay. 00:13:21.368 --> 00:13:26.479 So refectory, remaking, so it's almost that, uh, that idea of, the food, we're 00:13:26.479 --> 00:13:30.085 nourished by food and we're, we're almost remade, to go about the day. 00:13:31.215 --> 00:13:32.905 We love our, our Latin words. 00:13:33.245 --> 00:13:34.095 Absolutely. 00:13:34.375 --> 00:13:38.005 And, and, and what happens in the, in the, well, not the cafeteria, but of 00:13:38.005 --> 00:13:40.945 course in the, say it one more time, I don't want to mispronounce it here. 00:13:41.155 --> 00:13:42.245 The refectory, 00:13:42.555 --> 00:13:43.285 Refectory. 00:13:43.325 --> 00:13:45.495 Okay, I was going to say refactory, but that would not be 00:13:45.495 --> 00:13:46.765 the right terminology there, so. 00:13:47.515 --> 00:13:50.565 So, so breakfast happens, and it's a great time, I'm guessing, as well, 00:13:50.565 --> 00:13:52.335 for that community piece of things. 00:13:52.375 --> 00:13:57.088 Uh, just to, because, how many seminarians are with you, on a typical, 00:13:57.088 --> 00:13:59.739 uh, how many, how many are in the seminary with you at this point? 00:14:00.689 --> 00:14:01.169 We're blessed. 00:14:01.169 --> 00:14:02.819 We have a pretty, pretty large community. 00:14:02.893 --> 00:14:06.303 so there's about, uh, we hover at about, about 90 guys. 00:14:06.592 --> 00:14:08.322 so it's a good number, right. 00:14:08.569 --> 00:14:10.129 yeah, like you're, you're hitting right on it. 00:14:10.149 --> 00:14:14.313 Is that's Maybe the biggest blessing of seminary life is you know, who else 00:14:14.313 --> 00:14:19.913 gets to say that, you know, they're surrounded pretty much 24 7 all the time. 00:14:20.031 --> 00:14:23.254 with some of the most amazing guys you'll ever be surrounded with, right? 00:14:23.254 --> 00:14:26.794 With, with men of prayer, with men who love the church, with the 00:14:26.794 --> 00:14:29.850 camaraderie of we're all doing this, call to this vocation together. 00:14:29.942 --> 00:14:32.372 and then, yeah, so meals together is a big part of that. 00:14:32.732 --> 00:14:35.434 That communal life, the seminary, which is, which is, I think, 00:14:35.444 --> 00:14:36.594 really one of the best parts. 00:14:37.157 --> 00:14:37.907 absolutely. 00:14:38.297 --> 00:14:40.907 Because that, because that support, because it, it can be 00:14:40.937 --> 00:14:42.328 lonely, I'm guessing at times. 00:14:42.328 --> 00:14:45.272 you know, something, maybe you're having a, a, a rough day or, uh, 00:14:45.277 --> 00:14:48.572 something and, and you have those brothers of there to lift you up. 00:14:49.005 --> 00:14:51.205 you know, it's, it's like anything, you'll have your closer 00:14:51.205 --> 00:14:52.335 friends and you'll have more 00:14:52.610 --> 00:14:53.000 Of course. 00:14:53.375 --> 00:14:57.192 but, but it's like, it's beautiful that like every man who's here is just, a 00:14:57.192 --> 00:15:00.904 good, good man who I can hope, I can like, I can trust, who I can pray with. 00:15:01.132 --> 00:15:05.172 Who I could share experiences with, laugh with, so it's, it's, it's a privilege. 00:15:05.372 --> 00:15:06.072 It's a privilege. 00:15:06.248 --> 00:15:06.938 way of life. 00:15:06.978 --> 00:15:09.958 So yeah, our meals, and those are fun. 00:15:10.008 --> 00:15:11.168 We have a great food. 00:15:11.168 --> 00:15:11.808 Oh my goodness. 00:15:12.018 --> 00:15:13.508 That's, that's so helpful. 00:15:14.688 --> 00:15:16.888 I'm so blessed in the seminary I'm at. 00:15:16.928 --> 00:15:20.847 We have, very talented, uh, food staff, which makes the 00:15:20.847 --> 00:15:22.497 whole place a very joyful place. 00:15:23.317 --> 00:15:24.067 Absolutely. 00:15:24.217 --> 00:15:26.677 There's, there's, there's a hook right there, so if you're hearing the call, 00:15:26.677 --> 00:15:28.027 there's good food at the seminary, 00:15:28.137 --> 00:15:29.797 Good food at the seminary, right? 00:15:30.112 --> 00:15:33.622 And so outside of meals, uh, you, you, you get up, we're going to, we're 00:15:33.622 --> 00:15:35.622 going to attend mass, we're going to pray, we're going to have our meals. 00:15:35.652 --> 00:15:37.482 And then what happens for the rest of the day? 00:15:38.209 --> 00:15:42.569 and then comes the little unglamorous, uh, part of the seminary life is, right? 00:15:42.569 --> 00:15:43.618 Just, the classes. 00:15:43.705 --> 00:15:47.260 the seminary life, it's, it's pretty similar yeah, at least in structure 00:15:47.260 --> 00:15:50.459 to, yeah, to like what like a college, atmosphere would look like. 00:15:50.459 --> 00:15:55.289 So, A big chunk of the day, um, is spent in classes, and that's just the 00:15:55.289 --> 00:15:59.551 reality of the church and formation is that, there's a lot to learn. 00:15:59.830 --> 00:16:04.753 We do, it is different, in that, you know, there is very much this intentional 00:16:04.933 --> 00:16:09.850 sense of integration, that, the classes we're taking, the classes we're taking, 00:16:10.210 --> 00:16:14.530 it should kind of flow from what we do before them in the chapel, and it 00:16:14.530 --> 00:16:19.578 should lead, like, to, you know, further prayer and further service, right, and 00:16:19.578 --> 00:16:22.913 so that's, that is one of the blessings is just how, you know, intentional, 00:16:22.993 --> 00:16:27.235 um, the classes, obviously training for the priesthood, how this philosophy 00:16:27.235 --> 00:16:31.285 that we study, how the theology that we study, um, it's very clearly and very 00:16:31.285 --> 00:16:35.051 intentionally, supposed to integrate it into our, into our ministry, into our 00:16:35.051 --> 00:16:36.911 service, into our personal development. 00:16:37.272 --> 00:16:40.982 yeah, so a lot of time during the day taking classes, but, uh, there 00:16:40.982 --> 00:16:45.562 is just that, that sense of unity and integrity, which, which helps you 00:16:45.562 --> 00:16:48.122 get through it when you have a lot of tests and papers to write, right? 