54 : An Honest Conversation on Normalizing The Priesthood | Fr. David Michael Moses

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mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304:

Welcome back everybody.

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It's ever be.

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And today we have a super,

super fun guest on the podcast.

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Y'all may know him from social

media and if you don't yet, you

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definitely should be following him.

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So I'll let him introduce himself.

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Father, welcome to ever be.

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squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

Thank you so, so much for having me.

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I'm Father David Michael Moses.

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I'm a priest of the Archdiocese

of Galveston, Houston, and I

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absolutely love being a priest.

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mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304:

That's awesome.

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Tell us a little bit about what

you do besides being a priest.

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Yeah,

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squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

hopefully, is an extension of that.

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I've been a priest for about six

years now, um, and, uh, these

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days, I've just seen a lot of good

fruit from, uh, online ministry.

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I feel like, you know, you can preach

a homily in person to, to people at the

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parish and, uh, that, that can have a

very positive effect on them, um, but then

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you have to go off and do something else.

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What's cool about online stuff is

you can post something online, it can

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keep doing its thing and then you can

go off and go back to doing parish

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work and it can keep evangelizing.

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So, I've seen a lot of.

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Um, especially with humorous

stuff online and, uh, yeah,

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just, it's cool to see the fruit.

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mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304:

it is amazing to see the fruit.

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You've grown so much and it's beautiful

to see a young priest online, kind of

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like meeting the people where they're

at, or at least these younger generations

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just meeting us exactly where we're at.

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And that's why I wanted to bring you

onto the podcast today and have a

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conversation, especially about kind

of like normalizing the priesthood.

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I think as Catholics, we grow

up with priests in our parishes,

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maybe family friends, but sometimes

we feel like they're kind of.

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You know, on on a

different pedestal than us.

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Um, and I think that what I have

experienced in my own life when I have,

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uh, grown in friendship with different

priests in my life, I've begun to

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see the humanness and see them in a

different light and appreciate them

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even, even more than what I did already.

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So, today we're going to have a

little conversation about normalizing

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the priesthood, and we just want

to hear about you and your life and

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your story and get to know you more.

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squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

Yeah, a hundred percent.

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When I, I love that because at the

end of the day, like what makes the.

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Only, we can only ordain

humans as priests.

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So, the humanity of the priesthood

is obviously something that

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was very intentional by God.

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And it's certainly, you're set aside

for something very, very sacred.

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But the humanity isn't a problem

to be, you know, scratched out.

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It's actually a gift and it's a real

point of connection with people.

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So, look forward to jumping in that.

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mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304:

Yeah, truly.

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That's so good.

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Well, can you just first start

out, um, just sharing about

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your journey to the priesthood?

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Where did you first feel called

in your life and what did that

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discernment process look like for you?

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squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

Yeah, well every vocation

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starts with the family.

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Um, my, my parents, uh,

really interesting story.

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They became Catholic before I was born.

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They converted from different

Protestant denominations.

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And my, uh, my dad actually went

to jail 13 times for doing pro

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mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: Wow.

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Yes.

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squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

served about six.

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And, uh, so my mom was just a

hero during that time, you know,

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she's at home with all these kids

and she was, were both loving it.

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You know, it was like pretty extraordinary

to get to be involved in something.

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I was just talking to them on my day

off last week that they, uh, they were

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saying like they felt so much peace

during that time that even though there

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was a lot that was being taken away from

them, the knowledge of knowing that they

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were doing God's will, that they were

protecting these babies, um, for them

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was just like worth, worth everything.

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Um, so yeah, my dad, they would organize

like hundreds of guys to lay down

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peacefully in front of abortion clinics.

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And just a disclaimer here, like this

was all sanctioned by the Bishop.

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The Bishop was supportive of it.

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So I would not recommend someone go

do this, you know, on their own at

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mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: Right.

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squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

um, the Bishop was behind it.

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And, uh, so that's what they did.

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And, and, uh, a lot of, a

lot of people went to jail.

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Um, the charge was trespassing,

but in Texas you can trespass if

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you think a life is in danger.

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And they definitely thought

a life was in danger in those

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mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: For sure.

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squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

So, um, so that's what I kind of

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grew up hearing stories about.

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You know, a lot of

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mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304:

That is amazing.

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squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

when they're going to sleep,

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but we listened to, I was like,

tell us some more jail stories.

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You know, that was,

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mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: Amazing.

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squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

wild stuff, wild stuff.

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And, uh, it was very much the

backdrop, I think for, for my vocation

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mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: Wow.

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squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

like, I knew my parents had.

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That whatever the Lord asked of them, they

said yes to it, no matter what that meant.

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And so, for me, it was like,

okay, whatever the Lord asks

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of you, you gotta say yes.

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mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304:

Can't say enough.

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squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

you have to, you have to give it all.

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And, uh, I didn't actually think too

much about priesthood until I went

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on an asylum retreat when I was 16.

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I'd been an altar server up to that

point, and just serving at the altar,

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like, I just developed a deep love

for the Eucharist, and just, even

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as a kid, I remember thinking, like,

man, if this really is Jesus showing

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up, then, uh, this is the most

important thing I'm doing each week.

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Like, I should probably

take this really seriously.

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mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: Aw.

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Of course.

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squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

I, uh, you know, and they'd pray

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for vocations at mass, you know,

for invocation vocations, and, uh, I

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was like, oh, I want to get married.

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I guess that means I'm not

supposed to be a priest.

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I really thought that.

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You know, talking about like

normalizing the priesthood,

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mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: Yeah.

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squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

it's very normalized to, very

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normal to want to get married.

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Um, but that doesn't mean God's

not calling you to priesthood.

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And uh, when I went on that silent

retreat, that's really where I

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felt challenged is the priest.

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Um, the priest had said at one

point, you should choose the

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vocation that will make you a saint.

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And that just hit me like,

Oh, that's, that's priesthood.

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mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: Wow.

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squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

know why I thought that.

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And I just kind of

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mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: Like it

just kind of like came to your heart, like

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you just like felt that in your heart.

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squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

A hundred percent.

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Yeah, it was like, you

should choose the vocation.

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He was talking to a group of people.

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He said, you should choose the

vocation that will make you a saint.

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And I was like, Oh, that's priesthood.

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And then I was kind of like,

Whoa, why did I, why did I

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mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304:

Why didn't I

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squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304: You

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mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304:

just think that, yeah.

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squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

Yeah.

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And, and obviously that question is going

to hit different people in different ways.

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Right.

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For some people that would hit them.

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Like I'm assuming for

you, that would hit you.

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Like, Oh, that is totally married life.

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You know, like that's my path to holiness.

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So that's the the beauty

of the unique call.

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Um, but telling the, I remember telling

the director of the tree that I'm kind

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of feeling like this draw to priesthood,

but, um, I'm not really sure why.

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And I honestly really want to get married.

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And, uh, he said, that's okay.

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That's totally normal, but God

still might be calling you.

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You have to take that seriously.

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And so that kind of reset the playing

field for me was like, okay, like

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if celibacy isn't just because.

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you were indifferent to marriage.

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If celibacy is truly a sacrifice of

a good that you make because you've

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encountered another good, then I

really need to take this seriously.

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So sorry, praying a lot,

going to daily mass.

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And over the next few

years, um, just really

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mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304:

As a 16 year old, right?

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Like you're like praying, going

to daily mass as a 16 year old.

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squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

yeah.

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mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304:

That's a lot.

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squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

cool how, yeah, it's really cool how

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it worked out because I, um, I actually

started college when I was 14, and

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so because I had a full time college

schedule, I was able to go to daily mass.

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Because I got high school, you know,

class starts usually at like 7.

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30, and you don't get out till 2.

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mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: Yes.

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squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

for me, I was able to go to like the 8.

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30 daily mass, and I would arrange

my class schedule every semester so I

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mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: Okay.

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squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

went to mass every

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mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: We have,

but we have to, we have to stop there.

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You're in college at 14.

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Are you like a genius father?

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What, what, why did you start calling?

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squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

Yeah, so the way it worked

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out, definitely not a genius.

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The way it worked out, um, we were

all homeschooled when we were younger.

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mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: Yeah.

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squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

all, everybody went into public

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school at different times, like

either high school or middle school.

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My mom was really good about discerning

what was best, kind of, for each child.

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with me Um, this, the second

semester, my eighth grade year,

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she was like, Hey, there's this

thing called dual credit classes.

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You can take like a college

class at the university, but

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then it still be in high school.

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Um, and she was like, why

don't you take one of those?

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And so, I mean, I was in eighth

grade, but you know, they

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mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: Yeah.

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squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

that much.

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And so I just took a dual

credit class and it went well.

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And then my mom was like, wait,

like, why don't you just do all your

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classes like this next semester?

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so we were like, okay.

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And I get, I had to get permission from

the Dean, but they signed off on it.

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I took the test to get in.

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And then I did that for two years.

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And then, um, at that point, I just

transferred to university in Houston.

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it was so funny because they didn't

ask for like They didn't ask for

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a high school diploma for them.

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I was just a transfer student.

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And so I was 16 and I had, um,

I had enough credits to transfer

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in, so I just transferred in.

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And then two years later, I

just had my bachelor's degree.

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It's pretty funny.

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Like more people should do it.

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We kind of hacked the system to be honest.

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mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304:

That is the biggest hack.

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If you want to get around

SATs, you got to do that.

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squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

Yeah, exactly, exactly.

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mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: Wow.

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squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

and so, Yeah, I mean, I never,

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we didn't really plan it.

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I think sometimes people do think that,

like, my parents were, like, pushing

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me, like, this guy's gonna graduate.

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And it really was.

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Like, they were, I mean, my parents were

very, uh, facilitating, I would say.

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They were like, hey,

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mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: Mm hmm.

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squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

What about this?

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Um, so, It, it wasn't really the plan,

I just ended up that when all my, all

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my friends were graduating high school,

I was just graduating from college,

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mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: Wow.

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squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

bachelors, and so I had applied, that was

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kind of a unique part of my discernment,

I had applied to some law schools and

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got into a few different law schools, um,

and I was looking at doing that, going

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straight in it, but instead, obviously,

um, felt much more called to seminary.

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At one point, the vocation director had

said, he said, hey, you know, I know

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you're thinking about being a lawyer,

and that's, that's a good thing, he

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said, but at the end of the day, um,

Uh, the church can hire more lawyers.

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We can't just go hire more priests.

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So if

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mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: So true.

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squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

to be a priest, then we really

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need you to say, say yes to that.

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mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: That's

a really beautiful way to put it.

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And just like, praise God for this mentor

that you had the vocations director

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to just kind of be like, you know,

great, great passion you have here,

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but we really can't hire more priests.

