Homily for John 6:24-35 When the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into boats and came to Capernaum looking for Jesus.  And when they found him across the sea they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?”  Jesus answered them and said, “Amen, amen, I say to you, you are looking for me not because you saw signs but because you ate the loaves and were filled.  Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.  For on him the Father, God, has set his seal.”  So they said to him, “What can we do to accomplish the works of God?”  Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent.”  So they said to him, “What sign can you do, that we may see and believe in you?  What can you do?  Our ancestors ate manna in the desert, as it is written:     He gave them bread from heaven to eat.” So Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave the bread from heaven; my Father gives you the true bread from heaven.  For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” So they said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”  Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.” Audio courtesy of Faith Hub Chicago at St. Clement Catholic Church in Chicago, Ill. If you would like to receive these reflections to your email, sign up: usml.edu/rector-reflections/ Support the Seminary Submit Prayer Intentions  Thank you for subscribing to Formation! Please spread the word to your family, friends and parish community about this podcast. Please rate and review this podcast wherever you listen to your podcasts so that others can discover it more easily. Together with you in Christ, we are Mundelein. We form parish priests.

Formation | A Podcast from Mundelein Seminary

RECTOR REFLECTION: What's This Stuff? | August 1, 2021

With more than 25 percent of Americans suffering from a mental health disorder, parish priests are faced with the task of ministering to parishioners who could be struggling with a wide range of issues. Priests themselves are also not immune to mental health problems, which is why Mundelein Seminary has a variety of programs and qualified staff in place to help seminarians learn about mental health issues and confront their own struggles. In this episode of our Formation podcast, Father Jacob Rouse ’18 of the Archdiocese of Dubuque talks about his road to the priesthood and details his personal experience with mental health issues. He discusses the programs and processes in place at Mundelein Seminary that helped him take care of his own mental health throughout his formation. He also talks about how transparency with his mental health struggles has enriched his priesthood and allowed him to connect with parishioners and others who face similar difficulties. Click here to watch his longer video on his experiences with mental health issues. He also discusses his use of social media as an evangelization tool to engage the culture and shares a few of his favorite things. You can subscribe to his YouTube channel or follow him on Instagram to see more of his content. Support the Seminary Submit Prayer Intentions  Thank you for subscribing to Formation! Please spread the word to your family, friends and parish community about this podcast. Please rate and review this podcast wherever you listen to your podcasts so that others can discover it more easily. Together with you in Christ, we are Mundelein. We form parish priests.

FORMATION #25: Mental Health and the Priesthood

Homily for Mark 6:7-13 Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over unclean spirits.  He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick— no food, no sack, no money in their belts.  They were, however, to wear sandals but not a second tunic.  He said to them, “Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave.  Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you, leave there and shake the dust off your feet in testimony against them.”  So they went off and preached repentance.  The Twelve drove out many demons, and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.   Audio courtesy of Faith Hub Chicago at St. Clement Catholic Church in Chicago, Ill. If you would like to receive these reflections to your email, sign up: usml.edu/rector-reflections/ Support the Seminary Submit Prayer Intentions  Thank you for subscribing to Formation! Please spread the word to your family, friends and parish community about this podcast. Please rate and review this podcast wherever you listen to your podcasts so that others can discover it more easily. Together with you in Christ, we are Mundelein. We form parish priests.

RECTOR REFLECTION: Eyelash to Eyelash | July 11, 2021

Mundelein Seminary rector Father John Kartje recently appeared on the Morning Air Show with John Morales on Relevant Radio to discuss this summer's online Bible study. In the conversation, he offers several examples of healing from sacred scripture and talks about how to apply the lessons of these biblical figures in our own lives. Click here to join more than 1,000 participants in the online Bible study.   If you would like to receive these reflections to your email, sign up: usml.edu/rector-reflections/ Support the Seminary Submit Prayer Intentions  Thank you for subscribing to Formation! Please spread the word to your family, friends and parish community about this podcast. Please rate and review this podcast wherever you listen to your podcasts so that others can discover it more easily. Together with you in Christ, we are Mundelein. We form parish priests.