00:16:48.489 --> 00:16:48.849 Absolutely. 00:16:49.069 --> 00:16:50.779 No, no rest for the weary on that one. 00:16:51.069 --> 00:16:51.389 right. 00:16:51.989 --> 00:16:55.481 And then, yeah, just another little piece is that, So yeah, normally mornings 00:16:55.481 --> 00:16:59.497 are, heavily classes, and then lunch is actually our big meal as a community. 00:16:59.722 --> 00:17:04.832 because, uh, the reason it's lunch and not dinner is because part of, another part 00:17:04.832 --> 00:17:09.457 of seminary life is, weekly we all have different assignments in the community. 00:17:09.607 --> 00:17:13.110 We call them our apostolates, where we go out, And so sometimes 00:17:13.110 --> 00:17:14.150 that could be during dinner time. 00:17:14.150 --> 00:17:16.520 So that's why lunch is the communal meal where we're all there. 00:17:16.696 --> 00:17:21.156 so that's another, uh, really beautiful aspect of seminary is, is the going out. 00:17:21.156 --> 00:17:25.656 So I've had a lot of really great experiences, um, different assignments 00:17:25.656 --> 00:17:29.736 over the years, um, of that, that going out part, when you first start in 00:17:29.736 --> 00:17:32.106 seminary, it's more community service. 00:17:32.116 --> 00:17:33.256 It's more service oriented. 00:17:33.466 --> 00:17:36.126 So like soup kitchens, um, nursing homes. 00:17:36.486 --> 00:17:40.186 Those were kind of my assignments, uh, my first few years of seminary. 00:17:40.476 --> 00:17:43.776 Uh, but then as you build up, uh, it's, it's cool. 00:17:43.776 --> 00:17:45.496 You get to do more ministerial things. 00:17:45.506 --> 00:17:50.536 So I did, uh, I did a year of teaching, uh, like CCD at a parish. 00:17:50.836 --> 00:17:53.858 That was my kind of out of the community, apostolate. 00:17:54.428 --> 00:17:57.868 And I, I did a year, uh, working in hospice. 00:17:58.063 --> 00:18:00.097 that was beautiful work, beautiful ministry there. 00:18:00.292 --> 00:18:04.196 there was actually a year where, This was a fun one where, uh, I 00:18:04.196 --> 00:18:07.930 was assigned with a brother, to a parish, but we were assigned, do 00:18:07.930 --> 00:18:08.930 some door to door evangelization. 00:18:09.960 --> 00:18:15.053 So, going, knocking on people's doors and just kind of having conversations 00:18:15.053 --> 00:18:16.153 about God, about the faith. 00:18:16.883 --> 00:18:17.943 Ooh, that was interesting. 00:18:18.073 --> 00:18:19.433 Um, so plenty of, plenty 00:18:19.618 --> 00:18:20.948 all kinds of reactions there. 00:18:21.243 --> 00:18:21.913 Right, right. 00:18:21.993 --> 00:18:25.713 It's a cliche that you hear it every you hear you see it all, but it's true. 00:18:25.743 --> 00:18:26.293 You do see it 00:18:26.503 --> 00:18:27.163 You do see it all. 00:18:27.573 --> 00:18:32.815 And I'm guessing, too, that, through those experiences, now, do you get any say in, 00:18:32.815 --> 00:18:36.495 hey, I'd like to, you know, hey, here's five choices, pick one, or is it, hey, 00:18:36.735 --> 00:18:38.585 Rob, this is what you're doing today? 00:18:39.155 --> 00:18:39.545 hmm. 00:18:40.085 --> 00:18:43.915 Right, so it's it is more assigned, uh, but the good part is that, you 00:18:43.915 --> 00:18:47.785 know, the assignment you get, um, usually lasts like a whole year. 00:18:47.795 --> 00:18:51.345 So like, so Rob, you're doing like hospice for this whole year, or you're 00:18:51.585 --> 00:18:53.405 doing teaching CCD for this whole year. 00:18:53.635 --> 00:18:58.075 Um, so there is that stability aspect to it and they do try to intentionally do it. 00:18:58.075 --> 00:19:00.675 So you kind of get a little bit of everything in your time. 00:19:00.845 --> 00:19:03.545 So you get, you get some hospital work, you get some school work, you 00:19:03.545 --> 00:19:06.885 get parish work, you get, hopefully you get like the whole package. 00:19:07.285 --> 00:19:07.945 Yeah, absolutely. 00:19:08.205 --> 00:19:12.465 And over the past year, you've been assigned to a parish, which, which I 00:19:12.465 --> 00:19:15.602 think is great, because, uh, for lack of better words, I'm gonna say it's almost 00:19:15.602 --> 00:19:18.272 like a student teaching, uh, kind of thing, where you're, you're gonna be 00:19:18.272 --> 00:19:22.322 part of a parish and part of a community for, for a extended period of time. 00:19:22.652 --> 00:19:24.062 Talk about what that's been like for you. 00:19:24.062 --> 00:19:28.251 How, how has that helped you grow and, prepared yourself for in your vocation? 00:19:29.048 --> 00:19:29.398 right. 00:19:29.408 --> 00:19:30.268 It's been beautiful. 00:19:30.268 --> 00:19:31.088 It's been beautiful. 00:19:31.118 --> 00:19:35.508 It's, it's, this is a, uh, a fairly new thing, um, that the church has 00:19:35.528 --> 00:19:37.268 implemented in the training of priests. 00:19:37.397 --> 00:19:41.257 we get summer assignments where we're at parishes, but this spending a 00:19:41.257 --> 00:19:45.087 whole year is something fairly new and I'm just so grateful, because 00:19:45.087 --> 00:19:46.207 I think it's such a good idea. 00:19:46.418 --> 00:19:47.038 yeah, right. 00:19:47.038 --> 00:19:50.378 It's actually one of the tensions in seminary life. 00:19:50.893 --> 00:19:53.833 is that, you know, life in seminary, it's great. 00:19:53.953 --> 00:19:54.403 It's good. 00:19:54.403 --> 00:19:55.123 It's beautiful. 00:19:55.123 --> 00:19:56.263 You know, we're learning so much. 00:19:56.263 --> 00:19:57.123 We're going so much. 00:19:57.123 --> 00:20:00.883 We're being formed so much, but there is that tension that's there 00:20:00.883 --> 00:20:06.973 of, yeah, life in the seminary, it really looks a lot different than what 00:20:06.983 --> 00:20:08.743 actual life as a priest looks like. 00:20:08.963 --> 00:20:12.117 So this, I think, is an effort to really, like bridge that disparity, 00:20:12.117 --> 00:20:13.227 bridge that gap a little bit. 00:20:13.621 --> 00:20:17.576 and yeah, so this year in the and like, It's just been so beautiful. 