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So you just, you got to say yes.

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You know, like, we really need that.

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Yes.

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squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

Totally.

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Yeah.

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Yeah.

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I think it's good for, I think it's good

for me to know that like your, what you

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choose makes a difference in the church.

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Right?

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Like, you know, God's will is going

to be done regardless, but like you

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choosing to be a priest, um, makes

a difference for people's lives.

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mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: Yeah.

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squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

and uh, yeah, exactly.

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mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: Yeah.

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So.

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Is that in that moment did,

were you like all in then?

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Like, okay, yeah.

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I'm just gonna say yes and

then went to seminary and

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squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304: the

big moment for me was, um, I was praying,

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I'd ask God to send me a dove, because I

was very nervous about the celibacy thing.

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mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: Yeah.

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squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

God if he would send me a dove, if

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he wanted me to go into seminary.

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And I was driving downtown to meet

with the vocational director one

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day, and I was just kind of praying.

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I was like, Lord, send me

a dove, send me a dove.

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and uh, I saw some birds, but I

wasn't really sure if they were doves.

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And I was like, I probably should

have picked something more specific.

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Um, and uh, And then I was, and then

he had said at that point, he was like,

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: 00:10:46

Hey, you should really feel peace,

not anxiety, but it's the Holy Spirit.

276

: 00:10:49

So the first thing he had suggested was

actually to stop discerning seminary

277

: 00:10:52

and really focus on law school, which is

pretty good discernment advice, like to

278

: 00:10:56

isolate your discernment a little bit.

279

: 00:10:57

Sometimes we kind of get

caught up in the options.

280

: 00:10:59

And so I really did that.

281

: 00:11:00

I stopped thinking about seminary

and started focusing on law school

282

: 00:11:04

it just, seminary just kept coming

back, like even stronger, you know?

283

: 00:11:07

And so I was, I was finally praying

in a holy hour at my home parish.

284

: 00:11:11

And, uh, I was just kind of feeling

frustrated with God because I was like,

285

: 00:11:14

Lord, I want to do what you want, but I

want to know that it is what you want.

286

: 00:11:18

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: Right.

287

: 00:11:19

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

um, I'm willing to be a priest,

288

: 00:11:20

but celibacy sounds hard.

289

: 00:11:22

And, uh, I just want to know

that it's what you want.

290

: 00:11:24

So if you want me to go into seminary,

like send me a dove, send me a dove.

291

: 00:11:28

And I don't really know what I

thought would happen in the church.

292

: 00:11:30

Like if one would crash

through a window or something.

293

: 00:11:32

I don't know, but I was

just praying for that.

294

: 00:11:34

And, uh, and right then I looked

up and realized that the huge

295

: 00:11:38

painted glass window above the

altar of the church was a giant dove

296

: 00:11:42

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304:

There it is.

297

: 00:11:43

Mm-hmm

298

: 00:11:44

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

And, uh, I just felt so

299

: 00:11:46

much peace in that moment.

300

: 00:11:47

Um, you know, Father Gregory Pine, uh,

talks about how like, you know, with signs

301

: 00:11:52

and that kind of stuff, you have to be

careful, obviously, with signs, but a lot

302

: 00:11:55

of it is how your heart responds to it.

303

: 00:11:57

You know, like, is it giving

your real sense of peace?

304

: 00:12:00

And so when I heard him say that, I

really went back to that moment and

305

: 00:12:03

I was like, no, I felt so much peace.

306

: 00:12:05

Like, okay, Lord, let's

take the next step.

307

: 00:12:07

And so I called the vocation director very

soon after that, finished the application

308

: 00:12:11

process and went into seminary.

309

: 00:12:13

Obviously seminary had

lots of ups and downs.

310

: 00:12:15

Um, the Lord

311

: 00:12:16

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: Mm-hmm

312

: 00:12:17

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

um, you know, like scripture says,

313

: 00:12:18

young man, when you come to serve

the Lord, prepare for trials.

314

: 00:12:22

And I think you definitely feel

that in seminary, but it's all very

315

: 00:12:24

purposeful on God's part to move

316

: 00:12:27

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: Okay.

317

: 00:12:27

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

some of those moments of frustration

318

: 00:12:29

and the moments of longing.

319

: 00:12:31

To really be purified and by I would

say like year four or five of seminary.

320

: 00:12:35

Um, I did a, like a full

year internship in a parish.

321

: 00:12:39

We call it the pastoral

year here in our diocese.

322

: 00:12:41

Everybody does it.

323

: 00:12:42

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: Right.

324

: 00:12:43

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

love parish life.

325

: 00:12:44

I just love the rhythm of being with

the people and, um, Even during that

326

: 00:12:48

year, too, I had a moment, I thought

about this the other day, where I

327

: 00:12:51

was at the Catholic school there.

328

: 00:12:52

So again, I wasn't a priest

yet, I just was wearing a polo.

329

: 00:12:55

Um, I was in the cafeteria with a bunch

of the kids, and we were just having

330

: 00:13:00

lunch, and one of the little girls, she

was probably eight or nine years old,

331

: 00:13:03

she said, Hey, Father, do you think?

332

: 00:13:05

And then she stopped, and

she said, Wait, not a father.

333

: 00:13:09

And it was so interesting because looking

back, I think, like, kids sometimes

334

: 00:13:13

see things in us that we don't see

335

: 00:13:15

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: Wow.

336

: 00:13:17

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

Especially, like, especially young kids

337

: 00:13:19

who haven't really been, like, by sin.

338

: 00:13:22

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: Mm hmm.

339

: 00:13:23

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

wasn't sure why she said that.

340

: 00:13:24

She was like, yeah, father.

341

: 00:13:25

And then she was like, wait, you're

342

: 00:13:26

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304:

She's like, why did I say that?

343

: 00:13:28

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

Yeah.

344

: 00:13:29

But

345

: 00:13:29

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304:

But she knew.

346

: 00:13:30

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

back, it was

347

: 00:13:30

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304:

She told you.

348

: 00:13:31

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

think, Yeah.

349

: 00:13:33

So just a lot of consolations like

that during that year where I came

350

: 00:13:36

back to seminary to finish out and

I was just like, let's do it, you

351

: 00:13:39

know, and have not looked back since.

352

: 00:13:42

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304:

That is so cool.

353

: 00:13:42

I think one of the things you said that

I love is as you're asking the Lord for

354

: 00:13:47

this tangible sign and confirmation,

I just almost feel like, like I could

355

: 00:13:53

hear that like excitement and like, well

that desire in your heart, even though

356

: 00:13:57

there was still that fear and hesitation,

I just feel like that continual, like

357

: 00:14:01

Lord, show me a dove, show me a dove.

358

: 00:14:02

Like you're like, Asking for

that confirmation to be true.

359

: 00:14:06

Whereas I feel like if you were not

truly wanting to be a priest, you'd

360

: 00:14:11

be like avoiding any sign of like,

God's calling you to be a priest and

361

: 00:14:16

you'd be talking yourself out of it,

but you're like, no, like, Lord, like,

362

: 00:14:18

please send me that confirmation.

363

: 00:14:19

Please send me that confirmation.

364

: 00:14:21

Please send me that confirmation.

365

: 00:14:22

So that's really beautiful to hear.

366

: 00:14:25

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

That's a good point.

367

: 00:14:25

I don't think I thought about that.

368

: 00:14:26

Just the fact that I was looking for

something was probably, it's kind of

369

: 00:14:29

like if you like somebody, like you're

looking for a hint, you know, like you're

370

: 00:14:31

looking like, Oh, did they text me back?

371

: 00:14:33

You know, I think that's a good analogy.

372

: 00:14:35

Like there must have been a part

of my heart that was like yearning

373

: 00:14:38

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: Mm hmm.

374

: 00:14:38

Mm hmm.

375

: 00:14:40

Yeah.

376

: 00:14:40

Because when we start praying for God's

will to be aligned, like for our will

377

: 00:14:44

to align with God's will, I mean, that

just naturally begins to happen if

378

: 00:14:48

we truly have an openness to do that.

379

: 00:14:50

I mean, he begins to soften our

heart to his will and then even

380

: 00:14:54

like changing it to desire his will.

381

: 00:14:56

And I feel like as you're sharing that

story, I feel like that's a lot of

382

: 00:14:59

what I was like hearing in your voice.

383

: 00:15:01

And in your discernment process, it's

like, okay, there was an openness.

384

: 00:15:04

And then there was like that

shift of desiring what God wanted.

385

: 00:15:07

So that was really beautiful.

386

: 00:15:08

And I feel like really helpful for

people in a discernment process to hear.

387

: 00:15:12

Yeah.

388

: 00:15:12

Just how others have

discerned their vocation.

389

: 00:15:15

So tell us now that you are a priest,

what is a typical day in the life look

390

: 00:15:20

like for you and is there anything

about the priesthood that you feel

391

: 00:15:24

like has surprised you in your day

to day that now you're experiencing?

392

: 00:15:28

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

Yeah, so I'm a diocesan priest, right?

393

: 00:15:31

Which for most of us, it's not

necessary, but in most cases

394

: 00:15:34

we do end up in parishes.

395

: 00:15:35

Um, and so I've been in a parish

all six years as a priest.

396

: 00:15:38

And, uh, what I like about the

schedule is that it's like totally

397

: 00:15:42

different every day in a lot of ways.

398

: 00:15:44

Like you don't know, like that's one

thing I've never talked to my brother

399

: 00:15:46

priest when I was sworn after God ordained

is like, you really have to surrender

400

: 00:15:49

your schedule to God because, Um, even

today, like I have things I've set out

401

: 00:15:55

appointments that were set up by mass,

but people just come in the office.

402

: 00:15:59

People come up after mass.

403

: 00:16:00

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: Yeah.

404

: 00:16:01

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

things, you know, and so you kind of

405

: 00:16:02

have to be like, okay, Lord, like,

this is what I think the day is going

406

: 00:16:05

to look like, but I'm very open.

407

: 00:16:07

I have to be open to whatever

you think it's going to be.

408

: 00:16:09

And, um, So, I mean, it depends on

the day, um, but the day usually

409

: 00:16:14

is going to consist of, you

know, good personal prayer time.

410

: 00:16:16

We pray the liturgy of the hours.

411

: 00:16:17

I mean, we, we promise to pray five times

a day, which is pretty substantial as

412

: 00:16:21

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: Yeah.

413

: 00:16:21

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

Um, and then you have mass,

414

: 00:16:23

uh, pretty much every day.

415

: 00:16:25

I'm on the schedule.

416

: 00:16:25

If not, I'll do my, my mass privately.

417

: 00:16:28

Um, many of the days

we'll have confessions.

418

: 00:16:30

I do a lot of anointings here.

