Episode Transcript
[00:00:01] Speaker A: Hey everybody. Welcome to the Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish podcast with seminarian Giuseppe and jd. Each week we connect on a variety of topics related to our faith and our parish in Winona, Ontario. This week I am honoured again to spend time with Giuseppe as Father Greg is still at his workshop.
[00:00:18] Speaker B: Thank you.
[00:00:19] Speaker A: Learning many great things to, as he says, make him an even better priest than he is now.
We are here to help spread the good news and to further unite our parish community.
This is episode 22. We are focused on the Holy Trinity, St. Anthony of Padua and a resource called Ask him by Jane Trufant Harvey. Remember, you can find us on the Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube every week. So like or subscribe, I think the buttons are down here as we always mention.
And we will find your inbox every week with new content.
So, as mentioned, Father Greg is attending a priest workshop and this week and so seminarian Giuseppe joins us. How was your week since we last spoke?
[00:01:03] Speaker B: Oh, pretty good. Yeah? Yep. Like many blessings, many graces.
[00:01:07] Speaker A: What was. So tell us about one blessing and one grace that you experienced this past.
[00:01:11] Speaker B: Week just attending the Masjid service. A lot of graces, right?
[00:01:15] Speaker A: Yes. Especially Pentecost Sunday.
[00:01:17] Speaker B: That's right.
[00:01:17] Speaker A: Very special ceremony. And I, I listened to a reflection this week and just imagining the experience of those who were in the environment at that time.
[00:01:26] Speaker B: Yep.
[00:01:27] Speaker A: Suddenly hearing these words in their own.
[00:01:31] Speaker B: Language, in their own languages from people.
[00:01:33] Speaker A: Who didn't know the languages.
What a powerful, profound experience that must have been. And here we're benefiting it from it still to this day.
Well, before we get started, can you start us off with a prayer?
[00:01:44] Speaker B: Oh, sure.
So just pray in the name of the Father and the Son of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Lord God, thank you so much for loving us into existence. Thank you for your continuous love.
Thank you for the graces we receive.
We ask you, Lord, to help us to be faithful witnesses of your love.
Be with us, Lord, guide us, Lead us wherever you want us to go.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. St Anthony of Padua, pray for us in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy.
[00:02:14] Speaker A: Spirit and take us to where you want us to go. Very beautiful, profound words and kind of our, a bit of our mission while we're here talking. We're just empty vessels and we're, we're seeing where we're going to go with this.
Well, let us reveal our saint of the week. Each week we feature a saint and share some facts about their life as we strive to live out Our mission. As Catholics, we can always look to our saints as inspiration.
So this week, the memorial is for St Anthony of Padua, who was a revered Franciscan priest and theologian known for his eloquent preaching, profound knowledge of Scripture, and compassionate care of the poor and marginalized.
He was born in Lisbon, Portugal, and joined the Franciscans and preached throughout Italy and France, drawing large crowds with his sermons and strongly defended the Catholic faith by converting many and was also credited with numerous miracles during and after his life.
His sermons emphasized humility, charity, and the love of God. He was canonized less than a year after his death, which is really quite. Quite remarkable to have it that quickly. And he was later declared a doctor of the church. And he is the patron of lost items.
[00:03:25] Speaker B: That's right.
[00:03:25] Speaker A: So we were very fortunate, Father Greg and I, to have visited St. Anthony's tomb when we were on the pilgrimage. And it was a very profound and moving experience, I imagine.
[00:03:33] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:03:34] Speaker A: And we also did have an experience with conjuring St. Anthony. So there's the formal prayer that we can pray to St. Anthony if we've lost something.
And many think it really. I always thought of it as just for lost items, but it could be for lost souls and lost people.
Or someone who has lost their way.
Well, someone who shall remain nameless. But we know with love, as Deacon Renee, who joined us on the trip, lost his.
We whisper, which is a device that the tour guides use to speak to us so they can speak into a microphone, and we hear it in our ear. Lost. Couldn't find it. Lost it. And this was right after we had visited St Anthony, and so we said the casual version. Tony, Tony, turn around. Something's lost and can't be found.
[00:04:18] Speaker B: Oh.
[00:04:18] Speaker A: And within five minutes, he found it.
[00:04:21] Speaker B: Oh, wow. What a miracle.
[00:04:22] Speaker A: So it was a miracle. It was a. You know, it's. It's. We say the prayer sometimes with a little bit of. A little bit of jest, but still meaning it reverently. And it worked.
[00:04:33] Speaker B: That's amazing.
