Radio

Vocations

Fr. Francis Bitterman, director of the Archdiocese of Chicago’s Vocations Office, leads a discussion on the first Friday of every month about the vocation process. Fr. Bitterman talks about the work of creating a culture supportive of vocations through promotion, education and parish-based efforts to raise awareness.

Heroic Priesthood: Venerable Fulton Sheen

Thursday, April 5, 2018
An overview of the vocational life of Venerable Fulton Sheen

A Chat with a Priest and a Seminarian

Thursday, March 1, 2018
Fr. Bitterman and Arthur Bautista

Heroic Priesthood: Fr. Augustus Tolton

Thursday, February 1, 2018
An overview of the vocational life of Augustus Tolton

Discerning a Vocation to the Priesthood

Thursday, January 11, 2018
Vocations Director Fr. Tim Monahan talks with Juan Carlos Vargas, who currently resides at Casa Jesus with Fr. Monahan, about discerning for the priesthood and his backround at Cristo Rey High School and St. Xavier University.

Heroic Priesthood: Bl. Solanus Casey

Friday, December 1, 2017
An overview of the vocational life of Blessed Solanus Casey.

Priest Talk with Friends

Friday, November 3, 2017
Priest Talk with Friends: discussion on vocations with Fr. Steve Titus and Pat & Beth McIntyre

Heroic Priesthood: Featuring Fr. Damien

Friday, October 6, 2017
An overview of the vocational life of Fr. Damien, SS.CC. Fr. Damien was known for his ministry from 1873 to 1889 in the Kingdom of Hawai'I to people with leprosy. Fr. Damien was canonized in October, 2009 and is now known as Saint Damien of Molokai.

Heroic Priesthood: Featuring Fr. Stanley Rother

Friday, September 1, 2017
An overview of the vocational life of Fr. Stanley Rother, first U.S.-born martyr. Fr. Rother will be beatified at a mass in Oklahoma City on September 23, 2017.

Fr. Miguel Venegas

Friday, August 4, 2017
Fr. Timothy Monahan interviews Fr. Miguel Venegas, who was ordained into the priesthood this past May

New Vocations Director, Fr. Timothy Monahan.

Friday, July 7, 2017
Fr. Timothy Monahan introduces himself as the new Vocation Director for the Archdiocese of Chicago. He talks with Erica Zapien, who works in the Vocations Office, about life and vocations.

Transitional Deacons

Friday, May 12, 2017
Fr. Francis Bitterman talks with Christian Shiu and Robinson Ortiz who will be ordained transitional deacons on Saturday, May 13.

"Who Will Fill These Shoes?"

Friday, April 7, 2017
Fr. Francis Bitterman talks with Fr. Mark Augustine about inviting young people to be open to God's call to Priesthood and Religious Life.

"Hundredfold: A Guide to Parish Based Vocation Ministry"

Friday, March 3, 2017
Today we talk about vocations with Rhonda Gruenewald the Author of "Hundredfold: A Guide to Parish Based Vocation Ministry."

Campus Ministry

Friday, February 3, 2017
Today's show was with Joshua Smyser de Leon talking about Campus Ministry at DePaul and the Totus Tuus program.

Discernment Opportunities in Chicago

Friday, January 6, 2017
Fr. Francis Bitterman talks to Sr. Lovina Pammit and Fr. Mike Scherschel about discernment opportunities in Chicago for men and women who want to discern a vocation to priesthood or consecrated life.

National Fund for Catholic Religious Vocations

Friday, December 2, 2016
Fr. Francis Bitterman talks with Mark Teresi with the National Fund for Catholic Religious Vocations.

Discernment Programs

Friday, November 4, 2016
Seminarians Discussing Discernment Programs in the Archdiocese of Chicago

Permanent Deacons

Friday, October 14, 2016
Fr. Francis Bitterman talks to Deacon Bob Puhala and Kasia Kasiarz about the vocation of permanent deacons.

World Youth Day, 2016

Friday, August 5, 2016
Archdiocese of Chicago Vocations Director Fr. Francis Bitterman talks with Fr. Mark Augustine, Director for Recruitment and Admissions at St. Joseph College Seminary, and Fr. Tim Monahan, Associate Pastor at Mary Seat of Wisdom in Park Ridge, about World Youth Day. All three attended WYD in Krakow, Poland, and shared their experiences from that journey.

Totus Tuus Summer Mission & Evangelization Program in the Archdiocese of Chicago

Friday, June 3, 2016
Discussion with two former Totus Tuus Missionaries: Chip Chipman, a Seminarian for the Archdiocese; and Ben Valle, the Youth Coordinator at St. Mary of the Annunciation in Freemont Center. They shared their experiences as missionaries evangelizing grade school and high school students throughout the Archdiocese and how the program impacted their own vocations.