419

: 00:16:32

So people prior to surgeries are going to

homebound during the fish fry on Friday.

420

: 00:16:36

I just got a call to somebody,

um, who was passing away.

421

: 00:16:39

Um, in fact, I got

anointing call recently.

422

: 00:16:42

Um, I went in and it was so sad.

423

: 00:16:44

There was a guy who's.

424

: 00:16:46

Um, his, he had lost his mom like a

year before his best friend had come

425

: 00:16:52

down from Canada for his birthday

because he didn't want him to be

426

: 00:16:56

alone on his birthday because his

427

: 00:16:57

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: Oh,

428

: 00:16:58

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

away.

429

: 00:16:58

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: yeah.

430

: 00:16:59

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

his friend is down, the friend from

431

: 00:17:01

Canada, the friend has like this huge

heart attack and goes unconscious.

432

: 00:17:06

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304:

Oh my gosh.

433

: 00:17:07

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304: I

come to the hospital, we just get like

434

: 00:17:08

this emergency call, like this guy's about

to die basically, can you please come?

435

: 00:17:11

And so we come to the hospital,

and the poor friend, right,

436

: 00:17:13

like his mom died a year ago,

437

: 00:17:15

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: Yeah.

438

: 00:17:15

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

comes to be with him, and now his friend,

439

: 00:17:18

while he's with him, has like this

massive heart attack and is about to die.

440

: 00:17:21

the poor guy, when I felt for him,

he was like, am I the Like, is it

441

: 00:17:26

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: Oh,

442

: 00:17:26

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

it was really sad, and of

443

: 00:17:28

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: yeah.

444

: 00:17:29

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

man, like, don't, don't

445

: 00:17:30

listen to those voices, right?

446

: 00:17:31

Like, these are people who love you,

and, um, so I went in there, and

447

: 00:17:35

this guy's family had come down too,

and it was pretty much, I mean, he

448

: 00:17:37

was on mechanical support, and they

pretty much thought this was the end.

449

: 00:17:41

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: Wow.

450

: 00:17:41

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

the, all the prayers for him, everything.

451

: 00:17:44

And, uh, again, it's just kind of

a sporadic part of my briefly day.

452

: 00:17:47

And all of a sudden you're

here at this person's bedside.

453

: 00:17:49

They're about to die

and you pray for them.

454

: 00:17:51

um, you know, I did everything

I needed to do and I left.

455

: 00:17:55

And, uh, like a week ago, the secretary.

456

: 00:17:59

Called me.

457

: 00:17:59

He was like, Hey father, remember

that anointing that you did?

458

: 00:18:01

And I was like, yeah, yeah.

459

: 00:18:03

And he said, um, so as soon as you

anointed him, like, like a few minutes

460

: 00:18:06

later, he woke up and woke up and the

doctors normally get it and they've

461

: 00:18:12

done some tests and everything.

462

: 00:18:14

And then now he's like, the family

just came in the office and told

463

: 00:18:16

us like, he's completely fine now.

464

: 00:18:18

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: What?

465

: 00:18:19

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

And they're like, this was abs.

466

: 00:18:21

Like the guy, the friend was

like, I believe in miracles,

467

: 00:18:24

but I've never seen one until

468

: 00:18:25

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304:

That's a miracle.

469

: 00:18:26

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

totally a miracle.

470

: 00:18:27

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304:

Oh my gosh.

471

: 00:18:28

That is so cool.

472

: 00:18:29

You're like a spiritual first responder.

473

: 00:18:32

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

Oh, absolutely.

474

: 00:18:33

No, sometimes there's this place here

where they ask if you're a first responder

475

: 00:18:37

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304:

You're like, yes, I am.

476

: 00:18:39

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

And I usually I'm like, kinda, and then

477

: 00:18:40

sometimes they'll give me the discount.

478

: 00:18:41

I take it.

479

: 00:18:42

I take it.

480

: 00:18:43

Um, no, but totally.

481

: 00:18:45

And, and so I think that, you know,

to answer that question, like the

482

: 00:18:48

days are very different and you

just often get just like thrust

483

: 00:18:52

into these incredibly deep moments.

484

: 00:18:56

Um, of people's lives.

485

: 00:18:58

Like one day you're in the office

joking with somebody and the next

486

: 00:19:00

moment like you're at the bedside

and someone's about to die.

487

: 00:19:02

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: Wow.

488

: 00:19:03

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

to kind of just be in that mode.

489

: 00:19:04

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: Yeah.

490

: 00:19:05

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

but I really love that you kind

491

: 00:19:08

of wake up and it is an adventure.

492

: 00:19:10

You know, it's like where, where

is it going to take us today?

493

: 00:19:12

And there's like amazing

stories like that guy.

494

: 00:19:14

Um, uh, so the rest of my day

would be, you know, filled out

495

: 00:19:18

with marriage prep appointments.

496

: 00:19:19

I had one of those, um, over the weekend.

497

: 00:19:21

And, um, Profession times and, uh,

staff meetings and then just like

498

: 00:19:25

emails and trying to, uh, keep up,

keep on top of those kind of things.

499

: 00:19:30

People need

500

: 00:19:30

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304:

It's an admin work.

501

: 00:19:32

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

Spirit, yeah, admin work, spiritual

502

: 00:19:33

direction, that kind of stuff.

503

: 00:19:34

So every day is a little bit different,

but I really enjoy it and I kind of try

504

: 00:19:37

to squeeze the social media stuff and

the little moments I have in between.

505

: 00:19:41

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: Yes.

506

: 00:19:41

Yes.

507

: 00:19:42

Tell us a little bit about how

you got started on social media.

508

: 00:19:46

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

Yeah, well you mentioned kind

509

: 00:19:47

of normalizing the priesthood.

510

: 00:19:48

For me, the reason I started doing it is

because, um, up thinking about priesthood,

511

: 00:19:54

I didn't really know what priests did.

512

: 00:19:56

Like, it was a mysterious call

to something, but I just didn't

513

: 00:19:59

really know what it looked like.

514

: 00:20:00

And I feel like good discernment

is based on good information.

515

: 00:20:04

um, I thought, man, now that I am a

priest, I know what priests do all day,

516

: 00:20:08

it might be helpful to like, make a video

about it, so any young guy who was like me

517

: 00:20:12

when he was 16 can have a little bit more

data as he's thinking about priesthood.

518

: 00:20:17

So that was very much the motivating

factor, and um, the week I kind of

519

: 00:20:20

would say I kind of started using social

media, I had a, I was looking at the

520

: 00:20:24

weekend, and that Saturday I had like a

wedding, and some young adult stuff, and

521

: 00:20:28

mass, and confessions, and I was also

baptizing quintuplets that Saturday.

522

: 00:20:32

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304:

That's five, right?

523

: 00:20:34

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

Five, exactly.

524

: 00:20:35

Yeah,

525

: 00:20:36

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: Wow.

526

: 00:20:36

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

And, um, I was like, this is like

527

: 00:20:39

probably a once in a lifetime thing.

528

: 00:20:40

Like, I should probably

529

: 00:20:41

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: Yeah.

530

: 00:20:41

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304: day.

531

: 00:20:42

Like,

532

: 00:20:42

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: Yes.

533

: 00:20:42

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

cool.

534

: 00:20:43

And so, I just kind of filmed the day, and

then a couple weeks later, I went back to

535

: 00:20:47

the footage, and like, edited it together.

536

: 00:20:49

Because I grew up doing a lot

of video stuff, um, like in high

537

: 00:20:52

school, and then, um, for the

university I was at, and that kind of

538

: 00:20:55

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: Mm hmm.

539

: 00:20:56

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

um, and for the seminary.

540

: 00:20:58

And so, I, uh, I was, I kind of edited

it together and I just kind of posted

541

: 00:21:01

it and I was like, hopefully some young

guys will see that and find it helpful.

542

: 00:21:04

And what I thought I was kind of surprised

by is like, a lot of people were just very

543

: 00:21:07

interested in what priests did all day,

544

: 00:21:09

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: Mm hmm.

545

: 00:21:10

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

And so when I kind of saw that, um,

546

: 00:21:12

especially like non Catholics finding

that interesting, I thought, okay,

547

: 00:21:16

maybe this is kind of worth sort

of leaning into a little bit more.

548

: 00:21:20

Um, and especially started

kind of leaning into short form

549

: 00:21:22

content, that kind of thing.

550

: 00:21:24

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: Mm hmm.

551

: 00:21:24

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

at the end of the day, like I

552

: 00:21:25

want to, I do want to normalize.

553

: 00:21:29

discerning the priesthood, like

that doesn't mean like you're

554

: 00:21:31

a super weird person if you're

thinking about priesthood,

555

: 00:21:33

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: Right.

556

: 00:21:34

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304: also

think like, um, I wouldn't wanna say I,

557

: 00:21:38

we don't wanna de demystify the priesthood

because there's something deeply mystical

558

: 00:21:42

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: Mm hmm.

559

: 00:21:44

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

about what happens at ordination.

560

: 00:21:46

Like being aside, set aside to be in

such close union with Jesus Christ that

561

: 00:21:51

you act in his person in the sacraments

is like a deeply mystical thing,

562

: 00:21:55

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: Totally.

563

: 00:21:57

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

Mysteries aren't supposed to,

564

: 00:21:58

like marriage, there's something

deeply mysterious about marriage,

565

: 00:22:01

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: Sure.

566

: 00:22:01

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

deeply mysterious about God.

567

: 00:22:03

But when we have a mystery, we

don't lock it away and shut it away.

568

: 00:22:06

We seek to discover more about it.

569

: 00:22:09

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: Mm hmm.

570

: 00:22:10

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304: like

we seek, like with God, God is a mystery.

571

: 00:22:12

That doesn't mean that we're like, okay,

well, then move on to the next thing.

572

: 00:22:15

God is a mystery means like

he's endlessly discoverable.

573

: 00:22:19

Like there's endless

right to discover in him.

574

: 00:22:21

And so I would say in the priesthood,

the reason I make videos is not to

575

: 00:22:24

demystify it, but to actually invite

people into the discovery of that mystery.

576

: 00:22:29

And I think the more, especially for

young men, they see the, kind of beauty

577

: 00:22:34

of it, the more they'll be drawn into

maybe like living that mystery as well.

578

: 00:22:38

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304:

That is so beautiful.

579

: 00:22:40

I have never really heard

it spoken about like that.

580

: 00:22:43

And that is, yeah, really beautiful.

581

: 00:22:45

Definitely something to just to ponder

and pray with, which is awesome.

582

: 00:22:50

Um, tell us a little bit more

about what is something that is

583

: 00:22:53

really rewarding, like about being

a priest and what are maybe some

584

: 00:22:58

of the challenges that you face?