[00:04:33] Speaker A: It was so incredible.
Well, I do love this quote from St. Anthony of Padua. He said, actions speak louder than words, and let your words teach and your actions speak.
[00:04:45] Speaker B: That's right. Wow.
[00:04:46] Speaker A: And then we always have to conclude the saint of the week with Jesus. I trust in you, Jesus.
[00:04:51] Speaker B: Interesting.
[00:04:52] Speaker A: Do you have any experience with St.
[00:04:53] Speaker B: Anthony of Padua, generally with scripture? I remember, like, reading once about him, and I think, because I was reading about Thomas Aquinas and how. Just how much he had written, and St. Anthony of Padua was one of the guys who wrote, like, he quoted from scripture at least 6,000 times in his sermons. I was like, wow.
[00:05:11] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:05:12] Speaker B: You know, he just, like, for me personally, he's a seminarian. He just teaches me that if you really want to speak about Christ, you really need to learn about Him. And in the church, we always know that we learn about Christ and about God from Scripture and from tradition. But Scripture is very important. Right. You cannot speak about God if you really don't know Him. And so to me, when I think of him, he really inspires me to want to read more like the Bible.
[00:05:32] Speaker A: Yeah. And just be embraced more and more with Scripture and get to know it more and more intimately and more and more deeply.
[00:05:39] Speaker B: That's right.
[00:05:40] Speaker A: Wow.
[00:05:40] Speaker B: By the way, talking about lost items, did you know, like, the reason why we call him the Saint of lost items was because he was a teacher and he lost his notes?
[00:05:50] Speaker A: Oh, no.
[00:05:50] Speaker B: And his notes had, like, a lot of important stuff, and he used that to teach his students.
But eventually he just prayed and he found the notes, and that's why they credited him like the Saint of lost items.
[00:06:01] Speaker A: Oh, gosh.
Wow. Well, I mean, you have experience with lost notes, I'm sure. And, you know, all teachers out there will have lost notes at some point in time and a quick little prayer, and hopefully they're going to find it in time for us to deliver that. That great lesson. Holy cow.
Well, it's time for Ask Seminary in Giuseppe. Each week we respond to a question from a listener or one that we make up ourselves.
This week I have this joy of asking Seminary and Giuseppe a question again about your seminary formation and just in the pathway that. That you've been called to. What excites you most about entering the priesthood?
[00:06:43] Speaker B: Yeah, that's a very good question.
I think two things. Can I say two things?
[00:06:47] Speaker A: You could say two. You can say three. You can say five.
[00:06:50] Speaker B: Okay. I guess the first is really just being an instrument of God's grace. Right. I actually go and visit with Father Greg and I've told him, like, the very. Like, what I enjoy most doing is the visits to the sick.
When you do, like, the anointing of the sick and you see how the person is really relieved, right?
[00:07:07] Speaker A: Yes.
[00:07:08] Speaker B: Like, just for me, just being that person Trum. God works, like, really heals people, and you really see this healing in real time. It's like, that's what excites me the most. But really what humbles me the most because I'm like, I don't. I'm not worthy to do that. But God is Actually choosing to, you know, as a priest, God is going to choose to walk through you and it's going to be like, yeah, that's exciting. But that's also very humbling and it's also very scary because this is actually God working through you. It means something for me as a seminarian, how I should live. Right. How my whole life should be structured and all of that. So that excites me.
Something else that excites me. I would say just service.
I just find. I find a lot of joy in serving. And so when I think of the priesthood and the fact that you have no, like, you know, no commitments, like, nothing that you can actually call your own. Right. You're actually giving out everything that would be yours in service of other people.
Actually, just like that from right now because, like, it's quite a puzzle when Christ actually says that you, you know, those who lose themselves for the sake of Christ find themselves.
I found in my life, that's very true. Like just in doing. Just in doing so much giving as much as I can, at least in the capacity in which I can right now, I find that. I find, like I'm really happy sort of joy, like almost as if you really get to find your true self, that that person was meant to serve just by giving out, just by giving a lot. So I would say those two things. Yeah.
[00:08:23] Speaker A: And your home parishes in The Virgin Islands. U.S. virgin Islands.
[00:08:28] Speaker B: That's where I'm going to serve. Yeah.
[00:08:30] Speaker A: And is there a particular area of service that you're called to, to meet there?
[00:08:40] Speaker B: I mean, I'm guessing I'm going to be in, like, St. Thomas. That's the main, like, islands in the U.S. virgin Islands.