RECTOR REFLECTION: Healing Wounds with Sacred Scripture | Father John Kartje on Relevant Radio

Homily for Mark 6:1-6 Jesus departed from there and came to his native place, accompanied by his disciples.  When the sabbath came he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished.  They said, “Where did this man get all this?  What kind of wisdom has been given him?  What mighty deeds are wrought by his hands!  Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon?  And are not his sisters here with us?”  And they took offense at him.  Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and among his own kin and in his own house.”  So he was not able to perform any mighty deed there, apart from curing a few sick people by laying his hands on them. He was amazed at their lack of faith.   Audio courtesy of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Libertyville, Ill. If you would like to receive these reflections to your email, sign up: usml.edu/rector-reflections/ Support the Seminary Submit Prayer Intentions  Thank you for subscribing to Formation! Please spread the word to your family, friends and parish community about this podcast. Please rate and review this podcast wherever you listen to your podcasts so that others can discover it more easily. Together with you in Christ, we are Mundelein. We form parish priests.

RECTOR REFLECTION: The Prophet You Know | July 4, 2021

Homily for Mark 5:21-43 When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around him, and he stayed close to the sea. One of the synagogue officials, named Jairus, came forward. Seeing him he fell at his feet and pleaded earnestly with him, saying, “My daughter is at the point of death. Please, come lay your hands on her that she may get well and live.” He went off with him, and a large crowd followed him and pressed upon him. There was a woman afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve years. She had suffered greatly at the hands of many doctors and had spent all that she had. Yet she was not helped but only grew worse. She had heard about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak. She said, “If I but touch his clothes, I shall be cured.” Immediately her flow of blood dried up. She felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction. Jesus, aware at once that power had gone out from him, turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who has touched my clothes?” But his disciples said to Jesus, “You see how the crowd is pressing upon you, and yet you ask, ‘Who touched me?’” And he looked around to see who had done it. The woman, realizing what had happened to her, approached in fear and trembling. She fell down before Jesus and told him the whole truth. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be cured of your affliction.” While he was still speaking, people from the synagogue official’s house arrived and said, “Your daughter has died; why trouble the teacher any longer?”  Disregarding the message that was reported, Jesus said to the synagogue official, “Do not be afraid; just have faith.” He did not allow anyone to accompany him inside except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. When they arrived at the house of the synagogue official, he caught sight of a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. So he went in and said to them, “Why this commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but asleep.” And they ridiculed him. Then he put them all out. He took along the child’s father and mother and those who were with him and entered the room where the child was. He took the child by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise!” The girl, a child of twelve, arose immediately and walked around. At that they were utterly astounded. He gave strict orders that no one should know this and said that she should be given something to eat. Audio courtesy of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Libertyville, Ill. If you would like to receive these reflections to your email, sign up: usml.edu/rector-reflections/ Support the Seminary Submit Prayer Intentions  Thank you for subscribing to Formation! Please spread the word to your family, friends and parish community about this podcast. Please rate and review this podcast wherever you listen to your podcasts so that others can discover it more easily. Together with you in Christ, we are Mundelein. We form parish priests.

RECTOR REFLECTION: Your Faith Has Healed You | June 27, 2021

In this episode of our Formation podcast, we bid farewell to Father Bradley Zamora '14, director of worship and faculty member, who will take on the role of chaplain at Sheil Catholic Center at Northwestern University on July 1. Father Bradley talks about his road to the priesthood as a "lifer" in the Archdiocese of Chicago seminary system as well as his experience returning to the seminary to teach just a few years after his ordination and shares a few of his favorite things. Support the Seminary Submit Prayer Intentions  Thank you for subscribing to Formation! Please spread the word to your family, friends and parish community about this podcast. Please rate and review this podcast wherever you listen to your podcasts so that others can discover it more easily. Together with you in Christ, we are Mundelein. We form parish priests.