585

: 00:23:01

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

Yeah.

586

: 00:23:01

Um, I mean, there's so

many, so many rewards.

587

: 00:23:05

I mean, you see the, just the impact

you can have on, on people as a priest.

588

: 00:23:10

Um, just being called father, you know, is

like, Like, that's rewarding every time.

589

: 00:23:16

It's like, I love how, um, in the

church we don't, we don't call our

590

: 00:23:21

priest president or CEO or, you

know, we call, we call him father.

591

: 00:23:26

You know, like, it's

592

: 00:23:27

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: Yeah.

593

: 00:23:28

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

And most other things, like we call,

594

: 00:23:31

you know, doctor, professor, those

are indicators of their degrees.

595

: 00:23:36

their qualifications,

not of the relationship.

596

: 00:23:39

as a priest, title is not doctor

or professor, it's father.

597

: 00:23:44

It's a relational of

598

: 00:23:46

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304:

That's so cool.

599

: 00:23:47

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

And so, that for me is like

600

: 00:23:50

just deeply, deeply beautiful.

601

: 00:23:52

Um, uh, to continue the stories

about how you impact people's lives,

602

: 00:23:56

I mean, yeah, hearing confessions

and saying mass, I mean, it's uh,

603

: 00:24:00

I find myself like constantly being

like, I can't believe this exists.

604

: 00:24:05

Like, I can't believe God

thought this was a good idea,

605

: 00:24:08

like, to let human men do this.

606

: 00:24:12

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: Right.

607

: 00:24:13

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

part of the work of Christ on earth,

608

: 00:24:15

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: Wow.

609

: 00:24:16

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

I can't believe this even exists.

610

: 00:24:18

Because like, yeah, I think if we

started a human committee and said,

611

: 00:24:21

hey, who here thinks we should give

the authority of Christ to some men?

612

: 00:24:26

It would have been like a

downvote from everybody.

613

: 00:24:28

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304:

been like, no, maybe not a good idea.

614

: 00:24:31

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

Yeah, sounds like with the track

615

: 00:24:33

record of track record of Humanity,

this sounds like a horrible idea.

616

: 00:24:35

And yet God, like in his super abundant

goodness, um, gives it, and he offers

617

: 00:24:42

it and he does it, of course not for the

sake of the priest, but for the sake of

618

: 00:24:45

the people that he wants to be present

with his people that through the priest.

619

: 00:24:49

Right.

620

: 00:24:49

But it, it's for the salvation of souls.

621

: 00:24:52

But it's still crazy that I get to,

I mean, I sit there in confessions

622

: 00:24:54

sometimes and I'm like, this is insane.

623

: 00:24:57

This is insane that I get to do this.

624

: 00:24:59

I mean, I say mass.

625

: 00:25:00

It's like, this is just insane.

626

: 00:25:02

Um, and to be able to, yeah, to be

that spiritual father for people is

627

: 00:25:06

just in absolute insanely rewarding.

628

: 00:25:09

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304:

That's so cool.

629

: 00:25:09

I love hearing you talk about like

your own thoughts about the priesthood

630

: 00:25:13

because it reminds me of how my husband

and I talk about marriage sometimes.

631

: 00:25:17

Like we'll be married

four years next week.

632

: 00:25:20

And so Thank you.

633

: 00:25:23

It hasn't been a super long time,

but four years, we're like, Oh my

634

: 00:25:26

gosh, it's already been four years.

635

: 00:25:28

And sometimes we just sit there

and we're like, this is so cool.

636

: 00:25:31

Like we're married.

637

: 00:25:32

Like, did you realize like we're married?

638

: 00:25:35

This is awesome that

we get to do this and.

639

: 00:25:39

We're like, I wonder when

that's going to wear off.

640

: 00:25:41

You know, I wonder where, when we're

going to like wake up and just be

641

: 00:25:44

like, Oh yeah, marriage is normal.

642

: 00:25:46

Marriage is, it is what it is.

643

: 00:25:47

But like, at least right now

we're like, this is so cool.

644

: 00:25:49

We get to do this.

645

: 00:25:51

And so it's awesome hearing you

say that about the priesthood.

646

: 00:25:54

I mean, that's how, you know, like

you're totally in the vocation.

647

: 00:25:56

God's calling you to be in how

your vocation is that like.

648

: 00:26:00

Just that call to, to find the Lord in

your vocation, to be sanctified in your

649

: 00:26:05

vocation, to find that joy and fulfillment

and peace, and, I mean, you can, you can

650

: 00:26:09

tell that the Lord has, has led you right.

651

: 00:26:13

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

A hundred percent.

652

: 00:26:14

And yeah, I mean, even though what

you were saying about, you know, like

653

: 00:26:17

early on, maybe in a vocation, it can

be easier to, like, appreciate it.

654

: 00:26:21

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: Sure.

655

: 00:26:21

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304: but

I think, like, that's more the reality.

656

: 00:26:23

Like, for me, when I, the day I got

ordained, I was just so pumped, right?

657

: 00:26:26

So pumped, everybody was there, and I

got, I got ordained, I got to be a priest.

658

: 00:26:30

And I remember thinking in my ordination,

like, you know, I won't always feel

659

: 00:26:33

this on a human level as much, like this

kind of high about, like, this newness.

660

: 00:26:37

Um, but, like, this will

always be the reality.

661

: 00:26:42

Like, we know in 30 years,

when you don't feel it, whether

662

: 00:26:45

it's marriage or priesthood,

663

: 00:26:46

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: hmm.

664

: 00:26:46

Mm hmm.

665

: 00:26:49

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

because the reality hasn't changed.

666

: 00:26:50

It is still just as beautifully mysterious

and deeply beautiful and, um, all that

667

: 00:26:57

changes is like we become more numb to it.

668

: 00:27:00

The reality doesn't become weaker.

669

: 00:27:02

So I think it is, whether it's marriage

or priesthood, it is about like trying

670

: 00:27:05

to keep your, your life and your thoughts

in step with what is already true.

671

: 00:27:10

You know, and the more you can do

that like the better you're gonna

672

: 00:27:13

you're gonna live it, you know

673

: 00:27:14

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: Yeah.

674

: 00:27:15

Yeah.

675

: 00:27:16

And so let's go back to, um, a challenge.

676

: 00:27:19

What do you feel like is something that

is, is challenging about the priesthood,

677

: 00:27:23

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

Yeah, there's a lot of challenges, and

678

: 00:27:25

the challenges are really what make it

life giving, I think, in a lot of ways.

679

: 00:27:29

Um, in terms of discerning, I

mean, celibacy, like I said, is a

680

: 00:27:33

huge challenge to today's culture,

and it should be a challenge.

681

: 00:27:36

Like,

682

: 00:27:36

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: right?

683

: 00:27:37

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

says, like, uh, celibacy, it

684

: 00:27:39

is a sign of contradiction.

685

: 00:27:40

It's supposed to push back on a world

that is too fixated on certain things,

686

: 00:27:45

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: Mm-hmm

687

: 00:27:46

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

that That it offers something else.

688

: 00:27:48

You know, I think there's something

really deeply beautiful about that.

689

: 00:27:52

Even I was reflecting recently, like,

I love the fact that like in a church

690

: 00:27:55

that asks young people to be chased

in a church that, um, asked couples

691

: 00:28:02

to not use contraception, to use

692

: 00:28:03

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: Mm-hmm

693

: 00:28:04

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

planning, how beautiful that the

694

: 00:28:06

leaders, the shepherds, we asked

them to be celibate themselves.

695

: 00:28:09

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: Mm-hmm

696

: 00:28:10

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

it's like as a priest, when I, when

697

: 00:28:11

I say don't use contraception, you

really need to use an FP, which means

698

: 00:28:15

you're going to be celibate for,

699

: 00:28:17

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: Right?

700

: 00:28:17

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304: the

701

: 00:28:17

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304:

For a time.

702

: 00:28:18

Yeah.

703

: 00:28:19

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

saying, I'm not asking you to do something

704

: 00:28:20

that I'm not doing myself all the

705

: 00:28:22

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: Right?

706

: 00:28:22

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

you know, and,

707

: 00:28:23

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: Mm-hmm

708

: 00:28:24

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304: to

not live together before marriage, and

709

: 00:28:25

we ask, uh, you know, young people to

stay away from things that are impure.

710

: 00:28:29

The challenge as a priest is actually

what makes you a good father to

711

: 00:28:33

them in that moment, you know So the

challenges are very very life giving

712

: 00:28:39

just basic like the biggest day to day

challenge is just the the amount of

713

: 00:28:42

good things you could be doing But only

714

: 00:28:45

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: Mm-hmm

715

: 00:28:45

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

can do some of the good things and I

716

: 00:28:47

think I mean I'm in a parish right now

the first parish I was at There were

717

: 00:28:50

two priests and 20, 000 parishioners,

718

: 00:28:53

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: Wow.

719

: 00:28:54

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

age was 20.

720

: 00:28:55

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: Wow.

721

: 00:28:56

Mm-hmm

722

: 00:28:56

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

just wild.

723

: 00:28:57

We had 2, 500 kids in Faith Formation.

724

: 00:28:58

This parish, we have 10, 000

parishioners, still huge.

725

: 00:29:02

And, um, yeah, there's a million good

things you could always be doing.

726

: 00:29:06

So you're not discerning

every day, like, should I do

727

: 00:29:07

something evil or something good?

728

: 00:29:09

There's just all good things, but

it's a question of, like, which good

729

: 00:29:12

thing is the Lord calling me to?

730

: 00:29:13

You know, and I think that can

be just a constant challenge as

731

: 00:29:16

a priest to make sure that you're

Properly discerning the highest good.

732

: 00:29:20

Um, and hopefully as we get more and

more priests that will become kind of

733

: 00:29:23

easier and easier But I think that can

definitely be a a consistent challenge.

734

: 00:29:27

And again, that's actually why I

use social media Some people say

735

: 00:29:30

like with so much to do how do

you have time for social media?

736

: 00:29:33

For me

737

: 00:29:33

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: Hmm.

738

: 00:29:35

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

choosing the highest leverage actions

739

: 00:29:37

in terms of evangelization And I think

social media is one of the things,

740

: 00:29:40

I can spend 15 minutes on a video

and a million people can see it.

741

: 00:29:43

That's a pretty high leverage action.

742

: 00:29:45

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304:

That's huge.

743

: 00:29:46

Yeah.

744

: 00:29:46

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

like, that's one of the reasons

745

: 00:29:47

it's worth leaning into that stuff.

746

: 00:29:49

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: Totally.

747

: 00:29:50

Totally.

748

: 00:29:51

What do you feel like are some

of the biggest misconceptions

749

: 00:29:54

people have about the priesthood

and how would you clarify them?