00:20:17.576 --> 00:20:19.841 So touching because, and so affirming, right? 00:20:19.841 --> 00:20:22.011 Because this is what it's all about, right? 00:20:22.371 --> 00:20:25.671 Uh, no one's we say in the seminary, no one's called to be a seminarian, right? 00:20:25.696 --> 00:20:26.146 right? 00:20:26.511 --> 00:20:30.121 Um, no one's called to just spend all their life at seminary. 00:20:30.121 --> 00:20:31.671 No, it's, this is what it's about. 00:20:31.671 --> 00:20:33.011 It's about the people, right? 00:20:33.011 --> 00:20:34.101 It's about ministering. 00:20:34.101 --> 00:20:37.521 It's about, uh, saving souls about working in a parish, you 00:20:37.521 --> 00:20:39.031 know, working for the kingdom. 00:20:39.041 --> 00:20:44.956 So, uh, it's just been this, it's honestly a year that Guys, very, very much look 00:20:44.956 --> 00:20:49.962 forward to, this, um, yeah, getting to really kind of put into practice, um, all 00:20:49.962 --> 00:20:51.642 the tools we've learned over these years. 00:20:51.642 --> 00:20:54.226 And, yeah, to really, really start ministering. 00:20:54.386 --> 00:20:57.466 Um, we're not ordained yet, but this is kind of the sense of the 00:20:57.466 --> 00:20:59.554 year is to, um, try it on, right? 00:20:59.774 --> 00:21:01.334 Try on the, and. 00:21:01.884 --> 00:21:04.794 I'm gonna, I'm gonna ask you about the school kids here in a little bit 00:21:04.794 --> 00:21:06.984 because I, you're a rock star to them. 00:21:07.094 --> 00:21:09.074 Okay, these kids, they, they love you. 00:21:09.074 --> 00:21:10.654 So I'm gonna ask you about that here in a little bit. 00:21:11.054 --> 00:21:14.784 Uh, it just, well, I'll ask you about it now, so you've had the chance to 00:21:14.784 --> 00:21:16.464 be part of a parish with a school. 00:21:16.778 --> 00:21:18.768 the kids, when they see you, they love you. 00:21:18.928 --> 00:21:21.178 Uh, they love interacting with you. 00:21:21.438 --> 00:21:25.358 Uh, they love to maybe see if they can get you to join in a game at recess. 00:21:25.588 --> 00:21:28.438 Uh, maybe if you attend an extracurricular event. 00:21:28.458 --> 00:21:31.028 Uh, it's like seeing a celebrity there, okay? 00:21:31.618 --> 00:21:35.738 Tell me about what you've learned for your future, about the importance 00:21:35.738 --> 00:21:39.638 of a presence in the school, uh, and what that's been like for you, 00:21:40.598 --> 00:21:41.028 Right. 00:21:41.198 --> 00:21:41.838 Oh my goodness. 00:21:41.838 --> 00:21:42.248 Yeah. 00:21:42.508 --> 00:21:45.741 So, yeah, the school has been just, such a joy. 00:21:45.841 --> 00:21:48.671 Really one of my favorite parts, um, of this parish. 00:21:48.818 --> 00:21:50.618 just to be around that, that joy, right? 00:21:50.638 --> 00:21:51.258 That life. 00:21:51.578 --> 00:21:53.318 Um, it's a, it's a loud campus. 00:21:53.318 --> 00:21:55.748 I like to say here with, with the school. 00:21:55.748 --> 00:21:56.096 You're always, 00:21:56.178 --> 00:21:57.388 in a good way, right? 00:21:57.388 --> 00:21:57.558 In a 00:21:57.558 --> 00:21:57.788 good 00:21:58.013 --> 00:22:00.963 way, signs of life, signs of the rainforest, right? 00:22:01.473 --> 00:22:02.303 Teeming with life. 00:22:02.579 --> 00:22:04.769 so that's just been so life giving for me. 00:22:05.159 --> 00:22:08.279 And so it's, it's cool that ministry is mutual, right? 00:22:08.699 --> 00:22:12.360 There's this aspect of service and giving, but, but really I'm, I'm fed 00:22:12.360 --> 00:22:16.704 so much just, just by being around, and working with the kids and to be 00:22:16.704 --> 00:22:18.404 able to be present to them, right? 00:22:18.834 --> 00:22:20.724 And yeah, the presence, it's, it's so important. 00:22:21.184 --> 00:22:24.134 Actually, a big part of what I've taken to be my mission here. 00:22:24.386 --> 00:22:27.716 and this is in talking with the pastor, who's kind of my boss, you know, pastor 00:22:27.716 --> 00:22:31.888 is very busy, you know, that's the reality of the priesthood, is there, whoo, so 00:22:31.888 --> 00:22:36.036 much to do, so, so much to do, so really, he said, like, Rob, like, part of your 00:22:36.036 --> 00:22:41.036 mission is really to be, like, almost like an extra set of arms and legs, like, to 00:22:41.036 --> 00:22:45.701 be, almost be where I can't, and so for me, uh, that's been, yeah, um, It would 00:22:45.711 --> 00:22:50.101 be awesome if father could like hang out in the school a lot, but the reality is 00:22:50.111 --> 00:22:56.521 he's just not able to, um, so that's been very much a joy to, yeah, to be present, 00:22:56.668 --> 00:23:00.608 almost like a representative of him in the community, especially in the school. 00:23:01.003 --> 00:23:05.483 Uh, so that's been just a joy to do, and it's good because when I was growing 00:23:05.483 --> 00:23:08.233 up, when I was in Catholic school, I went to Catholic school, right, and 00:23:08.233 --> 00:23:11.293 I thought, you know, priests just kind of popped out of the sky, right, 00:23:12.563 --> 00:23:13.933 Just appear here and there, right? 00:23:14.253 --> 00:23:18.236 right, right, right, but no, I think it's like really helpful, Yeah, to see for 00:23:18.236 --> 00:23:22.506 them to, yeah, see like, okay, this is a man who's in this process of learning 00:23:22.506 --> 00:23:27.676 this and yeah, almost like to see like the unfinished product in a sense, right? 00:23:27.676 --> 00:23:29.926 I think that's cool for them to see that, like, just as they're, 00:23:30.106 --> 00:23:31.246 like, they're learning, right? 