Vocation Boom! Roadshow 2010 - Episode 2

First Guest: Fr. Eric Weber – Priest for the Diocese of Lansing, MI, Professsor of Theology and Homiletics in the College of Liberal Arts

• Discuss his vocation and when he knew he wanted to become a priest. He is a professor of homiletics, which means he helps to form seminarians into effective preachers. It’s often said that a priest’s homily is the only “teaching” that many Catholics will experience in a given week. How would you describe the importance of a priest being a good homilist?
• A lot of people might think that their pastor just struts up to the ambo on Sunday and preaches on whatever strikes him at the moment. There’s a lot more than that involved in giving a good homily, isn’t there?

Second Guest: Mrs. Ruth Lapeyre – Vocal Instructor at SHMS and Mother of Louis (1^st Year Theology)

• Discuss how it effected their family when Louis decided to become a priest. It was very difficult for them, especially his father
• As a staff member at SHMS, you have the great blessing of not only seeing your own son go through the formation process, but all the other men as well. Discuss the current character of the young men pursuing the priesthood today. 

Third Guest: Fr. Tim Birney – Vocation Director for the Archdiocese of Detroit

• Brief discussion of his priestly vocation unfolded.
• Talk about working directly with young men who are considering following in the footsteps of all the men who have given their lives completely to the service of Christ and his people for over two thousand years.
• Years ago, there seemed to be more of a “feeder system” guiding men into the seminary than we have now – more clergy and religious teaching in schools, larger families, and so on. Talk about where a vocation director looks for qualified candidates today.
• A lot has been written and said in recent years about “priestly identity,” or priests and seminarians needing to rediscover their “priestly character.” Discuss why it’s so important for not only priests, but young men preparing to receive holy orders to understand the whole notion of the priest being in persona Christi.
• Talk about Vocation Crisis
• Discussion of how his own vocation
• Discussion of his role as a priest who gets to work directly with young men who are considering following in the footsteps of all the men who have given their lives completely to the service of Christ and his people for over two thousand years.
• Years ago, there seemed to be more of a “feeder system” guiding men into the seminary than we have now – more clergy and religious teaching in schools, larger families, and so on. Discuss where he goes as a vocation director to look for qualified candidates today
• A lot has been written and said in recent years about “priestly identity,” or priests and seminarians needing to rediscover their “priestly character.” Discussion about why it’s so important for not only priests, but young men preparing to receive holy orders to understand the whole notion of the priest being in persona Christi

Fourth Guest: Louis Lapeyre – 1^st Year Theology Student

• How did he go about deciding on his vocation?
• Describe how that process of reflection brought you to this point of entering the seminary
• I often hear it said that the only thing many young men need to seriously consider the priesthood is to be encouraged by a family member, a friend, their parish priest, or someone else. In your case, that apparently wasn’t necessary. But how important would you say it is for all of us to keep in mind our role in suggesting the priesthood to young men we know?
• He began formation at St. John Vianney Seminary in St. Paul, MN, a place that could hardly accommodate all the men who entered. Talk about that. (JPII Generation).
• Discuss what’s it like being a seminarian