750

: 00:30:00

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

Yeah, um, I think the biggest one I

751

: 00:30:03

probably have seen from like very good

people in the church is that like being

752

: 00:30:07

a priest would be boring Which I mean,

I can't even set it with a straight face

753

: 00:30:11

because it is like anything but boring.

754

: 00:30:14

I

755

: 00:30:14

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304:

That's so cool.

756

: 00:30:15

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

It's it's constantly fascinating

757

: 00:30:18

the amount of things we get to do

the way you involve people's lives I

758

: 00:30:21

mean Last night we had a young adult

group, which was just a huge blast.

759

: 00:30:24

The week before we went to the, like

35 young adults in the parish went to

760

: 00:30:27

the trampoline park here in town, um,

Sunday night, just super, super fun.

761

: 00:30:31

It was our community weekend

this weekend at the parish.

762

: 00:30:34

So we had like free food for

everybody after every mass

763

: 00:30:36

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304:

That's awesome.

764

: 00:30:37

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

so many beautiful and exciting moments.

765

: 00:30:40

You know, the story I shared earlier

about that guy in the hospital, just

766

: 00:30:43

so many things like it is, I mean,

I've never, I mean, I'm dead serious.

767

: 00:30:47

I don't think I've ever had a

moment as a priest where I thought

768

: 00:30:50

I was like, I think I'm bored.

769

: 00:30:51

I mean, it has never happened.

770

: 00:30:54

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: That is.

771

: 00:30:55

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

many good things.

772

: 00:30:55

So, I think that's a huge misconception.

773

: 00:30:58

Um, and, and, uh, On a spiritual

level too, I think that like

774

: 00:31:04

people think being a priest just

necessarily means loneliness.

775

: 00:31:09

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: Mm hmm.

776

: 00:31:11

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

there are, everybody

777

: 00:31:12

has lonely moments for

778

: 00:31:14

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: Yeah.

779

: 00:31:15

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

And I don't think I think

780

: 00:31:17

Jesus was lonely on the cross.

781

: 00:31:18

So if a priest is supposed to be

conformed with Jesus, I think you

782

: 00:31:21

should have some lonely moments.

783

: 00:31:23

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: Mm hmm.

784

: 00:31:24

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

but the life of a priest is anything

785

: 00:31:26

but just continual loneliness.

786

: 00:31:29

I mean, again, that's,

that's insane to me.

787

: 00:31:31

Like I'm with people all the time.

788

: 00:31:33

People I

789

: 00:31:33

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: Yeah.

790

: 00:31:34

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

love me.

791

: 00:31:35

Um, the best friendships I could ask for.

792

: 00:31:37

Um, that like the loneliness is not the

pervading emotion I have at all, you know?

793

: 00:31:42

So again, there's moments of loneliness.

794

: 00:31:44

but that's not, that's not the

constant state of life by any means.

795

: 00:31:49

Um, and again, like the challenges

are actually what really

796

: 00:31:53

lead to the joy in many ways.

797

: 00:31:54

So those are the kinds of

misconceptions I would say.

798

: 00:31:56

Mmm.

799

: 00:31:58

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304:

you, I mean, I think you

800

: 00:31:59

clarified those really well.

801

: 00:32:00

And I, I feel like I've

heard those myself of people.

802

: 00:32:03

And I think what you said is true.

803

: 00:32:05

Like everybody does experience

a level of loneliness and if

804

: 00:32:07

priests do or when they do, that's.

805

: 00:32:10

Maybe not a bad thing, you know,

it's like a unification with Christ.

806

: 00:32:14

Um, but yeah, I feel like you do hear at

least the moms or the ladies like pray

807

: 00:32:18

for the priests and their loneliness,

pray for the peace and their loneliness.

808

: 00:32:22

But it's very cool to hear.

809

: 00:32:23

You're like, actually, um,

I'm having a great time.

810

: 00:32:25

Like a lot of the time I'm

with my people all the time.

811

: 00:32:28

So it's so good to hear

that you have community.

812

: 00:32:32

Within your parish.

813

: 00:32:34

Um, maybe with that, like even beyond your

parish as well, but yeah, that you feel

814

: 00:32:38

like you have kind of a support system

and community and friendship and like the

815

: 00:32:42

parish is like your wider family, right?

816

: 00:32:45

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

Totally.

817

: 00:32:46

Yeah, they call you father, because

that's your family, I mean, 100%, you

818

: 00:32:48

know, and I think, and, and, looking at

the life of Jesus, right, he was not a

819

: 00:32:53

man who lived, like, isolated at all.

820

: 00:32:55

You know, like, very, I mean, he had his,

his, his own immediate family, but very

821

: 00:32:59

soon as he began his personal ministry,

like, he, he's get, he got, got his

822

: 00:33:02

friend group going, you know, and he hung

out with these 12 guys, and there was

823

: 00:33:05

more people, and they were at wedding

feasts, and like, he was a very communal

824

: 00:33:08

person, and I think that's the model

for everybody and especially priests.

825

: 00:33:12

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: Totally.

826

: 00:33:13

Okay.

827

: 00:33:14

Let's go back to social media.

828

: 00:33:16

So you were talking about how you love

using it to leverage, like leveraging

829

: 00:33:21

social media to reach the masses and

to evangelize kind of on a mass level.

830

: 00:33:25

First of all, it's amazing that you can

spend 15 minutes on a reel and get a

831

: 00:33:28

million views because that's hard to do.

832

: 00:33:31

And that's how, you know, the

Lord is blessing your work.

833

: 00:33:35

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304: Not

everyone goes like that, to be honest.

834

: 00:33:37

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304:

Yeah, there I know, but you do

835

: 00:33:39

get a lot of views and that's how

you know the Lord is blessing it.

836

: 00:33:42

Cause I'm like, sometimes you spend

hours on social or on making a

837

: 00:33:45

video and you're like, yeah, this

is the one that's going to go viral.

838

: 00:33:47

And it gets like no views and

you're like, okay, humbling

839

: 00:33:50

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

so crazy, right?

840

: 00:33:51

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: on.

841

: 00:33:51

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

to predict.

842

: 00:33:52

Yeah,

843

: 00:33:53

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304:

It is hard to predict.

844

: 00:33:54

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304: the

one that you didn't spend much time on is

845

: 00:33:56

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: Oh,

yeah, it's the one that goes viral.

846

: 00:33:58

And you're like, I don't

know how this works anymore.

847

: 00:33:59

It's fine.

848

: 00:34:00

Um, but social media can be

both a blessing and a challenge.

849

: 00:34:05

And I think especially, um, when it comes

to the faith, there's a lot of different

850

: 00:34:10

feelings about social media, about

how we're engaging with social media.

851

: 00:34:13

I know a lot of Catholics that

have decided to get off social

852

: 00:34:15

media because they don't feel

like it is a good place to be.

853

: 00:34:18

And then a lot of Catholics that

are very passionate about social

854

: 00:34:21

media and using it for For the good.

855

: 00:34:24

Um, so can you talk to us a little

bit about that and tell us maybe how

856

: 00:34:28

do you think Catholics and especially

young people, which I feel like is

857

: 00:34:31

the majority of people that are on

social media, how can we be using

858

: 00:34:34

it for the good of the gospel?

859

: 00:34:37

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

Yeah.

860

: 00:34:38

Well, I love that you framed it that way

because I would say like, yeah, there

861

: 00:34:41

are Catholics who think they should get

off social media and that it's really

862

: 00:34:44

dangerous, and there are Catholics who

think there's a really good tool and they

863

: 00:34:47

should be there, and they're both right.

864

: 00:34:51

They're both right.

865

: 00:34:52

Um, it is dangerous.

866

: 00:34:54

Absolutely.

867

: 00:34:55

And some people shouldn't be there.

868

: 00:34:56

And some people should be there.

869

: 00:34:57

The analogy I always use, um, is like,

social media is like a bad neighborhood.

870

: 00:35:03

That I would not recommend, like, my

nieces go live in a bad neighborhood.

871

: 00:35:08

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: Right.

872

: 00:35:09

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

not suggest my family go live there.

873

: 00:35:11

I would not walk alone late at night

in a bad neighborhood in the streets.

874

: 00:35:15

Um, but it's dangerous, but I also

think like every bad neighborhood

875

: 00:35:21

should have a Catholic church.

876

: 00:35:22

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: Right.

877

: 00:35:23

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

every bad neighborhood should

878

: 00:35:24

have a Catholic priest.

879

: 00:35:25

I would never recommend the

diocese shut down the churches

880

: 00:35:27

in the bad neighborhoods.

881

: 00:35:28

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304:

I love that.

882

: 00:35:29

Yes.

883

: 00:35:30

Yeah.

884

: 00:35:31

Mm hmm.

885

: 00:35:33

Totally.

886

: 00:35:33

Mm

887

: 00:35:34

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304: big

fan of people getting off social media.

888

: 00:35:36

I'm, I'm a huge advocate

of parents keeping their

889

: 00:35:39

children off of social media.

890

: 00:35:40

I mean, the statistics are very clear.

891

: 00:35:42

You're happy if you

don't have social media.

892

: 00:35:44

So.

893

: 00:35:45

am the biggest fan of that.

894

: 00:35:46

Get rid of it.

895

: 00:35:47

If you walk away from it, for sure.

896

: 00:35:49

But just because a few of us moved out

of that neighborhood doesn't mean the bad

897

: 00:35:52

neighborhood like ceases to exist and that

we can't minister to the people there.

898

: 00:35:56

Um, and so for me, like, I very much

feel called to that bad neighborhood

899

: 00:36:01

to minister there as a priest, to do

it carefully, to be smart about it.

900

: 00:36:07

and I do think if it's done well, it

can be a just a huge, a huge tool.

901

: 00:36:12

Um, I mean, I get messages from people

all the day, as I'm sure, all the time, as

902

: 00:36:16

I'm sure you do, um, from people who, uh.

903

: 00:36:18

Uh, you know, started coming back to the

church, started going to OCIA, and we

904

: 00:36:22

have two people in our, um, OCIA class

here at the church who, uh, who started

905

: 00:36:27

my social media and started kind of

entering the, entering the faith and,

906

: 00:36:30

um, you know, I, I got a message from

a mom recently who said her, I'll keep

907

: 00:36:34

this kind of vague, her daughter was

involved in like some really bad stuff.

908

: 00:36:38

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: hmm.

909

: 00:36:39

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

um, she had tried to really

910

: 00:36:41

reconnect her with her faith and

she just wasn't really having it.

911

: 00:36:44

And one day her daughter came up and

was like, Hey mom, I just followed

912

: 00:36:46

this funny priest on Instagram.

913

: 00:36:49

And her mom was like,

Oh, what is, okay, yeah.