00:23:31.486 --> 00:23:34.586 And they're training to do whatever they're going to do with their lives. 00:23:34.586 --> 00:23:36.516 It's, it's the same thing with priests. 00:23:36.636 --> 00:23:40.946 Um, and it's kind of cool, I think, for them to, Yeah, to see someone who's 00:23:40.946 --> 00:23:44.379 on in training or on the way, right? 00:23:44.379 --> 00:23:45.791 Right, 00:23:46.121 --> 00:23:51.338 I will tell you, one of the things I can speak on from 15 years of 00:23:51.348 --> 00:23:55.257 Catholic education, uh, having two kids of my own you know, who are 00:23:55.257 --> 00:23:56.617 currently in Catholic education. 00:23:57.537 --> 00:24:03.037 Every time those kids see a priest or see a seminarian, When we sit 00:24:03.037 --> 00:24:05.237 down for dinner, guess which one of the first things out of their mouth? 00:24:06.147 --> 00:24:08.237 we we saw Seminary and Rob today, okay? 00:24:08.467 --> 00:24:10.217 Uh, we saw Father So and so today. 00:24:10.417 --> 00:24:15.367 So it's really such an important piece of things and, and recognizing, hey, maybe 00:24:15.367 --> 00:24:18.817 I could just walk through the halls real quick or whatever the case might be, but 00:24:18.827 --> 00:24:24.637 those kids being able to see you even just walking by, uh, means so much to them. 00:24:24.785 --> 00:24:28.505 kudos to you for, for realizing that and don't ever lose that for sure. 00:24:29.124 --> 00:24:29.784 And it's great. 00:24:29.866 --> 00:24:33.336 especially my presence specifically in this school is, uh, yeah, so 00:24:33.336 --> 00:24:36.336 I'm not, you know, a full time teacher or anything, right? 00:24:36.336 --> 00:24:38.616 I'm not responsible for teaching a class every day. 00:24:38.899 --> 00:24:40.119 but yeah, just that freedom. 00:24:40.149 --> 00:24:41.219 Yeah, to pop in. 00:24:41.411 --> 00:24:45.211 and really, I think it's been beautiful because, um, kind of 00:24:45.211 --> 00:24:51.821 because I'm not a teacher, I have that ability then to like 100 percent 00:24:51.831 --> 00:24:53.941 put on the ministry cap, right? 00:24:54.251 --> 00:24:57.701 And I think the kids throughout the year really kind of warmed up to that 00:24:57.711 --> 00:25:01.006 where it's like, Okay, there's, you know, there's a religion class, which 00:25:01.006 --> 00:25:03.906 is good and great, but they kind of picked up throughout the year. 00:25:03.906 --> 00:25:04.906 They're like, Oh, okay. 00:25:04.906 --> 00:25:08.306 Like when Rob's in the class, like we're not being graded. 00:25:08.616 --> 00:25:11.086 Um, you know, we're not going to be tested on anything. 00:25:11.086 --> 00:25:13.986 So it's like when, when seminarian Rob comes, it's 00:25:13.986 --> 00:25:15.516 just, We're just being loved on. 00:25:15.516 --> 00:25:16.526 We're being ministered to. 00:25:16.727 --> 00:25:20.047 and I think that's been like a really, crucial part I've been able to provide 00:25:20.047 --> 00:25:23.198 this year is that, yeah, sometimes with Catholic school, it's like, right. 00:25:23.198 --> 00:25:24.968 We, we teach kids the catechism. 00:25:24.978 --> 00:25:29.138 We have them learn their facts, but unfortunately a lot, some kids come 00:25:29.138 --> 00:25:32.148 out of Catholic school, um, then not practicing the faith, right. 00:25:32.148 --> 00:25:34.198 Not, not knowing the Lord in their hearts. 00:25:34.448 --> 00:25:38.078 And so that's been, I think, a really crucial, uh, little niche I've been 00:25:38.078 --> 00:25:40.358 able to step into is like, okay, like. 00:25:40.773 --> 00:25:43.624 Guys, it's great that you're learning this stuff, but, yeah, 00:25:43.874 --> 00:25:45.314 like how's your heart, right? 00:25:45.314 --> 00:25:48.014 Are you taking this to prayer? 00:25:48.014 --> 00:25:50.894 Kind of be that kind of bridge that get them from the head 00:25:50.894 --> 00:25:52.524 to the heart, if you will. 00:25:53.074 --> 00:25:55.112 And that was something I had the chance to speak with, 00:25:55.149 --> 00:25:58.039 Bishop Byrne up in Springfield, Massachusetts a few weeks ago. 00:25:58.269 --> 00:26:00.879 And that was something that he kind of talked about was, you know, I'm, 00:26:00.919 --> 00:26:02.809 I'm the bishop of an entire diocese. 00:26:02.876 --> 00:26:05.286 you know, I want to be out there with the, with the people I want to be out there. 00:26:05.286 --> 00:26:07.706 And he said, when I, when I walk into a classroom and the kids 00:26:07.706 --> 00:26:10.881 see me, they're like, I want them to be, Hey, Bishop, how are you? 00:26:10.911 --> 00:26:14.291 Not feel like, Oh, I've got to, you know, stand up straight and straighten 00:26:14.291 --> 00:26:15.581 my shirt and everything like that. 00:26:15.591 --> 00:26:18.261 He said, I want them to get to know me to get to know my heart. 00:26:18.571 --> 00:26:21.111 Uh, and, and I'm paraphrasing that or anything like that. 00:26:21.111 --> 00:26:25.571 So, uh, I think that's so important in, in, in leading from the front of like he 00:26:25.801 --> 00:26:31.931 expressed really, uh, I think gets the, the, the faith out there even brighter, 00:26:32.071 --> 00:26:33.471 I guess is the best way of putting it. 00:26:33.764 --> 00:26:37.584 What's something that may surprise you, or may surprise people, uh, 00:26:37.614 --> 00:26:39.634 about your time in the seminary? 00:26:40.147 --> 00:26:40.557 Hmm. 00:26:40.647 --> 00:26:41.607 That's a great question. 00:26:41.687 --> 00:26:42.467 That's a great question. 00:26:43.197 --> 00:26:44.377 Thinking about my experience. 00:26:44.447 --> 00:26:45.807 Um, there's a lot of surprises. 00:26:46.457 --> 00:26:47.327 Right, right. 00:26:48.077 --> 00:26:50.557 Or maybe something, maybe something that, hey, I thought it was gonna 00:26:50.557 --> 00:26:54.257 be this, and boy, it's turned out to be this, and it might be for good 00:26:54.257 --> 00:26:55.607 reasons, it might be for bad reasons. 