[00:08:45] Speaker A: Okay. And is there, is there some. A particular need that they have that you're hoping to fulfill there or just bring your overall goodness and see where it fits?
[00:08:56] Speaker B: Yeah, I think I'm just going to be a regular parish priest. Right. Just visiting the Sikh again and praying for them. So that's so much joy than like doing parish ministry and all of that. Yeah.
[00:09:05] Speaker A: Beautiful, beautiful. And that's just a few years away now.
[00:09:08] Speaker B: It's just a few years away. That's right.
[00:09:10] Speaker A: Getting closer every single day.
[00:09:12] Speaker B: I'm looking forward to that.
[00:09:13] Speaker A: And another question that was curious.
Did you consider any other vocations before entering the seminary?
[00:09:22] Speaker B: Oh, you asked me that question before.
Okay. Yeah. I mean, I did consider teaching.
I mean, to be fair, like, the period when I taught was the period when I really wanted to support my mother. So I did teaching as I Was like, okay, I think I really love to teach, but let me try that for like a year. But I didn't find, like, the fulfillment I found when I was, like, just in church and doing all that stuff. Just giving as much as I could, you know, was really good to teach. And I really love teaching because I love reading or things like that. Yeah. But so I did consider teaching.
And I've thought about marriage as well, because my parents were, like, married for, like, all through my life. I saw my parents married and they were very, like, they were really happy. I mean, they had a few arguments here and there, but nothing serious. Right.
[00:10:05] Speaker A: Who doesn't?
[00:10:06] Speaker B: Who doesn't? That's right. That's right. So I did consider teaching and maybe marriage, but overall, I've really just thought about the priesthood since I was a kid, so. Okay. And I'm really still thinking about that.
[00:10:16] Speaker A: And. And really, as a, as a parish priest, you are teaching quite significantly.
[00:10:22] Speaker B: That's right.
[00:10:22] Speaker A: There's so much instruction that, that convey as well as bringing people comfort and peace and joy in the sacraments. There's so much teaching that happens to bring them closer to Jesus and God.
[00:10:31] Speaker B: As well, but like a different kind of teaching. Right. Because you teach with your words, but there is this. You also have to teach by your actions, like St. Anthony of Padres. Right.
[00:10:40] Speaker A: Yeah. You combine all of those into your. Into your amazing practice and your amazing future priesthood.
[00:10:46] Speaker B: That's right.
[00:10:46] Speaker A: Looking forward to hearing more stories about it as we go along.
Okay, let's get to our resource of the week. So this week's resource, a book called Ask him by Jane Trufant Harvey, and it is endorsed by Matt Kelly, I would say, one of my favorite Catholic authors. And this is.
This is a book that just has some simple words to jumpstart conversations with God. You know, many people, myself included at some points have said, I'm not sure how to pray or how to. How do I get started?
And a wise friend said, just start talking.
And that's good advice.
[00:11:25] Speaker B: Yep.
[00:11:26] Speaker A: And have that as an entrance point to. To prayer, because we've always thought. I've always thought of prayer as a very formal, structured, but really those conversations can be an act of prayer as well. There's so much that can be an act of prayer that I didn't really consider.
And I'm sure many listeners feel the same way as well. And so this can be a great starting point. And I have been through this book before. There are 250 odd prompts, and I mark this one, and it Sort of it hit, and I must have marked it because of a significant passing in life.
It was number 207. And it's. Ask him to remind you how important it is to tell people how they've impacted your life before they die instead of at their eulogy.
[00:12:17] Speaker B: Oh, wow, okay.
[00:12:18] Speaker A: And that sort of, kind of brings along the idea of. Of, you know, as we talk to people, let them know how you feel and let them know how much they mean to you and not waiting until.
Until when you're telling a bunch of people how you feel. I really love that girl who's laying in a box. So a great, you know, a great starting point. It encourages us to consider prayer as a dialogue. You know, simple, sincere, personal dialogue.
And they're quick, quick hitters just to help us get started and really lower the barrier for us to get into a.
A meaningful prayer life.
So ask him and we'll have a link if you'd like to consider this resource yourself.
Well, this week we are celebrating the solemnity of the most holy Trinity.
[00:13:09] Speaker B: That's right.
[00:13:11] Speaker A: What is our focus during this solemnity?
[00:13:16] Speaker B: Now, I like when I think about the Trinity.