Newly Ordained Deacons

Friday, May 13, 2016
Fr. Francis talks with Chicago Seminarians who will be Ordained Deacons on May 15. They discussed their experiences in seminary and what they were looking forward to as newly ordained Deacons..

Fr. Carlos Rodriguez

Friday, March 4, 2016
Fr. Francis interviews Fr. Carlos Rodriguez about his vocation story.

Upcoming Priest Ordination

Friday, February 12, 2016
Fr. Francis interviews Deacon Pawel Barwikowski, Deacon Dominic Clemente, Deacon Miguel Flores, Deacon Matthew Litak and Deacon Michael Trail about their forthcoming ordination into the priesthood.

Fr. Matt O'Donnell

Friday, January 8, 2016
Fr. Francis interviews Fr. Matt O'Donnell, Pastor of St. Columbanus Church

Night Fever

Friday, November 13, 2015
Fr. Francis talks to Fr. Brad Zamora and Megan Miller about Night Fever

Discussing Insearch and Exploring Priesthood Weekend with Chicago Seminarians

Friday, September 4, 2015
Fr. Francis interviews seminarians Chip Chipman, Jeff Grosich and Robert Ryan

Life Scouts

Friday, August 7, 2015
Fr. Francis interviews two Life Scouts from the Boy Scouts of America who just completed the St. George Trek in New Mexico. The Saint George Trek is The National Catholic Committee on Scouting's high adventure Catholic leadership program for older Catholic Boy Scouts and Venture Crew members at Philmont Scout Ranch. The program brings Catholic high school youth from around the country together with priests, religious and seminarians for eleven days of backpacking in the context of a vocation retreat

Vocation to the Diaconate

Friday, July 3, 2015
We talked about discerning a vocation to be a Deacon and the process one follows to actually be ordained a Deacon. And we discussed the different forms of ministry a Deacon performs.

Interview with New Priest

Friday, May 15, 2015
Fr. Francis Bitterman interviews Deacon Bob Regan who will be ordained a priest the following day.

3rd Year Theologians Discuss Vocations

Friday, May 1, 2015
The 3rd Year Theology Seminarians for the Archdiocese of Chicago discussed how to discern a vocation, life in seminary, and their upcoming Deacon Ordination on May 9th.

Talking Vocations with Fr. Mike Scherschel

Friday, March 6, 2015
Fr. Francis Bitterman talks with Fr. Mike Scherschel from St. Joseph College Seminary about discernment

Discerning a Vocation with Deacon Matt Alexander.

Friday, February 13, 2015
Fr. Francis Bitterman talks with Deacon Matt Alexander

Discerning a Priestly Vocation.

Friday, January 2, 2015
Fr. Bitterman talks with Chip Chipman

Reflecting on 50 Years of Priesthood with Cardinal George

Friday, December 5, 2014
Fr. Bitterman sat down with Francis Cardinal George, Archbishop Emeritus of Chicago, and talked with him about his 50+ years he has spent in the priesthood.

Who Will Fill These Shoes?, 2014

Friday, October 3, 2014
Fr. Bitterman talks with University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary Rector Fr. Robert Barron about this year's Who Will Fill These Shoes? Event scheduled to take place at Mundelein Seminary on Friday, November 28.

Insearch

Friday, September 5, 2014
Fr. Bitterman talks about the Insearch Discernment Group with Fr. Dick Mueller the founder and director of Insearch

Newly Ordained Priest

Friday, August 1, 2014
Interview with Fr. Brad Zamora, newly ordained priest, Associate Pastor and Director of Liturgy at Holy Name Cathedral.

Newly Ordained Priests

Friday, June 6, 2014
Fr. Francis Bitterman, Vocation Director for the Archdiocese of Chicago, chats with newly ordained priests Fr. Jamie Mueller and Fr. Dan Folwaczny.

Seminarians on the Air! Part 3

Friday, April 4, 2014
St. Joseph College Seminarians Charlie Plovanich, Theo McManigal and Dylan Conover continue their discussion on discernment as they reflect on the priestly promises of celibacy, obedience and simplicity of life.

The Year of Consecrated Life/Seminarians On the Air! Cont.

Friday, March 7, 2014
In the first half-hour, Fr. Francis Bitterman, Vocation Director for the Archdiocese of Chicago, talks with Sr. Elyse Ramirez about Pope Francis calling for "The Year of Consecrated Life." They talk about their reactions, plans for the year, and upcoming events for both CAVA and the Vocation Office. During the second half-hour St. Joseph College Seminarian Charlie Plovanich continues his discussion with Theo McManigal and Dylan Conover on why more and more young men are responding to God's call to the priesthood. During this half hour, they discuss why the college seminary is a good fit for them at this point in their lives and what they've been discovering.