00:26:55.647 --> 00:26:59.077 Uh, but hey, I was expecting X, and boy, I got Y. 00:26:59.077 --> 00:26:59.329 Ha 00:26:59.585 --> 00:26:59.805 Yeah. 00:26:59.805 --> 00:27:03.815 And yeah, kind of along those lines of, uh, yeah, really just how, 00:27:03.835 --> 00:27:07.593 just how human, uh, seminarians and, and, and priests are, right? 00:27:07.673 --> 00:27:11.253 So yeah, in seminary, like, it's not like, we're not monks, 00:27:11.253 --> 00:27:12.453 we're praying all day, right? 00:27:12.453 --> 00:27:16.593 We, we love to play basketball and, uh, soccer and yeah, those. 00:27:17.033 --> 00:27:19.263 Those get competitive, right? 00:27:20.483 --> 00:27:22.743 little competitiveness, juice flowin there. 00:27:23.349 --> 00:27:25.963 honestly, like um, being a seminarian is fun. 00:27:26.101 --> 00:27:28.231 Um, you know, we, you know, we all have hobbies, right? 00:27:28.231 --> 00:27:30.751 Those aren't, yeah, it's not like we're asked to like renounce all 00:27:30.751 --> 00:27:34.501 that and, you know, give it up and just like pray or all day. 00:27:34.531 --> 00:27:37.741 Like, no, it's, it's very much, and this can be like a buzzword 00:27:37.741 --> 00:27:39.141 sometimes, but it's very true. 00:27:39.461 --> 00:27:43.111 Um, and very faithfully lived out in the seminary is that like, We're, we're 00:27:43.151 --> 00:27:44.771 working on the whole person, right? 00:27:45.081 --> 00:27:46.641 Um, the whole person formation. 00:27:46.641 --> 00:27:50.765 It's not, yeah, like, and actually the way the seminary is, the spiritual, 00:27:50.935 --> 00:27:54.905 the spiritual formation, it's just one of the four pillars, um, 00:27:54.905 --> 00:27:56.155 that we're constantly working on. 00:27:56.165 --> 00:28:01.579 We have these four pillars of spiritual, intellectual, pastoral, and human. 00:28:01.700 --> 00:28:05.450 and John Paul II was big about this, about how, yeah, we're not just, 00:28:05.833 --> 00:28:08.063 manufacturing prayer machines, right? 00:28:08.383 --> 00:28:11.533 Uh, we need fully developed, fully integrated men. 00:28:11.823 --> 00:28:16.453 Um, and just, so yeah, maybe just how, how human we seminarians 00:28:16.453 --> 00:28:17.713 are, how imperfect we are. 00:28:17.832 --> 00:28:22.368 yeah, just, shenanigans, uh, that could be a part of seminary life, but how that 00:28:22.388 --> 00:28:27.697 actually, that actually is a good thing that we're producing, Yeah, just fully 00:28:28.247 --> 00:28:33.654 human men, can then go into the real world, right, and, and be relatable, and 00:28:33.664 --> 00:28:35.544 be effective ministers and be bridges, 00:28:36.919 --> 00:28:39.799 And, and, and laughter is such a good medicine. 00:28:40.021 --> 00:28:40.601 you know what I mean? 00:28:40.601 --> 00:28:44.298 If you're, if you're just, enjoying what you're doing and you're smiling and you're 00:28:44.298 --> 00:28:48.229 laughing with one another, you know, that, that, that work piece of things, 00:28:48.229 --> 00:28:49.399 cause we're going to work together. 00:28:49.479 --> 00:28:49.839 Okay. 00:28:49.839 --> 00:28:51.759 We're, we're gonna, we're going to do the work together. 00:28:52.039 --> 00:28:55.529 Um, but that time just to laugh with one another and, and share 00:28:55.529 --> 00:28:59.119 that, those joys, uh, I think just builds a stronger community for you. 00:28:59.565 --> 00:29:02.895 Talk about maybe over the, the, your time. 00:29:03.165 --> 00:29:05.655 What's been the most challenging piece for you 00:29:06.806 --> 00:29:10.336 And this was a little misconception too, something I, that was, I found to be 00:29:10.336 --> 00:29:15.784 different than what I expected is that, I remember going into seminary, entering, 00:29:16.354 --> 00:29:18.994 and I kind of had this attitude of, okay. 00:29:19.514 --> 00:29:21.314 I'm taking this big leap of faith. 00:29:21.478 --> 00:29:25.558 and there was this attitude of like, okay, I've said yes, right? 00:29:25.598 --> 00:29:27.478 I've taken this radical step in faith. 00:29:27.848 --> 00:29:28.998 I've jumped in. 00:29:29.028 --> 00:29:30.778 I'm in the deep end now, right? 00:29:30.988 --> 00:29:31.638 I'm doing it. 00:29:31.844 --> 00:29:34.024 that was kind of my attitude going in, which was true. 00:29:34.469 --> 00:29:38.840 But what I found, and this can be the most challenging part is that, 00:29:38.870 --> 00:29:43.165 you know, this life, this journey for me, it's not so much this big, 00:29:43.625 --> 00:29:48.401 massive, yes, you know, you give it the beginning, and then you're doing it. 00:29:48.451 --> 00:29:49.531 It's no, it's. 00:29:50.346 --> 00:29:54.676 You really have to say, give that radical yes in little ways every day. 00:29:54.985 --> 00:29:58.415 I, I speak with married couples and they say it's a similar thing, right? 00:29:58.415 --> 00:29:58.975 With marriage. 00:29:58.975 --> 00:30:02.865 It's that, you know, saying yes to the proposal and, uh, 00:30:02.875 --> 00:30:04.305 when the ring is out, right? 00:30:04.315 --> 00:30:05.665 That's, that's a beautiful moment. 00:30:05.675 --> 00:30:07.125 It's a beautiful yes to give. 00:30:07.495 --> 00:30:11.465 Uh, but then the reality of the vocation, um, is just every day, 00:30:11.505 --> 00:30:15.355 just in a thousand little ways, um, a thousand little sacrifices, right? 00:30:15.615 --> 00:30:19.460 A thousand little, opportunities, uh, to die to self and to say yes. 00:30:19.925 --> 00:30:25.615 And yeah, that could be challenging too, is just, yeah, just of honestly avoiding 00:30:25.795 --> 00:30:27.295 just the going through the motions, right? 00:30:27.701 --> 00:30:29.131 know, show up to chapel, right? 00:30:29.131 --> 00:30:31.691 And kind of be kind of tuned out, right? 00:30:31.691 --> 00:30:36.321 And show up to classes and, you know, be half, half awake, right? 