First of all, I should state that there is usually like, this almost puzzle mode that people go into, right. When they think of the Trinity, because they're like, okay, one God and three persons. How does that even make sense? You know, for me, the focus has always just been. I think the Trinity really summarizes all of the Christian life in a lot. In a lot of ways. Right. I mean, Jesus Christ taught his apostles how to pray and taught us how to pray. But when he prayed above, when he prayed for us, he said that they may be one, as we are one.
[00:13:45] Speaker A: Yes.
[00:13:46] Speaker B: If you think about it, that's a very powerful prayer. Right. Because it says, as we are one and we believe in the Trinity, there is God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and they're all very different. I mean, they're all different, but they are. They are one. They are one person. Right? And, like, what really, I think the unity in the Trinity is really love.
And so when Jesus Christ says that we should be one, as he is one, as a Trinity is one, he's really saying that, like, he's not calling for a certain.
Maybe think of it as a certain communism or view of the world where every single person is kind of unique. Like, every single person is kind of the same. Like there is no difference because God created us differently. Right. And so there is you and there is me. We have our unique gifts and unique talents. We're also very different. But Christ calls for a certain oneness, which I think is only manifested through love. So I think the focus of the Trinity is really that love that unites the Trinity.
[00:14:33] Speaker A: And the quote that you mentioned earlier really points to the importance of the words in the Bible have been selected very carefully. None of them are there by accident.
[00:14:44] Speaker B: That's right.
[00:14:44] Speaker A: They're there. Selected very purposely. And so we really do need to pay attention to the words that are used.
[00:14:50] Speaker B: That's right.
[00:14:50] Speaker A: And the meanings that they evoke and not. And. And, you know, really during that time, really focus on. On their meaning and what we're getting out of them.
[00:14:58] Speaker B: That's right.
[00:14:59] Speaker A: There was a movie like. I often have also struggled with the Trinity and seeing them as three in one. Yeah. And you know, at times. Okay, who. Who am I praying to? Am I praying to God?
[00:15:11] Speaker B: Am I praying to Jesus, Jesus or the Spirit? Yep.
[00:15:13] Speaker A: Who do you. Who do you ask for? For at what level of need?
The movie that. That I found was the Shack. I think I read the book first and it gave me such a great visual of how to understand the Trinity.
[00:15:30] Speaker B: Okay.
[00:15:32] Speaker A: And I left feeling bit more confident in understanding how you can have three separate. In one.
[00:15:41] Speaker B: In one.
[00:15:41] Speaker A: Because they are three different actors playing the different roles, but they captured the essence of each of the parts of the Trinity so well.
[00:15:49] Speaker B: That's right.
[00:15:50] Speaker A: So you can slide that in as another resource of the week. The. The movie or the book? The Shack.
Well, that is just about all the time. Boy, it buzzes by quickly.
[00:16:00] Speaker B: Yeah. Yeah.
[00:16:01] Speaker A: Thank you for your insights this week.
[00:16:03] Speaker B: Just.
[00:16:03] Speaker A: And for.
For sharing a little bit more about your story and your pathway to help everyone get to know you a little bit better.
[00:16:09] Speaker B: Thank you for having me.
[00:16:10] Speaker A: Can you close us off with a prayer, please?
[00:16:12] Speaker B: Oh, sure. In the name of the Father and the Son, of the Holy Spirit.
Thank you, Lord Jesus Christ, once again for the gift of life. Thank you for our families. Thank you, Lord Jesus Christ, for your love. Thank you for loving us despite our weaknesses. We ask you, Lord, to stay in our hearts. Give us your love that in our lives we may reflect the love that exists within the Trinity.
St. Anthony of Padua, pray for us. We ask all this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
[00:16:41] Speaker A: I love that. Loving us despite our weaknesses and how you tied in The Trinity and St Anthony of Padua into your prayer. Excellent work.
[00:16:49] Speaker B: Thank you.
[00:16:50] Speaker A: Well, thank you for your insights. It was so wonderful to speak to you again. And to get to know you a little bit better. Thank you for having me. And thanks for wonderfully filling in for Father Greg this week. And thanks to our fans and friends and odds and ends for joining us again this week through the Immaculate Heart of Mary social media channels, the Apple podcast, the Spotify and the YouTube. And if you like our show, subscribe and tell your friends. If you don't like our show, tell your friends anyway and let them decide for themselves. Have a great week, everyone. We are Seminary and Giuseppe and JD Leave you smarter, happier and more blessed than you were yesterday.
[00:17:22] Speaker B: I love that.
Cheers.
[00:17:26] Speaker A: Perfect.
[00:17:27] Speaker B: Nice. Excellent.
[00:17:30] Speaker A: That was nice. And soon.