Seminarians On the Air!

Friday, February 14, 2014
In the first half-hour, Fr. Francis Bitterman, Vocation Director for the Archdiocese of Chicago, turns the mic over to St. Joseph College Seminarian Charlie Plovanich for a special show on why more and more young men are responding to God's call to the priesthood. Charlie's guests include college seminarians Theo McManigal and Dylan Conover. Hear their vocation stories and a lively discussion on the joys and challenges of discernment. In the second half-hour a group of young adults led by current seminarians studying for the priesthood at the University of St. Mary of the Lake, Mundelein Seminary, discuss an upcoming event called Night Fever. Guests for the second half hour are: Deacon Bradley Zamora; Deacon Matthew Marshall, Colin Parrish; Michael Metz; and Courtney Bonty.

"Just What I Was Looking For"

Friday, January 3, 2014
Fr. Francis Bitterman, Vocation Director for the Archdiocese of Chicago, speaks with Fr. Mike Scherschel, Assistant Vocation Director from St. Joseph College Seminary, and college seminarians Charlie Plovanich and Adam Gonzales. They discuss not only the Program of Priestly Formation at St. Joseph College Seminary, but also the Quigley Scholars Program--a discernment program for men in high school. Charlie and Adam explain how they found two great programs that fit exactly what they were looking for at this point in their lives.

Vocations on the rise!

Friday, December 6, 2013
Sr. Elyse Ramirez and Fr. Francis Bitterman talk about vocations. They specifically talk about the renewed interest among young people towards vocations to priesthood and religious life. They also discuss the huge turnout of men to the "Who Will Fill These Shoes?" event at Mundelein, as 14O men came to the event. Another topic is the increase of interest in religious communities, and finally upcoming vocation events around the dicoese are discussed..

Insearch Program/"Who Will Fill These Shoes?"

Friday, October 4, 2013
The first half hour was on the Insearch Discernment Program. Fr. Mueller, the founder and director of the program, was my guest along with Fr. Kevin McCray and Seminarian Christian Shiu who both went through the program. We talked about why the program began, what the program entails and how it helped both Fr. McCray and Christian discern their calling to the priesthood. The second half hour was with Fr. Barron talking about the event he is hosting at Mundelein Seminary on Friday, November 29th called "Who Will Fill These Shoes?" The goal is to invite men in Chicago between the ages of 16-35 to come up to Mundelein to learn more about the priesthood. The day goes from 10am until 2pm. It will begin with a presentation on the priesthood by Fr. Barron, followed by an opportunity to meet seminarians and hear their vocation stories, next we will celebrate Mass with Cardinal George and end with lunch and tours of the campus. During the show we also talked about priests that inspired both of us and the need to invite young men to discern God's call.

A Conversation with Fr. Matt O'Donnell

Friday, September 6, 2013
Fr. Francis Bitterman talked to Fr. Matt O'Donnell about him being the youngest pastor in the diocese, ministering in the African-American community and how to increase African-American vocations.

Interviews with Newly Ordained Priests

Friday, August 2, 2013
Fr. Francis spends the half-hour chatting with newly ordained Fathers Tom Byrne and Kevin McCray, talking about their ordination day and first masses, what life has been like as a newly ordained priest in their parishes and their advice for men discerning a call to the priesthood.

New Vocations Director, Fr. Francis Bitterman interviews a current seminarian.

Friday, July 5, 2013
Fr. Francis Bitterman spoke with Brad Zamora, a current seminarian at Mundelein Seminary, about being in the last graduating class from Quigley H.S. Seminary, his years at St. Joseph College Seminary, and what his friends and family thought of his pursuit of priesthood at such a young age.

Interviews with First Year Priests, part 2

Friday, June 7, 2013
Fr. Brian interviews Fr. Matt O'Donnell and Fr. Francis Bitterman who are completing their first year as ordained priests. They spoke about their motivation to becoming priests and the way they are able to spread the Gospel in their respective communities.

Interviews with First Year Priests

Friday, May 3, 2013
Fr. Brian interviews Fr. Matt O'Donnell and Fr. Francis Bitterman who are completing their first year as ordained priests. They spoke about their motivation to becoming priests and the way they are able to spread the Gospel in their respective communities.

Interview with 3 Mundelein Seminarians

Friday, March 1, 2013
Three Mundelein Seminarians, Jamie Mueller, Seth Brown and Derek Ho, discuss their recent pilgrimage to Jerusalem. They share with us their favorite sites visited while in the Holy Land.
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