"Just continue praying, God will approach. He wants you to know him, so continue praying and continue opening your heart." Fr. Craig and Fr. Drew welcome Fr. Marco Kiyan, PES, parish priest at Corpus Christ Parish, Presentation-Our Lady of Victory Parish, and St. Scholastic Parish, all in Detroit. Fr. Kiyan reflects on a powerful experience of God while preparing for his confirmation and how, before entering seminary, living a materially successful life still left a feeling of emptiness in his heart.

(0:26) Fr. Craig welcomes this episodes guest, Fr. Marco Kiyan, a member of the Pro Ecclesia Sancta religious community. The three talk about the upcoming Christmas season and Fr. Marco’s getting to know the community at Corpus Christ Parish, where he was recently assigned.

(7:26) Fr. Marco talks about the history and charisma of of his religious community and about growing up in Peru. He shares that while he studied religion in elementary and high school, faith was an academic exercise for him until he had a profound experience during a confirmation retreat in tenth grade.

(20:38) Fr. Marco’s first thoughts about a vocation to the priesthood came to him when he was a senior in high school. While studying electrical engineering in university, he was involved with a lay Catholic group. After graduation, he got his dream job and was earning a large salary, traveling the world, but still felt an emptiness inside.

(31:18) While reaping the benefits of this material success, Fr. Marco began questioning whether this was the path that God wanted for him. He began praying every day, “God, help me love you.” Months later, after coming home from a friend’s birthday party, he clearly heard God speak to him and invite him to the priesthood.

(38:41) It’s after this profound experience that he hears of friends and family who had always thought he had a vocation to the priesthood.

(42:21) Fr. Marco talks about why he entered the Pro Ecclesia Sanctia religious community versus another community or the diocesan priesthood and of the blessings of being part of a larger community. He was a professed brother for 10 years prior to his ordination as a priest.

"I think the greatest thing about being a priest is seeing God work in people's lives." Fr. Craig Giera welcomes Fr. Derik Peterman, pastor of St. Anne Parish, to share his vocation story. Fr. Peterman reflects on an early encounter with God at age 10 and how he found his way back to the sacraments in college. He also offers wisdom for young men discerning the priesthood and insight into the joy of watching God work through priestly ministry.

(0:23) Fr. Craig introduces Fr. Derik Peterman and reflects on the blessings of parish life as Advent approaches. Fr. Peterman shares how he has witnessed many people returning to the sacraments, especially through confession, and reflects on how modern secular culture may be influencing some of these conversions.

(5:52) Fr. Peterman traces his vocation back to an experience at age 10, when he felt the palpable presence of God. This encounter planted a seed that would remain with him throughout his life, even though he did not yet know how to respond.

(11:21) Fr. Peterman recalls participating in high school sports, academics, friendships, and dating, all while the thought of the priesthood quietly lingered in the background. He was active in track and field, excelled in math and science, and participated in the parish youth group largely for its social aspect.

(15:33) At Michigan State University, Fr. Peterman competed as a pole vaulter while studying physics. He was invited into a non-denominational Bible study that reawakened his faith and helped him encounter Jesus as a real person.

(20:04) Though enriched by Scripture study, Fr. Peterman felt something missing and was drawn back to the Catholic Church and the Eucharist. On his first Sunday back at Mass, he heard an announcement for a priestly discernment group, a moment he recognized as God’s unmistakable invitation.

(26:46) As college progressed, Fr. Peterman faced the pivotal decision between marriage and seminary. He ultimately chose to enter the seminary, but had to navigate some resistance from non-Catholic family members.

(48:43) As he got into his seminary studies, Fr. Peterman began to understand the harmony between faith and reason. He shares how his scientific training helped him approach philosophy and theology, drawing on a line from the Catechism of the Catholic Church that says that truth cannot contradict truth.

(53:06) Fr. Peterman describes the greatest joy of the priesthood as witnessing God actively work in people’s lives. He gives advice to men discerning the priesthood: do not be afraid, bring fears to prayer, and take concrete steps forward while discerning.

“We should not be discerning our vocations just by ourselves. We need the help of other people who love us and have the best in mind for us.” Fr. Paul Graney joins Fr. Craig Giera and Fr. Drew Mabee to share his journey to the priesthood. He describes the “light-switch moment” in his college dorm that sparked his discernment and reflects on the importance of mentors, community, and the desire to belong to something bigger than yourself. His story highlights how God uses every part of our lives—even hockey and pickup trucks—to draw us toward our vocation.

(0:25) Fr. Craig and Fr. Drew open the episode, recorded on the feast of Sts. Simon and Jude, by welcoming their guest, Fr. Paul Graney. The trio catch up on recent events in their lives and joke about the fact that Fr. Paul and Fr. Craig are often mistaken for each other. The conversation turns to Fr. Paul’s modified F-150 and love of playing hockey.

(08:30) Fr. Paul recalls growing up in Oxford, playing backyard hockey on the rink his dad built, and the joy of his high school varsity team’s first big win. He then shares how skiing trips with friends led him to a non-denominational youth ministry that he increasingly attended throughout high school.

(18:11) Fr. Paul explains how his Protestant youth minister encouraged him to consider ministry, something he initially rejected due to a fear of public speaking. While attending Oakland University, he experiences a sudden interior prompting: “Do you want to be a pastor?”

(27:40) Fr. Paul attends a small evangelical Bible program, learning Scripture, learning to preach, and serving in soup kitchens. He eventually moved to New York City and got a job at the Starbucks at Rockefeller Center, across the street from St. Patrick’s Cathedral. This led to an impromptu meeting with the priest and a return to the Sacrament of Confession and the Catholic faith.

(50:03) Fr. Paul attended a discernment weekend at Sacred Heart Major Seminary, where Fr. Tim Birney, the vocations director, encouraged him to live the Catholic faith for a few years while continuing to discern the priesthood. Once he finally entered the seminary, his biblical background helped him navigate the shift from a Protestant to Catholic understanding of Scripture.

(56:03) Fr. Paul recounts how his godfather and parents responded to his return to the Church, and how his renewed faith eventually drew them back to regular Mass attendance.

(58:24) Fr. Paul offers advice to men discerning the priesthood: stay close to the sacraments, listen, seek mentors, and immerse yourself in parish life. He concludes by reflecting on the gift of belonging to the “team” of Jesus Christ and the fraternity of the priesthood. He then closes the episode with a prayer for all discerning men and for the Church’s priests.