914

: 00:36:52

You know, it's not like her mom

was trying not to be too excited,

915

: 00:36:55

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: Oh yeah.

916

: 00:36:55

Totally.

917

: 00:36:56

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304: Oh,

918

: 00:36:56

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: Bye.

919

: 00:36:56

Bye.

920

: 00:36:56

Bye.

921

: 00:36:57

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

You know?

922

: 00:36:58

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: Yeah.

923

: 00:36:58

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

um, she emailed me and she said, Thank

924

: 00:37:00

you so much for reaching my daughter

925

: 00:37:03

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: Oh.

926

: 00:37:04

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

I couldn't.

927

: 00:37:05

And she said, she showed me some of your

funny stuff, and she just started showing

928

: 00:37:08

me some of your more serious stuff.

929

: 00:37:10

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: Mm hmm.

930

: 00:37:11

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

thank you.

931

: 00:37:11

And, um, that's, that's what we're about.

932

: 00:37:14

Like I love, same, same for you.

933

: 00:37:16

You know, like I love seeing

the comments that are like, I'm

934

: 00:37:18

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: Yeah.

935

: 00:37:19

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

why is this on my feed?

936

: 00:37:20

But

937

: 00:37:21

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: Right.

938

: 00:37:21

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

I followed.

939

: 00:37:22

You know, it's like, got em!

940

: 00:37:23

We got em!

941

: 00:37:24

You know, and I'm just super, super

passionate about the lost sheep.

942

: 00:37:28

Like the, the parish I met is

called Christ the Good Shepherd.

943

: 00:37:32

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: Oh.

944

: 00:37:32

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304: says

945

: 00:37:33

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: fitting.

946

: 00:37:34

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

The Good Shepherd goes after the

947

: 00:37:35

lost sheep and he doesn't send

somebody else He doesn't tell

948

: 00:37:39

someone else to go he goes himself.

949

: 00:37:41

And so for me, I just feel very called

like okay, I'm gonna go go get him,

950

: 00:37:45

you know And I've seen just so much

affirmation from the Lord with the

951

: 00:37:49

fruit of that that I feel like at

least for this time You know, it's

952

: 00:37:52

it's worth it's worth leaning into

953

: 00:37:54

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304:

That is so cool.

954

: 00:37:55

I love, I love what you were saying about

the bad neighborhood, but I also love.

955

: 00:38:01

Like your tactic of like getting

on people's feet and getting on

956

: 00:38:05

people's radar of like using humor

and And then also including kind

957

: 00:38:11

of like the more serious stuff.

958

: 00:38:12

Like I love what you were saying

about the girl She's like, oh mom.

959

: 00:38:14

Look at this funny priest.

960

: 00:38:15

I found, you know It's like that

connection point of like meeting them

961

: 00:38:19

where they're at using humor And then once

you've kind of built that trust a little

962

: 00:38:24

bit to be like, Hey, but I actually like,

have some, like some really good stuff

963

: 00:38:27

to say if you, if you want to listen,

which I think is a really good strategy.

964

: 00:38:32

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

Well, Jesus says to go fish for men.

965

: 00:38:34

And how do you fish?

966

: 00:38:35

You have bait and you have a hook.

967

: 00:38:37

That's what you do.

968

: 00:38:38

And so for me, like,

that is the social media.

969

: 00:38:40

We need a bait.

970

: 00:38:41

Which is usually, like, humor is

just so, such a universal language.

971

: 00:38:45

And then later you hook them.

972

: 00:38:46

You know, like, we're out

here fishing on social media.

973

: 00:38:48

That's what we're about.

974

: 00:38:49

So.

975

: 00:38:49

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: Yes.

976

: 00:38:50

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304: ha

977

: 00:38:51

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: some

of the videos really, really hook you.

978

: 00:38:52

I get it every time when it's like

things that I can't eat as a priest.

979

: 00:38:56

And I'm always wondering, like,

wait, as a Catholic, I'm like, as a

980

: 00:38:59

Catholic, I didn't know priests had

a list of things they couldn't eat.

981

: 00:39:02

And then over here, you're eating like

a telephone and I'm like, what is this?

982

: 00:39:06

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304: ha.

983

: 00:39:06

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304:

Like what?

984

: 00:39:07

How did he come up with this?

985

: 00:39:09

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

Got'em.

986

: 00:39:11

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: So good.

987

: 00:39:12

Um, okay, let's go back to

discernment for a little bit.

988

: 00:39:16

I, if you could speak to the young

men out there, um, who may feel

989

: 00:39:22

intimidated by the idea of discerning

the priesthood, what advice would

990

: 00:39:26

you give to somebody who is feeling

called, but might still be hesitant?

991

: 00:39:32

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

Yeah.

992

: 00:39:33

Um, for me What I felt when I

entered was like, gosh, I sure

993

: 00:39:38

hope I don't have to be a priest.

994

: 00:39:40

Like, you know, I'm willing if God

wants, but I don't, I don't, I hope

995

: 00:39:43

I don't have to like be celibate

996

: 00:39:45

mari-wagner_2_03-10-2025_133304: Mm.

997

: 00:39:46

squadcaster-11f7_1_03-10-2025_143304:

tells me and live the way

998

: 00:39:47

the Bishop wants me to live.

999

: 00:39:48

And like, I'm willing, but I

kind of hope he's not calling me.

: 1000

00:39:51,329 --> 00:39:54,320

And even, even probably when I went

to seminary, I was like, there's a

: 1001

00:39:54,360 --> 00:39:57,240

little part of me that was like kind of

hoping it would be a no from somebody.

: 1002

00:39:57,540 --> 00:39:58,045

-: 2025

: 1003

00:39:58,045 --> 00:39:59,000

Hmm.

: 1004

00:39:59,300 --> 00:40:01,390

-: 2025

what being a priest means that like.

: 1005

00:40:01,860 --> 00:40:06,860

Through ordination, you are so closely

united with Jesus Christ when you take

: 1006

00:40:06,860 --> 00:40:11,080

a piece of bread and you say, this

is my body, this is my blood, Jesus

: 1007

00:40:11,120 --> 00:40:13,590

makes it become his body and blood.

: 1008

00:40:13,820 --> 00:40:16,949

Like Jesus said, I'm gonna conform

myself to you so much that when you

: 1009

00:40:16,950 --> 00:40:20,039

speak, I will do it every single time.

: 1010

00:40:20,835 --> 00:40:26,075

Like, I will give you my voice to speak

in the world, and I will do what you say.

: 1011

00:40:26,105 --> 00:40:26,835

It's crazy.

: 1012

00:40:26,835 --> 00:40:27,055

When somebody

: 1013

00:40:27,355 --> 00:40:27,375

-: 2025

: 1014

00:40:27,435 --> 00:40:29,665

-: 2025

with sin, and I say, I absolve you from

: 1015

00:40:29,665 --> 00:40:35,595

your sins, in the first person, binds

himself to me and to my word, that when I

: 1016

00:40:35,604 --> 00:40:38,184

say it, he will do it every single time.

: 1017

00:40:38,635 --> 00:40:39,525

-: 2025

That's so cool.

: 1018

00:40:40,195 --> 00:40:40,685

That is.

: 1019

00:40:41,310 --> 00:40:42,960

-: 2025

And so, I don't think even when I

: 1020

00:40:42,960 --> 00:40:44,530

entered seminary I had that awareness.

: 1021

00:40:44,830 --> 00:40:45,410

-: 2025

: 1022

00:40:45,540 --> 00:40:48,209

-: 2025

But when I did, like I went from saying,

: 1023

00:40:48,350 --> 00:40:50,360

I sure hope I don't have to be a priest.

: 1024

00:40:50,750 --> 00:40:53,490

To like legit being like, man

I sure hope he chooses me.

: 1025

00:40:54,210 --> 00:40:54,920

-: 2025

: 1026

00:40:54,980 --> 00:40:56,210

-: 2025

sure hope he chooses me.

: 1027

00:40:56,530 --> 00:40:56,740

-: 2025

: 1028

00:40:57,040 --> 00:40:59,400

-: 2025

he, is he, is it even possible that

: 1029

00:40:59,410 --> 00:41:02,120

he is going to like invite me to this?

: 1030

00:41:03,240 --> 00:41:07,100

To, like, love the way he loved, to,

like, literally be him in the world,

: 1031

00:41:07,230 --> 00:41:10,360

like, to be acting as a person, is crazy.

: 1032

00:41:10,390 --> 00:41:10,580

And

: 1033

00:41:10,660 --> 00:41:10,810

-: 2025

: 1034

00:41:10,810 --> 00:41:11,590

What an honor.

: 1035

00:41:11,620 --> 00:41:13,420

-: 2025

be my, yeah, oh my gosh,

: 1036

00:41:13,460 --> 00:41:14,450

there's no greater honor.

: 1037

00:41:14,750 --> 00:41:15,310

-: 2025

: 1038

00:41:15,330 --> 00:41:16,869

-: 2025

greater, I mean, you've heard the quote,

: 1039

00:41:16,949 --> 00:41:19,980

um, from this, I forgot which saint

it was, but like, if an angel appeared

: 1040

00:41:19,980 --> 00:41:23,940

and a priest walked up, he would greet

the priest before he greeted the angel.

: 1041

00:41:24,240 --> 00:41:24,680

-: 2025

: 1042

00:41:24,880 --> 00:41:25,390

-: 2025

for him, the

: 1043

00:41:25,660 --> 00:41:25,780

-: 2025

: 1044

00:41:25,830 --> 00:41:26,910

-: 2025

the one who's knighted to the person

: 1045

00:41:26,910 --> 00:41:28,104

of Christ, and the angel's not.

: 1046

00:41:29,330 --> 00:41:29,360

-: 2025

: 1047

00:41:30,085 --> 00:41:30,675

-: 2025

crazy.

: 1048

00:41:30,965 --> 00:41:32,405

And, and, and that's my thing.

: 1049

00:41:32,405 --> 00:41:34,735

That's what I would tell a young

guy who's like, Oh, I don't know,

: 1050

00:41:34,735 --> 00:41:35,655

I'm nervous, da, da, da, da.

: 1051

00:41:35,665 --> 00:41:40,454

I would say like, dude, if the

Lord invites you, and I think, you

: 1052

00:41:40,454 --> 00:41:43,645

know, sometimes we invite in kind

of maybe too soft of a way, like,

: 1053

00:41:43,645 --> 00:41:44,805

oh, you might be opening doors.

: 1054

00:41:45,185 --> 00:41:47,725

No, no, no, like the Lord doesn't

send the invitation to everybody.

: 1055

00:41:48,405 --> 00:41:50,255

If you get one of those invitations,

: 1056

00:41:50,680 --> 00:41:51,080

-: 2025

: 1057

00:41:51,800 --> 00:41:52,450

-: 2025

seriously.