00:30:36.464 --> 00:30:40.574 yeah, I'd say like, that's another piece is just intentionally, Yeah, 00:30:40.574 --> 00:30:44.536 maintaining the fire, and then also just the patience, right? 00:30:44.816 --> 00:30:48.706 The patience in that, uh, we want to see results, right? 00:30:48.706 --> 00:30:53.944 We want to get super holy, super fast, and, uh, yeah, those have been some of the 00:30:53.944 --> 00:30:57.494 most challenging points in my formation, where it's like, you know, I sit down 00:30:57.494 --> 00:31:00.454 with some of the priests I work with, and I'm like, I'm all freaked out, right? 00:31:00.454 --> 00:31:02.934 I'm like, this isn't working, like, what am I doing? 00:31:02.944 --> 00:31:06.933 Like, I should be this, this, this, that, and just, the challenge and the 00:31:06.933 --> 00:31:11.973 invitation there to just like, well, Rob, that's great, but maybe you can 00:31:11.973 --> 00:31:17.443 trust that the formation, uh, that the love, it's, it's happening slowly 00:31:17.443 --> 00:31:19.426 and imperceptibly, which is difficult. 00:31:20.126 --> 00:31:25.011 the, the compound interest of God's love, I guess would be the, the way to that I'm 00:31:25.011 --> 00:31:28.904 thinking of it and, and I know that, when we got married, one of the things that 00:31:28.904 --> 00:31:32.144 the, the priest said to us is, he said, there's a lot of couples that prepare for 00:31:32.144 --> 00:31:34.304 the wedding, but not for the marriage. 00:31:34.714 --> 00:31:38.404 And, uh, you know, it's, it's like all about getting to the big day. 00:31:38.804 --> 00:31:40.874 But what, what about what comes after the big day? 00:31:41.000 --> 00:31:44.310 and that, and that ongoing say yes is so important. 00:31:44.433 --> 00:31:48.993 cause we can get to graduation day, but then that say yes piece 00:31:49.063 --> 00:31:50.897 of things, continues to come. 00:31:50.937 --> 00:31:53.117 No matter what it is, whether it's a marriage or a job or 00:31:53.117 --> 00:31:54.177 whatever the case might be. 00:31:54.177 --> 00:31:58.157 So, uh, that, that ongoing finding ways to continue to say yes to 00:31:58.167 --> 00:31:59.767 God's love is just so important. 00:32:00.671 --> 00:32:03.251 advice do you have for schools out there? 00:32:03.251 --> 00:32:04.471 Because I know that. 00:32:04.790 --> 00:32:09.959 When you're away at seminary and you have your camaraderie with your 00:32:09.960 --> 00:32:11.520 other seminarians or stuff like that. 00:32:11.711 --> 00:32:14.961 but there's schools out there, there's, uh, parishes out there who 00:32:14.961 --> 00:32:18.741 are constantly praying for their seminarians or supporting their 00:32:18.741 --> 00:32:20.651 seminarians in different ways. 00:32:21.081 --> 00:32:25.351 What advice do you have for schools out there in terms of supporting 00:32:25.371 --> 00:32:30.561 seminarians and ways that if you could, Talk to Catholic school leaders across 00:32:30.561 --> 00:32:33.809 the United States, across the world, what would be, what would you say to 00:32:33.809 --> 00:32:39.709 them about how they can help, not only you, but our seminarians all over the 00:32:39.709 --> 00:32:42.019 world out there, in, in, at this time? 00:32:43.789 --> 00:32:44.159 Wow. 00:32:44.889 --> 00:32:45.659 It's a great question. 00:32:45.719 --> 00:32:47.639 Uh, it's a humbling question too, right? 00:32:47.934 --> 00:32:51.764 Because we are, we are so loved and supported, and we do, we do feel that. 00:32:51.934 --> 00:32:53.024 We feel loved and supported. 00:32:53.266 --> 00:32:57.136 yeah, Catholic schools, they love, they love writing us mail, uh, which 00:32:57.136 --> 00:33:01.576 can just be, um, yeah, just the most, the most uplifting thing, right? 00:33:01.666 --> 00:33:04.786 When, you know, life's a mess, and you're angry, and you're frustrated, 00:33:04.786 --> 00:33:08.866 and you go to your mailbox, and there's just a card from the sweetest little 00:33:08.866 --> 00:33:11.176 third grader, like, you know, Dear Mr. 00:33:11.176 --> 00:33:13.126 Seminarian Rob. 00:33:13.436 --> 00:33:15.186 I hope you're having a good day today. 00:33:16.016 --> 00:33:17.236 Um, oh, it's just the 00:33:17.291 --> 00:33:19.021 And how can you not be after that, right? 00:33:19.296 --> 00:33:20.486 Right, right, right. 00:33:20.576 --> 00:33:21.076 Amen. 00:33:21.166 --> 00:33:21.646 Amen. 00:33:22.026 --> 00:33:28.006 And, um, just of course, um, it's a, it's a cliche answer, but it's, it's true 00:33:28.006 --> 00:33:30.646 is that, uh, yeah, it's just prayers. 00:33:30.676 --> 00:33:32.980 Um, yeah, prayers, prayers are so important. 00:33:33.524 --> 00:33:36.644 yeah, that, that's the fundamental, but maybe beyond that is just. 00:33:37.160 --> 00:33:41.234 I don't know, maybe don't, like, don't wait, don't be afraid, like, get involved 00:33:41.234 --> 00:33:43.184 and get to know, uh, your seminarians. 00:33:43.514 --> 00:33:47.625 A lot of dioceses, they have, like, a poster, and yeah, like, you know, maybe 00:33:47.625 --> 00:33:50.865 look on the poster, see some of the posters, they say where guys are from, 00:33:50.865 --> 00:33:54.155 where their parishes are, and, yeah, maybe don't wait till they're your priest to, 00:33:54.295 --> 00:33:57.175 you know, invite them over, to reach out to them, to be a part of their lives, 00:33:57.308 --> 00:34:01.538 That's been so life giving for me is just, yeah, getting to know families, right? 00:34:01.700 --> 00:34:05.143 I might not be their priest yet, yeah, getting to know families and, 00:34:05.143 --> 00:34:07.023 uh, being invited into their homes. 00:34:07.063 --> 00:34:10.973 I think, yeah, why, why wait till, you know, I'm ordained and all busy, 00:34:11.483 --> 00:34:11.913 Right, 00:34:12.503 --> 00:34:14.613 To start forging these, these relationships and 00:34:14.613 --> 00:34:15.973 these, these bonds where. 