Before The Collar

"God Brought You Here." In this powerful episode of Before the Collar, Matthew sits down with Fr. Leronio Vodivodi, a priest at Holy Family in the  @lansingdiocese  Fr. Leronio’s path was anything but linear. From growing up in Fiji as the oldest of six boys to serving in the rugged missions of Papua New Guinea, his story is a testament to God's persistence.Fr. Leronio opens up about:- The "prophecy" an Irish missionary gave his mother when he was a child.- His "zillion" moments of doubt and how he overcame vocational burnout.- The cultural shift from religious life in the South Pacific to diocesan priesthood in Michigan.- The moment he walked into a "bush hall" in Grand Blanc and saw the sign that confirmed his destiny.Whether you are discerning a vocation or looking for a story of hope amidst burnout, Fr. Leronio’s joy and honesty will inspire you.🔔 Subscribe to follow more journeys of the men "Before the Collar": [Link]Chapters0:00 - Introduction: Pronouncing "Vodivodi"1:50 - The Engineering Student: Hearing the "Whisper"3:42 - The Friend Who Joined the Seminary (And Got Married)5:23 - The Irish Missionary and the Conversion of Fiji8:10 - The Prophecy: "He Will Replace Me"10:30 - Dad’s Reaction: Rugby vs. The Priesthood13:15 - "Zillion Times" of Doubt: Facing Darkness in the Seminary16:40 - The Reality of Loneliness and the Gift of Brotherhood19:15 - Novitiate: A Year of Silence and Spiritual Discovery21:30 - Ordination Day: A Dream Come True23:05 - Mission in Papua New Guinea: Trauma and Civil War25:40 - Vocational Burnout: "One Foot In, One Foot Out"28:50 - The Turning Point in the Philippines31:40 - Why Lansing? The Call to Flourish in Michigan34:50 - "God Brought You Here": The Sign in the Hall37:10 - Misconceptions: The Joy and Humanity of a Priest#CatholicPodcast #Vocations #DioceseOfLansing #CatholicPriest #HolyFamilyGrandBlanc

From childhood curiosity to a lifelong calling, Bishop Boyea’s journey to the priesthood wasn’t written in lightning bolts — it was whispered through faith, family, and the quiet moments where God’s voice spoke loudest.In this episode of Before the Collar, Bishop Boyea shares how early seeds of faith were planted during his First Communion at age seven. He recounts the "financial miracle" involving a General Motors award for a battery strap suggestion that provided the exact tuition needed for him to enter high school seminary. From "practicing" mass with his siblings using smashed bread to the challenges of dating and taking three girls to prom while discerning his path, his story reminds us that vocation is a series of small yeses that lead to the biggest one of all.🔔 Subscribe for more real stories of faith, doubt, and calling on Before the CollarKey Moments:00:00 - Introduction00:45 - Early Call at Age 701:40 - Playing Mass with "Smashed Bread"02:50 - The Act of God for Tuition05:13 - Family Reaction and Upbringing07:15 - Struggles with Homesickness08:35 - Life in the High School Seminary09:35 - Strict Rules and "Grand Silence"11:25 - Misconceptions About Loneliness13:10 - Dating Rules and Honest Relationships16:05 - Perspective on Leadership and Integrity18:00 - A Lifetime of Learning and Education19:10 - The "Imperfect" Nature of the Priesthood21:00 - Advice for Discerning Men and Parents23:10 - Go-to Bible Verses (Revelation & Psalm 31)Opening Prayer by Father Riley O’Shea from the Diocese of Lansing

From childhood curiosity to a lifelong calling, Father Gary’s journey to priesthood wasn’t written in lightning bolts — it was whispered through faith, family, and the quiet moments where God’s voice spoke loudest.In this episode of Before the Collar, Father Gary shares how early seeds of faith were planted, the struggles and doubts that shaped him, and the joy of finally saying yes to God’s plan. His story reminds us that vocation isn’t always a straight path — sometimes, it’s a series of small yeses that lead to the biggest one of all.🔔 Subscribe for more real stories of faith, doubt, and calling on Before the CollarKey Moments:00:00 - Introduction01:56 - First Call at Age 704:13 - Childhood Prayer Habits05:40 - Overcoming Shyness and Fear07:05 - Discerning with a Twin Brother08:42 - Family and Community Support10:07 - Three Priests in One Family11:42 - Struggles with Doubt13:44 - Learning to Pray in Seminary16:38 - 30-Day Silent Retreat Experience18:04 - Parents as Spiritual Mentors22:30 - Defining Moment: The "Gary King" Story26:01 - First Experience Leading Mass27:42 - Ordination with His Twin30:15 - Misconceptions About Priesthood32:03 - Advice for Those Discerning35:07 - Go-to Scripture Verse (Psalm 84)Opening Prayer by Father Riley O’Shea from the Diocese of Lansing