: 1058

00:41:52,750 --> 00:41:53,400

-: 2025

: 1059

00:41:53,700 --> 00:41:54,070

-: 2025

seriously.

: 1060

00:41:54,370 --> 00:41:56,800

Because he doesn't just send those

invitations out to everybody.

: 1061

00:41:57,290 --> 00:42:01,510

Um, and then right along that, a side

that I would say like, what Jesus says

: 1062

00:42:01,510 --> 00:42:03,470

in scripture so often, don't be afraid.

: 1063

00:42:04,695 --> 00:42:05,755

Don't be afraid.

: 1064

00:42:06,095 --> 00:42:06,575

Be a man.

: 1065

00:42:07,560 --> 00:42:07,730

-: 2025

: 1066

00:42:07,730 --> 00:42:11,659

Yeah.

: 1067

00:42:11,959 --> 00:42:12,275

-: 2025

sometimes.

: 1068

00:42:12,325 --> 00:42:12,855

Okay.

: 1069

00:42:12,895 --> 00:42:13,384

Be a man.

: 1070

00:42:13,384 --> 00:42:13,785

Say yes.

: 1071

00:42:13,785 --> 00:42:14,595

Don't be afraid.

: 1072

00:42:15,245 --> 00:42:17,195

you giving, laying down your

life and you're not really sure

: 1073

00:42:17,195 --> 00:42:18,145

what you're getting in return?

: 1074

00:42:18,174 --> 00:42:19,084

Absolutely.

: 1075

00:42:19,134 --> 00:42:19,995

Do it anyways.

: 1076

00:42:19,995 --> 00:42:23,304

Um, God is the one who sees the future.

: 1077

00:42:24,154 --> 00:42:25,694

the one who knows what

it's gonna look like.

: 1078

00:42:26,054 --> 00:42:28,594

Like, have the, have the courage

to say yes to that and let it

: 1079

00:42:28,594 --> 00:42:29,904

go where it goes, you know?

: 1080

00:42:29,974 --> 00:42:32,515

Um, that would really be my, my response.

: 1081

00:42:33,080 --> 00:42:34,010

-: 2025

That is so cool.

: 1082

00:42:34,250 --> 00:42:39,180

And I think in the end we know doing

God's will is the path that's going to

: 1083

00:42:39,180 --> 00:42:42,520

bring us the most joy, the most peace,

the most fulfillment in our lives.

: 1084

00:42:42,840 --> 00:42:45,350

And even if we know we're being

called, but there's still that

: 1085

00:42:45,350 --> 00:42:48,960

like question in our hearts of

like, but I never saw myself.

: 1086

00:42:49,415 --> 00:42:52,945

Doing this or I never saw this

being a part of my life or, but

: 1087

00:42:52,945 --> 00:42:55,395

I'm like, not really sure that this

is going to bring me the most joy.

: 1088

00:42:55,395 --> 00:43:00,625

Like, if you know, it's God's will

just following that and trusting

: 1089

00:43:00,625 --> 00:43:03,615

in that, like, you're going to

find that fulfillment, that joy,

: 1090

00:43:03,625 --> 00:43:05,445

that peace, no matter what it is.

: 1091

00:43:05,565 --> 00:43:06,585

No matter what it is.

: 1092

00:43:06,585 --> 00:43:09,795

And I used to always tell my Bible study

girls when I was a missionary and I

: 1093

00:43:09,795 --> 00:43:11,155

used a little bit of an extreme example.

: 1094

00:43:11,155 --> 00:43:15,155

I'm like, if God's will is for you to

be homeless and you follow that, you

: 1095

00:43:15,155 --> 00:43:17,075

are going to be joyful being homeless.

: 1096

00:43:17,095 --> 00:43:18,785

And like, you could never

imagine that right now.

: 1097

00:43:18,785 --> 00:43:19,035

Right.

: 1098

00:43:19,035 --> 00:43:23,355

But I just feel like that, even that, to

that extreme, like sometimes God's will

: 1099

00:43:23,355 --> 00:43:25,655

is so not what we thought it would be.

: 1100

00:43:25,865 --> 00:43:28,495

We just, it's what he

teaches me continually.

: 1101

00:43:28,515 --> 00:43:32,345

It's like, we just have to continue to

trust that his plan is better than ours.

: 1102

00:43:32,405 --> 00:43:33,985

His plan is always better than ours.

: 1103

00:43:34,380 --> 00:43:35,250

-: 2025

Absolutely.

: 1104

00:43:35,490 --> 00:43:36,740

And that's the progression, right?

: 1105

00:43:36,740 --> 00:43:39,619

Like what you're saying kind of reminded

me of, uh, one of my best friends in

: 1106

00:43:39,619 --> 00:43:45,425

seminary, um, got diagnosed with cancer

like a month before we got ordained.

: 1107

00:43:45,725 --> 00:43:46,415

-: 2025

: 1108

00:43:46,715 --> 00:43:50,095

-: 2025

And, um, And it was, I think it was

: 1109

00:43:50,095 --> 00:43:51,725

the second time he'd gotten cancer.

: 1110

00:43:51,765 --> 00:43:53,235

And it was pretty serious lung cancer.

: 1111

00:43:53,545 --> 00:43:54,135

-: 2025

: 1112

00:43:54,445 --> 00:43:56,095

-: 2025

um, he went through a lot of chemo.

: 1113

00:43:56,145 --> 00:43:58,974

And actually, sadly, just a couple

years ago he actually passed away.

: 1114

00:43:59,315 --> 00:43:59,885

-: 2025

: 1115

00:44:00,095 --> 00:44:03,274

-: 2025

his final, um, his final homily he gave

: 1116

00:44:03,274 --> 00:44:06,054

at the seminary when we were deacons,

before we were going to get ordained.

: 1117

00:44:06,675 --> 00:44:14,430

Um, he said, You know, so much of his

prayer during that time not just that

: 1118

00:44:14,430 --> 00:44:17,250

he would know God's will, because in

seminary we talk so much about knowing

: 1119

00:44:17,250 --> 00:44:20,250

God's will, like how, you know, we want

to actually discern what God wants.

: 1120

00:44:20,755 --> 00:44:21,105

-: 2025

: 1121

00:44:21,270 --> 00:44:22,119

-: 2025

at that point, it wasn't

: 1122

00:44:22,120 --> 00:44:23,710

just to know God's will.

: 1123

00:44:24,800 --> 00:44:27,130

because at this point he was

confused by God's will, right?

: 1124

00:44:27,130 --> 00:44:27,585

Like, why would

: 1125

00:44:27,885 --> 00:44:28,045

-: 2025

: 1126

00:44:28,120 --> 00:44:30,080

-: 2025

him through seven years of seminary, then

: 1127

00:44:30,175 --> 00:44:30,865

-: 2025

Only then.

: 1128

00:44:30,955 --> 00:44:31,870

Yeah, exactly.

: 1129

00:44:32,170 --> 00:44:32,620

-: 2025

crazy.

: 1130

00:44:33,010 --> 00:44:35,860

And he was like, my prayer right

now is not just to know God's will.

: 1131

00:44:36,300 --> 00:44:37,889

It's not just to do God's will.

: 1132

00:44:38,210 --> 00:44:39,395

It's to love God's will.

: 1133

00:44:39,695 --> 00:44:40,335

-: 2025

: 1134

00:44:40,335 --> 00:44:41,180

Mm.

: 1135

00:44:41,180 --> 00:44:42,024

Mm.

: 1136

00:44:42,259 --> 00:44:43,829

-: 2025

is the joy that you're talking about.

: 1137

00:44:43,829 --> 00:44:47,919

Like, if you want joy, not enough

to just know it, know God's will.

: 1138

00:44:47,919 --> 00:44:48,049

It's

: 1139

00:44:48,085 --> 00:44:48,525

-: 2025

: 1140

00:44:48,619 --> 00:44:49,259

-: 2025

to do God's will.

: 1141

00:44:49,330 --> 00:44:51,520

Like, you have to love God's will.

: 1142

00:44:51,865 --> 00:44:53,735

But when you do love God's will,

: 1143

00:44:54,035 --> 00:44:54,735

-: 2025

: 1144

00:44:54,885 --> 00:44:56,825

-: 2025

like that is full freedom, right?

: 1145

00:44:56,855 --> 00:44:59,375

Like that is complete

peace and complete joy.

: 1146

00:44:59,805 --> 00:45:00,515

-: 2025

: 1147

00:45:01,295 --> 00:45:01,825

Dang.

: 1148

00:45:02,205 --> 00:45:03,375

I need to pray with that.

: 1149

00:45:03,415 --> 00:45:04,255

That is so,

: 1150

00:45:04,555 --> 00:45:05,205

-: 2025

that good?

: 1151

00:45:05,565 --> 00:45:08,015

I know, it like kind of makes

me emotional just thinking about

: 1152

00:45:08,015 --> 00:45:09,135

it, thinking about him, but

: 1153

00:45:09,435 --> 00:45:10,445

-: 2025

yeah, it does.

: 1154

00:45:10,445 --> 00:45:14,255

And I, I just think back to the way the

Lord's worked in my life in those moments

: 1155

00:45:14,255 --> 00:45:21,255

where I've gone from like, no, I know

my plan is better to, okay, God, maybe

: 1156

00:45:21,255 --> 00:45:25,505

I'll be open to your plan to then kind

of like seeking it to then loving it.

: 1157

00:45:25,795 --> 00:45:27,745

Like you totally see that progression.

: 1158

00:45:27,745 --> 00:45:30,665

And when you do get to that, like, I love.

: 1159

00:45:30,800 --> 00:45:31,960

What God's calling me to do.

: 1160

00:45:31,990 --> 00:45:35,220

I love his will, that

freedom that you mentioned.

: 1161

00:45:35,400 --> 00:45:37,400

It's just unlike anything else.

: 1162

00:45:37,420 --> 00:45:39,100

Like you don't get that anywhere else.

: 1163

00:45:39,440 --> 00:45:41,280

Um, and it is so beautiful.

: 1164

00:45:41,990 --> 00:45:46,640

So before we wrap up father, can you

tell us what are some practical ways that

: 1165

00:45:46,660 --> 00:45:51,290

we as lay people can better support and

encourage priests in our own communities?

: 1166

00:45:52,285 --> 00:45:53,890

-: 2025

Mmm, I appreciate that question.

: 1167

00:45:54,190 --> 00:45:54,610

-: 2025

: 1168

00:45:54,655 --> 00:45:56,235

-: 2025

will just say, people are great.

: 1169

00:45:56,535 --> 00:45:57,775

People are fantastic.

: 1170

00:45:57,805 --> 00:45:59,515

I am so thankful for the people of God.