00:34:16.473 --> 00:34:19.603 Uh, really the families help the priests and seminarians so much. 00:34:19.603 --> 00:34:21.433 And I think, again, it's mutual, right? 00:34:21.453 --> 00:34:22.323 That we help each other. 00:34:22.343 --> 00:34:24.735 So, yeah, don't be afraid to reach out. 00:34:25.550 --> 00:34:29.050 And I know that was something we did a few years ago was we gave each class, 00:34:29.260 --> 00:34:31.450 uh, a seminarian that they adopted. 00:34:31.680 --> 00:34:32.120 Okay. 00:34:32.462 --> 00:34:34.152 and, and what's been really cool. 00:34:34.577 --> 00:34:38.587 Uh, to see is, is that when we did that, when one of those seminarians 00:34:38.587 --> 00:34:41.927 would come for a visit, maybe for a short term or a longer term, like 00:34:41.927 --> 00:34:46.017 you, it's like, hey, that was the guy whose picture was on our wall. 00:34:46.027 --> 00:34:48.187 That's the guy we've been, he's here now. 00:34:48.437 --> 00:34:52.477 Uh, and, and so, and I think one of the things that was real important for me is 00:34:52.477 --> 00:34:56.907 I said, you know, For all we know, one of these students that's in the school 00:34:56.907 --> 00:35:00.837 right now, you may be marrying them, or you may be baptizing their child 00:35:00.837 --> 00:35:06.571 one day, or things like that, and so getting that connection early, uh, like 00:35:06.571 --> 00:35:09.191 you just said, you don't have to wait until you're a priest and, and getting 00:35:09.191 --> 00:35:12.921 to know, uh, but just forming those connections now, but so that you have 00:35:12.921 --> 00:35:17.569 that support, and that they are feeling supported by you, to me was just such an 00:35:17.569 --> 00:35:19.059 important piece of the puzzle for that. 00:35:19.556 --> 00:35:24.406 So, so, talk about what the next few years looks like for you, um, because 00:35:24.426 --> 00:35:27.496 as we were talking kind of before, you're, you're, uh, at the parish 00:35:27.526 --> 00:35:29.096 you're at until, I think, August. 00:35:29.217 --> 00:35:31.957 talk about what the, what the next few years looks like for you and, and 00:35:31.957 --> 00:35:33.687 your vocation and your discernment. 00:35:34.987 --> 00:35:35.727 Right, right. 00:35:36.017 --> 00:35:39.697 So again, I'm going to kind of leverage that question to talk about the good 00:35:39.697 --> 00:35:44.137 news of what's happening in seminary formation in recent developments. 00:35:44.167 --> 00:35:47.797 And yeah, so actually I'm kind of an example of some of this good 00:35:47.797 --> 00:35:52.327 news is that the seminary formation, it's being tweaked a little bit. 00:35:52.417 --> 00:35:56.284 Maybe you could say re imagined a little bit to where, it is becoming 00:35:56.284 --> 00:35:59.815 less of like a conveyor belt, uh, like a cookie cutter, kind of same 00:35:59.815 --> 00:36:01.725 formation for each guy, right? 00:36:01.775 --> 00:36:03.315 Because I think the church is realizing that. 00:36:03.730 --> 00:36:07.680 Like, someone like myself who enters, you know, shortly after high school 00:36:07.680 --> 00:36:12.050 and someone who enters, you know, after having a long career, the, 00:36:12.060 --> 00:36:16.741 the kind of and type of formation, we both need would look different. 00:36:17.031 --> 00:36:21.581 So, I think the church is really trying to, uh, adjust and adapt to that, 00:36:21.821 --> 00:36:27.371 um, and really make it almost more, more tailor fit to each guy's needs. 00:36:27.371 --> 00:36:31.581 So almost in that spirit, I've had some really great conversations, 00:36:31.694 --> 00:36:33.384 with those in charge of my formation. 00:36:33.710 --> 00:36:37.599 yeah, we've kind of mutually, yeah, discerned that like, Hey, 00:36:38.019 --> 00:36:39.909 this past year, it's been awesome. 00:36:40.209 --> 00:36:41.259 It's been so great. 00:36:41.259 --> 00:36:44.519 I think I've really come into my own a lot in the parish setting. 00:36:44.879 --> 00:36:49.489 And so we kind of like together said like, well, shoot, let's have, let's 00:36:49.489 --> 00:36:50.999 have some more time in a parish, right? 00:36:51.009 --> 00:36:53.427 Let's continue, to yeah. 00:36:53.427 --> 00:36:56.647 Put me in, in this arena where I can, where I think I'm best, 00:36:56.767 --> 00:36:58.187 best suited to grow and develop. 00:36:58.487 --> 00:37:00.107 So yeah, out of that is now. 00:37:00.532 --> 00:37:04.302 Yeah, a decision to get some more time in a Paris, a new Paris, right? 00:37:04.342 --> 00:37:05.132 A new environment. 00:37:05.492 --> 00:37:10.092 That's a big part of priesthood, right, is learning how to minister 00:37:10.102 --> 00:37:12.872 across, you know, environments when you're, when you're moved. 00:37:12.872 --> 00:37:16.516 So, coming up immediately for me is, uh, is actually going to 00:37:16.516 --> 00:37:18.206 be another year in the parish. 00:37:18.407 --> 00:37:21.557 this is the wisdom of the church too, in that it's a pretty opposite parish. 00:37:21.557 --> 00:37:25.380 So I'll have, kind of both extremes under my belt, you know, a big, a 00:37:25.380 --> 00:37:26.910 big parish like this one I'm at now. 00:37:26.910 --> 00:37:29.920 This is a smaller parish, different part of the diocese, right? 00:37:30.264 --> 00:37:33.904 I'm very excited to have just a wealth of good experience 00:37:33.904 --> 00:37:35.344 and further development there. 00:37:35.594 --> 00:37:39.127 right, but then eventually after that, so I do still have, a couple 00:37:39.127 --> 00:37:40.467 years of schooling to finish up. 00:37:40.737 --> 00:37:45.457 So I've studied all my philosophy and I just have just two more years now 00:37:45.457 --> 00:37:51.397 of my, uh, theology studies, um, until I've, um, done all the, the academic 00:37:51.397 --> 00:37:53.089 requirements, for, for priesthood. 