In this episode of Before the Collar, Fr. Anthony Strouse, Pastor of Saint Matthew’s in the Diocese of Lansing, shares his powerful journey to the priesthood. From the quiet stirrings of a childhood calling to the deep desolation he faced in formation, Fr. Anthony’s story is a testament to perseverance, grace, and the mystery of God’s call.Whether you’re discerning a vocation, walking a path of faith, or simply curious about the real lives of priests, this honest conversation offers insight, encouragement, and hope.🔔 Subscribe for more real stories of faith, doubt, and calling on Before the CollarKey Moments:00:00 Introduction00:58 First Seeds of Vocation & Playing Mass as a Child02:00 The "American Dream" vs. God’s Plan03:50 High School: Weekday Mass and a Sister's Warning06:14 Mentors: Fr. Joe Krupp and the Reality of Priesthood08:25 Meeting Bishop Mengeling: The Decision for Seminary09:05 No Mountaintop Experience: Listening to Others11:29 Family Reactions: The Support of Parents and Siblings14:58 The Most Important Thing: Bringing the Eucharist18:00 A "Vocational Blip": Struggling with Attraction in College21:10 Introvert vs. Extrovert: Life with 100+ Seminarians22:30 Spiritual Desolation: The Dark Night in Rome24:40 Finding Mother Teresa: Shared Silence and Desolation30:40 Influential Mentors: Bishop Degrood and Msgr. Lungsford33:25 Meeting Cardinal Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI)36:58 Applying During the 2002 Crisis: Facing the "Warts" of the Church42:24 Evolution of Faith: From Rules to a Relationship of Trust45:15 First Mass Experiences: From "Robotic" to 2 Bishops’ Chapels51:00 Preaching Style: Lord of the Rings, Bourbon, and Country Music53:46 Common Misconceptions: We Work More Than Two Hours!57:04 Advice for Discernment: Don't Wait for a Sign01:00:30 Grace Builds on Nature: Keeping Your Hobbies01:03:15 Fr. Anthony’s Go-To Bible Verse: John 21Opening Prayer by Father Riley O’Shea from the Diocese of Lansing

In this powerful first episode of Before the Collar, we sit down with Fr. Joe Krupp, beloved pastor of Holy Family and St. Mark the Evangelist in the Diocese of Lansing, to explore his personal journey to the priesthood.Fr. Joe shares what first drew him to the Catholic priesthood, the deep struggles that almost led him away from the Church entirely, and the powerful grace that brought him back. With honesty, humility, and a bit of humor, he opens up about vocation, spiritual battles, and the joy of saying “yes” to God.Whether you’re discerning a religious vocation or simply seeking to understand the heart behind the collar, Fr. Joe’s story will move and inspire you.🔔 Subscribe for more real stories of faith, doubt, and calling on Before the Collar.Key Moments:00:00 – Introduction: Setting the stage for Fr. Joe’s story.03:00 – Childhood Signs: A content priest on a porch and an 8-year-old’s Bible note.07:44 – The Rectory Door: A mysterious encounter at age 16.13:04 – Obstacles: Dealing with early rejection and bad advice.15:34 – The Decision: Moving from "yes and no" to a final commitment.20:03 – Family Dynamics: Growing up with parents deep in Church ministry.22:26 – The Seminary Grind: Rednecks, city boys, and arguing with professors.29:39 – Celibacy: Mourning a dream to embrace a calling.44:25 – The "O'Toole's" Story: Why Fr. Joe almost quit and the talk that saved his vocation.52:04 – Ordination: The significance of St. Anthony and the Bread and Fish.01:06:20 – Encouragement: Why the priesthood is "freaking awesome" despite the exhaustion.#catholic #priest #priesthood #seminaryOpening prayer by Father Riley O’Shea from the Diocese of Lansing