FORMATION #24: "Choose Joy"

Homily for Mark 4:35-41 On that day, as evening drew on, Jesus said to his disciples: “Let us cross to the other side.” Leaving the crowd, they took Jesus with them in the boat just as he was. And other boats were with him. A violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was already filling up. Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion. They woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” He woke up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Quiet!  Be still!” The wind ceased and there was great calm. Then he asked them, “Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?” They were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?”   Audio courtesy of Faith Hub Chicago at St. Clement Catholic Church in Chicago, Ill. If you would like to receive these reflections to your email, sign up: usml.edu/rector-reflections/ Support the Seminary Submit Prayer Intentions  Thank you for subscribing to Formation! Please spread the word to your family, friends and parish community about this podcast. Please rate and review this podcast wherever you listen to your podcasts so that others can discover it more easily. Together with you in Christ, we are Mundelein. We form parish priests.

RECTOR REFLECTION: How Do You Know Jesus Loves You? | June 20, 2021

As the academic year comes to an end, we are grateful to be celebrating the ordination of a new class of holy, joyful parish priests. We have interviewed several members of the Class of 2021 for our Meet the Deacons series to introduce you to a few of these new priests and let you hear about how they found their priestly vocation, their experience in seminary, what they’re looking forward to about the priesthood and a few of their favorite things. In this episode recorded last month, we spoke to then-Deacon Nathaniel Resila of the Diocese of Albany as he prepared for priestly ordination and the return to his home diocese. Ordination calendar: https://usml.edu/priest-2021/ Make a Class of 2021 tribute gift: https://usml.edu/2021-tribute/ Pray a novena for your new priests: https://usml.edu/classof2021-novena/   Thank you for subscribing to Formation! Please spread the word to your family, friends and parish community about this podcast. Please rate and review this podcast wherever you listen to your podcasts so that others can discover it more easily. Together with you in Christ, we are Mundelein. We form parish priests.

FORMATION #23: "God will make me worthy."

Homily for Mark 4:26-34 Jesus said to the crowds: “This is how it is with the kingdom of God; it is as if a man were to scatter seed on the land and would sleep and rise night and day and through it all the seed would sprout and grow, he knows not how. Of its own accord the land yields fruit, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. And when the grain is ripe, he wields the sickle at once, for the harvest has come.” He said, “To what shall we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable can we use for it? It is like a mustard seed that, when it is sown in the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth. But once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade.” With many such parables he spoke the word to them as they were able to understand it. Without parables he did not speak to them, but to his own disciples he explained everything in private.   Audio courtesy of Faith Hub Chicago at St. Clement Catholic Church in Chicago, Ill. If you would like to receive these reflections to your email, sign up: usml.edu/rector-reflections/ Support the Seminary Submit Prayer Intentions  Thank you for subscribing to Formation! Please spread the word to your family, friends and parish community about this podcast. Please rate and review this podcast wherever you listen to your podcasts so that others can discover it more easily. Together with you in Christ, we are Mundelein. We form parish priests.

RECTOR REFLECTION: Go Small or Go Home | June 13, 2021

Sister Kathleen Mitchell, assistant professor of pastoral theology, recently had the honor of visiting Uganda for the ordination and first masses of Father Peter Walusimbi and Father Falasiko Matovu, two members of the Mundelein Seminary Class of 2021. In this interview, she reflects on her memories of being immersed in the country's culture, meeting its people and participating in such a joyful moment for the Church in Uganda. She also discusses her own vocation story and her experience teaching the next generation of parish priests. Support the seminary: https://usml.edu/support/ Submit prayer intentions: https://usml.edu/prayers/ Thank you for subscribing to Formation! Please spread the word to your family, friends and parish community about this podcast. Please rate and review this podcast wherever you listen to your podcasts so that others can discover it more easily. Together with you in Christ, we are Mundelein. We form parish priests.