00:37:53.089 --> 00:37:55.669 So, uh, this next year in a parish and. 00:37:56.134 --> 00:37:57.124 Couple more at school. 00:37:57.674 --> 00:38:00.794 but if I've learned anything thus far, it's that the time has 00:38:01.014 --> 00:38:05.634 absolutely flown by and it'll be, it'll go by in a blink of an eye. 00:38:05.674 --> 00:38:10.895 So I'm getting there and I'm really excited it's going to fly by, but. 00:38:11.830 --> 00:38:14.340 The, the, I used to always tell people, I say that the days are 00:38:14.340 --> 00:38:15.980 long, but the years go by quick. 00:38:16.101 --> 00:38:17.671 you know, that's just what it seems to be. 00:38:18.141 --> 00:38:19.711 Uh, let me ask you one last question here. 00:38:19.860 --> 00:38:23.030 because I told you before we started recording, I said that, that people 00:38:23.030 --> 00:38:27.290 listening to this might be, uh, Catholic school leaders, could be 00:38:27.520 --> 00:38:31.670 priests, could be, uh, parishioners, but there could be one other group 00:38:31.670 --> 00:38:34.470 of audience, uh, in the audience out there, and that's maybe somebody 00:38:34.470 --> 00:38:38.900 who's Thinks they might be hearing God whispering in their ear a little bit. 00:38:39.750 --> 00:38:45.080 What do you say to somebody who may be hearing God's call a little bit? 00:38:45.850 --> 00:38:48.550 Maybe, maybe they're, and, and, and as we both know, I mean that 00:38:48.550 --> 00:38:52.890 could could happen anywhere between 8 and 80 is, is to hear that call 00:38:53.080 --> 00:38:54.980 and God starts to whisper to you. 00:38:55.230 --> 00:38:59.390 What would you say to that person who may be considering a vocation? 00:38:59.873 --> 00:39:05.257 I like to say that Jesus's theme song in the gospels is, is be not afraid, right? 00:39:05.657 --> 00:39:09.564 Wherever he goes, he's just, constantly encouraging people. 00:39:09.914 --> 00:39:11.384 Be not afraid, be not afraid. 00:39:11.714 --> 00:39:16.290 And yeah, as I've gone in my journey, my discernment, it's like the further I go, 00:39:16.611 --> 00:39:18.231 The deeper those words mean to me, right? 00:39:18.261 --> 00:39:19.741 Of, of just be not afraid. 00:39:20.012 --> 00:39:23.098 because yeah, discerning like a vocation, whatever vocation 00:39:23.098 --> 00:39:24.538 it is, it's scary, right? 00:39:24.858 --> 00:39:25.798 Commitment is scary. 00:39:26.368 --> 00:39:28.508 Um, sacrifice is scary, right? 00:39:29.110 --> 00:39:34.625 it's so easy, I think, to Maybe like turn it into like a task, right? 00:39:34.915 --> 00:39:38.865 Where, uh, where you're like evaluating your performance, right? 00:39:38.945 --> 00:39:42.355 And then you're disappointed in yourself and then you feel guilty 00:39:42.355 --> 00:39:45.765 and like you're not living up to maybe this call that God has for you. 00:39:45.805 --> 00:39:48.545 I certainly fell into this in my journey, my discernment. 00:39:48.964 --> 00:39:52.514 yeah, it really almost got me off the, off the right path for a while. 00:39:52.534 --> 00:39:58.482 So, but yeah, just to, just to know when God calls us, when God, like, makes a plan 00:39:58.482 --> 00:40:02.603 for our life, He doesn't do it, like, to torture us and make us miserable, right? 00:40:02.623 --> 00:40:05.093 He's doing that out of an infinite love for us. 00:40:05.443 --> 00:40:06.313 He made us. 00:40:06.753 --> 00:40:07.913 So he knows your heart. 00:40:08.283 --> 00:40:12.843 He knows what's gonna make you ultimately the most happy in life, right? 00:40:13.073 --> 00:40:17.453 So just to almost receive it, make sure you're receiving it in that sense 00:40:17.483 --> 00:40:21.566 that like, Yeah, never just isolate it as a task that always to just 00:40:22.746 --> 00:40:27.291 Make sure you're receiving receiving it in love Um, and then love, what? 00:40:27.551 --> 00:40:31.821 Casts out fear, then comes the trust, and then comes the baby steps, where, where 00:40:31.821 --> 00:40:36.027 you're able, to one little step at a time, follow to where the Lord's taking you. 00:40:37.227 --> 00:40:41.577 And, and I think, I think that's so beautifully put, uh, and I think it's so 00:40:41.577 --> 00:40:46.647 hard sometimes to realize that God has a plan for each of us, and God's plan is 00:40:46.667 --> 00:40:49.899 going to be so much better than anything we could have ever come up with, but we 00:40:49.899 --> 00:40:54.249 just have to put our trust and our faith and, and surrender to him unconditionally. 00:40:54.509 --> 00:40:58.239 Uh, and, and when that happens, amazing things start to happen. 00:40:58.249 --> 00:41:01.573 So, I want to say thank you so much for, for taking the time. 00:41:01.603 --> 00:41:04.506 Obviously, you remain in our prayers, personally. 00:41:04.546 --> 00:41:07.751 And, um, I know a lot of, uh, the parishioners, continue 00:41:07.751 --> 00:41:08.861 to keep you in their prayers. 00:41:08.976 --> 00:41:12.086 we'll be continuing to follow you even when you leave us, uh, to, 00:41:12.106 --> 00:41:13.296 to head to your new assignment. 00:41:13.831 --> 00:41:16.301 Uh, you remain in our prayers and I know you won't be a 00:41:16.301 --> 00:41:17.541 stranger or anything like that. 00:41:17.541 --> 00:41:21.051 And so, uh, just know that if you ever need anything, we are all here for you 00:41:21.051 --> 00:41:22.801 and we continue to love and support you. 00:41:23.101 --> 00:41:23.421 Amen. 00:41:23.421 --> 00:41:24.461 Well, thank you so much, John. 00:41:24.461 --> 00:41:25.881 This has been, this has been a lot of fun. 00:41:26.526 --> 00:41:27.196 Awesome! 00:41:27.630 --> 00:41:30.990 If you're enjoying the Catholic School Leaders podcast, please be sure to 00:41:30.990 --> 00:41:34.670 like and subscribe, and don't forget to share these podcasts with other 00:41:34.670 --> 00:41:36.610 Catholic school leaders in your network.