: 1171

00:45:59,575 --> 00:46:00,595

They pray for me.

: 1172

00:46:01,144 --> 00:46:02,245

They're always checking in.

: 1173

00:46:02,274 --> 00:46:04,575

So, one, I would say people

have got to do a great job.

: 1174

00:46:04,635 --> 00:46:06,065

I feel very, very supported and loved.

: 1175

00:46:06,464 --> 00:46:06,924

Um,

: 1176

00:46:07,230 --> 00:46:07,550

-: 2025

That's so good.

: 1177

00:46:07,550 --> 00:46:09,669

I

: 1178

00:46:10,795 --> 00:46:13,465

-: 2025

Uh, I mean, all the natural ways to

: 1179

00:46:13,465 --> 00:46:15,625

support your priest, letting them know

that you appreciate them, you know,

: 1180

00:46:15,625 --> 00:46:16,635

all those things are really good.

: 1181

00:46:16,895 --> 00:46:19,495

And then the day we're trying to make

you holy, we're trying to sanctify you.

: 1182

00:46:19,495 --> 00:46:22,454

So the more holy you are,

the easier our job is.

: 1183

00:46:22,465 --> 00:46:27,202

So I'm very inspired by, by God's people

and these, these parents that have these

: 1184

00:46:27,265 --> 00:46:29,175

kids and are just such good parents.

: 1185

00:46:29,175 --> 00:46:33,215

And like, I'm so inspired by that and

really grateful for people in my parish

: 1186

00:46:33,215 --> 00:46:34,785

who are just really pursuing holiness.

: 1187

00:46:35,525 --> 00:46:38,835

honestly the best thing you can do because

that makes our job a lot, a lot easier.

: 1188

00:46:38,855 --> 00:46:40,315

We're all working together on that.

: 1189

00:46:41,210 --> 00:46:41,710

-: 2025

love that.

: 1190

00:46:41,990 --> 00:46:44,840

If you could leave our listeners

with one key message of

: 1191

00:46:44,840 --> 00:46:46,094

encouragement, what would it be?

: 1192

00:46:47,645 --> 00:46:51,885

-: 2025

Yeah, um, Can we go with that?

: 1193

00:46:51,885 --> 00:46:52,615

Love God's will?

: 1194

00:46:52,945 --> 00:46:53,564

How's that?

: 1195

00:46:53,864 --> 00:46:54,545

-: 2025

Let's do it.

: 1196

00:46:54,545 --> 00:46:55,715

I think that is the best

: 1197

00:46:55,784 --> 00:46:56,405

-: 2025

will, do God's

: 1198

00:46:56,425 --> 00:46:57,025

-: 2025

right now.

: 1199

00:46:57,265 --> 00:46:57,635

Yeah.

: 1200

00:46:58,055 --> 00:46:58,785

Perfect.

: 1201

00:46:58,835 --> 00:46:59,415

Okay.

: 1202

00:46:59,925 --> 00:47:00,965

Last thing.

: 1203

00:47:01,005 --> 00:47:04,115

So this is something that I'm

starting to do on my podcast.

: 1204

00:47:04,155 --> 00:47:06,095

And I thought about the other

day and I was like, why haven't

: 1205

00:47:06,095 --> 00:47:07,065

I been doing this all along?

: 1206

00:47:07,075 --> 00:47:09,045

But there's a first for everything.

: 1207

00:47:09,045 --> 00:47:14,525

So my podcast is called ever be because

of the promises that I've made to God

: 1208

00:47:14,545 --> 00:47:19,765

to have his praise ever be on my lips,

no matter the circumstances or anything.

: 1209

00:47:20,025 --> 00:47:25,240

And so I'm going to start asking all my

guests, Where God working is in, where

: 1210

00:47:25,240 --> 00:47:29,710

God is working in their life so that

you can share the way God is working

: 1211

00:47:29,730 --> 00:47:31,680

and praise him on your lips as well.

: 1212

00:47:31,890 --> 00:47:35,700

So, what has been a way that you have

seen God work in your life recently?

: 1213

00:47:36,894 --> 00:47:38,224

-: 2025

Yeah, um,

: 1214

00:47:40,670 --> 00:47:45,990

I would say one thing a couple of weeks

ago, my, my brother had his first baby

: 1215

00:47:46,660 --> 00:47:47,040

-: 2025

: 1216

00:47:47,060 --> 00:47:49,130

-: 2025

um, the, uh, yeah, we were

: 1217

00:47:49,130 --> 00:47:50,400

all super, super excited

: 1218

00:47:50,540 --> 00:47:50,970

-: 2025

: 1219

00:47:51,790 --> 00:47:54,120

-: 2025

sadly pretty soon after they was born and

: 1220

00:47:54,120 --> 00:47:56,639

realized there had been some issues with

the amniotic fluid and it sounded like

: 1221

00:47:56,700 --> 00:47:56,860

-: 2025

: 1222

00:47:56,969 --> 00:47:58,480

-: 2025

wasn't quite getting enough nutrients.

: 1223

00:47:58,780 --> 00:47:59,530

-: 2025

: 1224

00:47:59,556 --> 00:48:01,229

-: 2025

took the baby to the ICU.

: 1225

00:48:01,340 --> 00:48:05,120

And for a while, like I think there

were 90 babies in that hospital, in the

: 1226

00:48:05,130 --> 00:48:09,260

ICU, and he was like the most, the one

that they were most concerned about.

: 1227

00:48:09,310 --> 00:48:09,530

Like

: 1228

00:48:09,590 --> 00:48:09,750

-: 2025

: 1229

00:48:10,170 --> 00:48:10,470

-: 2025

: 1230

00:48:10,770 --> 00:48:12,750

-: 2025

: 1231

00:48:13,050 --> 00:48:14,709

-: 2025

said like when you walk down the hall,

: 1232

00:48:15,380 --> 00:48:18,750

was like all the nurses were like in his

room, like all the time it seemed like.

: 1233

00:48:18,750 --> 00:48:20,029

It was like pretty scary.

: 1234

00:48:20,880 --> 00:48:24,880

um, so I went up there a few days

after he was born and baptized

: 1235

00:48:24,880 --> 00:48:27,780

him, which was a really beautiful,

beautiful moment, real consolation.

: 1236

00:48:28,210 --> 00:48:32,230

Um, and we had just so many

people praying, um, for him.

: 1237

00:48:32,280 --> 00:48:36,850

And, uh, took some time, been a couple of

weeks, but they basically got discharged

: 1238

00:48:36,870 --> 00:48:38,320

and now he's just doing super well.

: 1239

00:48:38,360 --> 00:48:39,680

It's just super wise gaining weight.

: 1240

00:48:40,190 --> 00:48:40,220

-: 2025

: 1241

00:48:40,520 --> 00:48:42,460

-: 2025

And, um, we, there's still waiting

: 1242

00:48:42,460 --> 00:48:44,229

on some tests and things like that,

but it seems like everything might

: 1243

00:48:44,229 --> 00:48:48,249

be completely fine, which is kind of

insane that he went from like the most

: 1244

00:48:48,249 --> 00:48:51,370

at risk baby to like, everything's

looking really good right now.

: 1245

00:48:51,430 --> 00:48:51,830

So

: 1246

00:48:52,150 --> 00:48:52,530

-: 2025

: 1247

00:48:52,550 --> 00:48:53,610

-: 2025

brother just sent me some of the

: 1248

00:48:53,610 --> 00:48:55,230

newborn pictures with him and his wife.

: 1249

00:48:55,230 --> 00:48:56,630

And, um, so.

: 1250

00:48:57,095 --> 00:49:00,845

The praise of God is definitely on my

lips, um, for that, you know, I know

: 1251

00:49:00,845 --> 00:49:02,475

that's not everybody's story, you know.

: 1252

00:49:02,475 --> 00:49:04,810

There's different things that can

happen, especially with infants, but,

: 1253

00:49:05,110 --> 00:49:05,690

-: 2025

: 1254

00:49:05,805 --> 00:49:07,544

-: 2025

when God, uh, God jumps in and

: 1255

00:49:07,544 --> 00:49:08,725

really does something extraordinary.

: 1256

00:49:09,060 --> 00:49:09,450

-: 2025

: 1257

00:49:09,640 --> 00:49:10,770

Life is so precious.

: 1258

00:49:10,820 --> 00:49:11,800

Life is such a gift.

: 1259

00:49:11,840 --> 00:49:14,280

Praise God for what he's

doing in your family.

: 1260

00:49:14,310 --> 00:49:16,600

And thank goodness that

little baby's okay.

: 1261

00:49:17,015 --> 00:49:17,425

-: 2025

Amen.

: 1262

00:49:17,435 --> 00:49:18,084

Baby Bobby.

: 1263

00:49:18,495 --> 00:49:19,805

-: 2025

Baby Bobby.

: 1264

00:49:19,865 --> 00:49:21,015

Oh, amazing.

: 1265

00:49:21,015 --> 00:49:23,115

Well, father, thanks so much

for spending time with us today.

: 1266

00:49:23,115 --> 00:49:26,305

It was awesome to hear your story,

your words of encouragement and

: 1267

00:49:26,305 --> 00:49:28,995

all the amazing things that are

happening in your life as a priest.

: 1268

00:49:29,005 --> 00:49:32,775

It is so cool to hear just how you're

serving people and how the Lord is

: 1269

00:49:32,775 --> 00:49:36,865

allowing you to see literal miracles

in your life, uh, left and right.

: 1270

00:49:36,875 --> 00:49:38,895

So thank you so much.

: 1271

00:49:39,505 --> 00:49:41,154

-: 2025

Thank you so, so much for having me.

: 1272

00:49:41,154 --> 00:49:43,855

It's been an honor, and thanks for all the

great work you're doing for the kingdom.

: 1273

00:49:44,385 --> 00:49:45,105

-: 2025

Thanks father.

: 1274

00:49:46,615 --> 00:49:48,325

Thank you so much for listening in.

: 1275

00:49:48,685 --> 00:49:51,265

If you've enjoyed this episode,

please share it with your friends

: 1276

00:49:51,265 --> 00:49:55,075

and on social media and give me a

five star rating on whatever podcast

: 1277

00:49:55,075 --> 00:49:56,215

platform you're listening on.

: 1278

00:49:56,635 --> 00:49:58,735

That helps me in the show out so much.

: 1279

00:49:59,065 --> 00:50:02,755

Also, make sure to follow the podcast

on Instagram at Ever Be podcast.

: 1280

00:50:02,990 --> 00:50:07,010

And if you want more content like this and

you don't already follow me, you can also

: 1281

00:50:07,010 --> 00:50:13,010

follow me on Instagram at Ma Seed Wagner

and may his praise ever be on our lips.

: 1282

00:50:13,010 --> 00:50:13,370

God bless.