FORMATION #22: Experiencing the Catholic Church in Uganda

As the academic year comes to an end, we are grateful to be celebrating the ordination of a new class of holy, joyful parish priests. We have interviewed several members of the Class of 2021 for our Meet the Deacons series to introduce you to a few of these new priests and let you hear about how they found their priestly vocation, their experience in seminary, what they’re looking forward to about the priesthood and a few of their favorite things. In this episode recorded last month, we spoke to then-Deacon Francis Gyau of the Diocese of Las Cruces as he prepared for priestly ordination and the return to his home diocese. Ordination calendar: https://usml.edu/priest-2021/ Make a Class of 2021 tribute gift: https://usml.edu/2021-tribute/ Pray a novena for your new priests: https://usml.edu/classof2021-novena/   Thank you for subscribing to Formation! Please spread the word to your family, friends and parish community about this podcast. Please rate and review this podcast wherever you listen to your podcasts so that others can discover it more easily. Together with you in Christ, we are Mundelein. We form parish priests.

FORMATION #21: "These ordinary hands will be anointing people."

Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity Homily for Matthew 28:16-20 The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them. When they all saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted. Then Jesus approached and said to them, "All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age."   Audio courtesy of Faith Hub Chicago at St. Clement Catholic Church in Chicago, Ill. If you would like to receive these reflections to your email, sign up: usml.edu/rector-reflections/ Support the Seminary Submit Prayer Intentions  Thank you for subscribing to Formation! Please spread the word to your family, friends and parish community about this podcast. Please rate and review this podcast wherever you listen to your podcasts so that others can discover it more easily. Together with you in Christ, we are Mundelein. We form parish priests.

RECTOR REFLECTION: Confidence in our Promises | May 30, 2021

As the academic year comes to an end, we are grateful to be celebrating the ordination of a new class of holy, joyful parish priests. We have interviewed several members of the Class of 2021 for our Meet the Deacons series to introduce you to a few of these soon-to-be priests and let you hear about how they found their priestly vocation, their experience in seminary, what they’re looking forward to about the priesthood and a few of their favorite things. In this episode recorded last month, we spoke to then-Deacon Kyle Tietz of the Archdiocese of Dubuque as he prepared for priestly ordination and the return to his home diocese. He reflected on his time in seminary and the various opportunities it afforded him for spiritual growth and fraternal community. Ordination calendar: https://usml.edu/priest-2021/ Make a Class of 2021 tribute gift: https://usml.edu/2021-tribute/ Pray a novena for your new priests: https://usml.edu/classof2021-novena/   Thank you for subscribing to Formation! Please spread the word to your family, friends and parish community about this podcast. Please rate and review this podcast wherever you listen to your podcasts so that others can discover it more easily. Together with you in Christ, we are Mundelein. We form parish priests.

FORMATION #20: Deacon Kyle Tietz

Each month a series of guest speakers will offer reflections on aspects of Saint Joseph’s life and spiritual character, based on Pope Francis’ Patris Corde and the Litany of St. Joseph. Megan Quinn, wife and mother, offered a beautiful reflection on Saint Joseph as a chaste spouse by sharing about her marriage with her husband Brian, parenthood, and the reality, joy and freedom of true self gift. Sign up to receive future #YearofSaintJoseph video reflections: http://usml.edu/year-of-saint-joseph Thanks for listening and subscribing to the Formation podcast! Please rate and review this podcast wherever you listen so that others can find it. Support the Seminary Submit Prayer Intentions

YEAR OF SAINT JOSEPH: A Most Chaste Spouse | Megan Quinn

An inside look at the formation of Catholic seminarians, the ministry of parish priests and formation lessons you can implement in your own spiritual life.

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Formation | A Podcast from Mundelein Seminary

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