Vocation Chats Vocations Syracuse

Father Jason Hage interviews Deacon James Buttner, a seminarian of the Diocese of Syracuse, who will be ordained to the sacred Priesthood of Jesus Christ on Saturday, June 3rd at 10am at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. Deacon James talks about his journey to the priesthood, and gives us a glimpse into what might be going through the mind and the heart of a young man who is about to become a priest in the Catholic Church. He also provides spiritual insights on how a seminarian prepares for the great grace of ordination as well as a human perspective of the man behind the collar.

Father Jason Hage interviews newly ordained deacon, Benjamin Schrantz. Deacon Ben is a seminarian of the Diocese of Syracuse and was recently ordained to the transitional diaconate, which is his last official step before ordination to the sacred priesthood of Jesus Christ. Ben shares about his journey to ordination, and how he never had to walk this road alone. He speaks to all of the support systems he leaned on beginning with his home parish, then his Catholic high school, then his Newman Community in college, and then the Fisherman's Club discernment group after college. He speaks powerfully to the reality that when God calls, he sends all of the people you need to lean on for prayers and support. If you say "yes," God's Providence will always send you someone to speak to you an encouraging word to help you take the next step.

Father Jason Hage interviews Lisa Hall (the diocesan Director of the Office of Family Life) and Kristin Dievendorf (Family Life Program Coordinator) about the upcoming World Marriage Day Celebration on Sunday, February 19th, 2023 at 2pm at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.  Bishop Lucia will be presiding.  Lisa and Kristen talk about the importance of pausing annually to honor married couples in an intentional way to raise awareness of the vocation to married life as well as to inspire more young people to think about their particular vocation.  Father Hage highlights how Bishop Lucia believes that every vocation comes from the home, and that if we desire to see an increase in vocations we have to start with supporting family life and the vocation to marriage.  Marriage is truly the seedbed of all vocations.  

Father Jason Hage interviews Monsignor Robert Yeazel about the gift and mystery of the priesthood, and how trusting Jesus as your closest friend is what brings joy to any and all vocations.  Msgr. Yeazel tells the harrowing story of his near death experience of contracting COVID at the beginning of the pandemic, being in an induced coma, his family being told he wouldn't make it, and then experiencing a miraculous and unexpected recovery.  He talks about his journey of faith through all of this, and the important spiritual lessons he learned by leaning on Jesus totally to get him through.  You will not want to miss this incredible story.  

Father Jason Hage interviews Father John Manno, Pastor of Holy Family Church in Fairmount and the Vicar for Priests for the Diocese of Syracuse, on the impact of being "called by name."  Father Manno shares his powerful testimony of how his home parish literally called him by name when he was in high school.  His childhood pastor organized a weekend whereby parishioners wrote the names of the young people in their parish who they thought would make a great priest and/or religious.  Father Manno was shocked when his pastor handed him a stack of index cards submitted by parishioners all with his name on it!  His story demonstrates the power of lay people calling forth vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life from their parishes.   

Father Jason Hage and Father Chris Celentano interview Bishop Emeritus Robert J. Cunningham on the art of the ask.  Bishop Cunningham speaks about the necessity for the People of God to not be afraid to ask our young people to consider the call.  Bishop Cunningham reflects on his own vocation story and how when he was in Middle School his Bishop as well as his pastor asked him to consider the call to the priesthood and how their ask never left him throughout his life.  He then explains how a gentle, loving open invitation to our young people could actually be the catalyst for a young person to be able to seriously consider and say yes to their vocation.