Question of Faith

Fr. Damian Ference and Mike Hayes

A weekly question of faith answered by Cleveland Catholics. Fr. Damian Ference, Vicar of Evangelization and Mike Hayes Director of Young Adult Ministry in the Diocese of Cleveland co-host with frequent guests from the Diocesan Office who join in the conversation.

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Religion & SpiritualityReligion & Spirituality

Episodes

How Does One Become a Deacon?
Yesterday
How Does One Become a Deacon?
Del Sherman, a candidate for the diaconate and one of Mike's classmates joins us this week.  Del runs a family drive-in movie theater.  He opens up about his journey from being a nominal Catholic to a devoted candidate in the Deaconate Formation Program. We navigate through the biblical history of a deacon's role, delving into St. Stephen's early role as the first deacon.  While service defines a deacon's call in ministry they also have a role in the liturgy.  As we traverse Del's tale, we illuminate the crucial yet often overlooked support system that wives provide to deacon candidates, as marriage remains a primary vocation for married Deacons.Picture a group of six future deacons, each with a distinctive story and a shared destination. This episode doesn't just highlight the journey of these men, but also the silent strength of their wives, who are pillars in the formation process. From classes to parish involvement, their consent and dedication are critical to these men's success. The Church search heads to Our Lady, Help of Christians, a unique parish with 4 sites:  LITCHFIELD9608 Norwalk Rd.Litchfield, OH 44253(330)722-1180LODI8240 Buffham Rd.Lodi, OH 44254*(330)948-3500**SEVILLE60 High St.Seville, OH 44273*(330)769-3831**NOVA 240 State Route 511Nova, OH 44859*(419)652-3931** Their pastor Fr. Ed also bakes an award-winning pie. A New feature:  "Scripture or Swift."  5 quotes that are either from Taylor Swift songs or the Book of Lamentations.As we wrap up, we invite you to join us in marking your calendars for the upcoming ordination on May 4th at the Cathedral and note the ordinandi's new assignments (given to them post-recording):Mike Hayes, St. Christopher, Rocky RiverEd Linsky, Holy Spirit, ClevelandChristopher Loxterman, St. John Vianney, MentorDel Sherman, St. Peter AND St. Julie Billiart, North RidgevilleMark Tomecko, St. Francis Xavier, MedinaJohn Zarbo, St. Anthony of Padua, Fairport HarborDon't forget to send your questions of Faith to mhayes@dioceseofcleveland.org.Rate and review us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.
Can Holy Week Make You Holy?
Mar 26 2024
Can Holy Week Make You Holy?
Fr. Eric Garris, Diocesan Vocations Director joins Mike and FD0:45:   Lent is busy for all.1:15:  It's like Finals Week1:35:  What is Holy Week like for the guys?1:50:  What is Shrove Tuesday?2:15:  Today is the Chrism Mass.2:25:  More on Shrove Tuesday and the Chrism Mass and the priests spending the day.4:00:   The priesthood is very diverse.4:20:  Tuesday of Holy Week actually has a cool name after all.4:55:  On Fig Newtons5:05:   On Tenebrae5:35:  What's going on Holy Thursday?   Expanded time of confession on Holy Thursday at the Cathedral.6:10:  All three of us will be at St. Wendelin's at 7PM for Holy Thursday's Mass of the Lord's Supper followed by Holy Night Hike.7:15:  We got billboards.7:40:  It was cool last year.8:15:   We got Maps8:40:  Good weather is coming our way.8:55:  St. Phillip Neri started the 7 church walk. And then 14 churches --one for each Station of the Cross.10:05:  A strange experience of Holy Thursday for Fr. Eric.10:45:   FD's experience in the Garden of Gethsemane.12:15:  Altars are stripped and then Good Friday.12:40:  Fr. Eric is at the Cathedral for Good Friday and then in the evening at St Lucy/St. Edward's.13:15:  Mike is doing the Good Friday Procession at Sagrada Familia (FD too!), St. Coleman's and St Michael's.14:25:  Lots of participation on Holy Week.15:05:   These liturgies are not obligatory but....15:55:  Mike's experience of Holy Week in a Yonkers Monastery.17:15:   Lots of different experiences are striking.17:35:   Blessing of the Food experinces.19:00:  On the Easter Vigil.20:00:  Do you use the old oils for the Easter Fire?  Charcoal for incense.20:45: RCIA experiences.21:45:  The Easter dismissal.22:05:  We take our lives and pour ourselves into the liturgy.23:35:   The Holy Night Hike Churches are  this week's churches:24:10:  Bring a friend to Holy Night Hike.24:35:   The Apollo Stamp at St. Emeric.24:55:  The Liturgies are long.25:55:   The Readings for Easter Sunday.26:40:  The deferral by the Beloved Disciple.27:05:   Grief and Holy Week with Mary of Magdala.28:05:   A Gardener's Mustache.28:45:  Should Mike grow a mustache?  Take our poll!29:00:  Mike Hayes has been called to Holy Orders!  Yay!29:25:  Once a Deacon always a Deacon.29:50:  Pope Fr
What is the Secret to Engaging Young Adults in the Church?
Feb 6 2024
What is the Secret to Engaging Young Adults in the Church?
Dr. Megan Lowes-Bolin joins Mike for this episode.Dr Lowes-Bolin's new book: Ignite! The Secret to Engaing Young Adults in the Church.Fr. Damian is under the weather!  Pray for him!(0:45)  Megan teaches at her alma mater, John Carroll University.(1:12)   So what is the secret?(1:30)   Megan also worked in a number of parishes.(1:55)  Who are the people young adults like?  And how do we welcome young adults?(2:40)   The book is filled with stories of role models and other experiences.(3:20) Who were Megan's role models?(3:30)   Parma!  Where all good things come from!(4:35)   Mom is always a big role model for young people.(5:10)  Mom's need help sometimes in bringing up their children.(5:45)  Mike's dad taught him liturgy and was a great role model in teaching him the Mass.(7:00)   The long term influence of role models.(7:45)   What motivates young adults?(10:00)  One experience of someone who was motivated by faith.(12:15)  How might we encourage young adults to be part of our parish communities?(14:15)   Megan's parish supports her well, but she interviewed other people who has different experiences.(15:00)    Mike's job is to help provide resources to the parishes who want to support young adult ministry but don't have those resources.(16:10)   What are some discouraging factors that drive young adults away?  Megan looked at the love languages for ideas.(18:45)  During Covid we really had to think about how we generally do ministry.(19:00)  A short history of Theology on Tap(20:05) Church Search:  Mary Queen of Apostles(21:30)   Megan's husband is a great referee, umpire, and golf coach.(23:05)   Fr Rob Reidy used to be at Sagrada Familia where Mike is doing field ed.(23:35)  Readings for the 6th Sunday in Ordinary time.
Where Can I Take My Daughter on Retreat?
Jan 30 2024
Where Can I Take My Daughter on Retreat?
Maria Wancata, Lindsay Fullerman, and Desi Gould all join us from the Behold Retreat.1:00  An Aside on Spiders!3:15:  How did they all join together to collaborate on this retreat and what parts are they playing?4:00:  Desi talks about her passion for Theology of the Body and talks about how we relate to each other as mothers and daughters.4:55:  FD introduced Maria and Lindsay.   And Lindsay is excited to talk about the spiritual aspects of being a woman.6:05:   Maria breaks down the retreat schedule:  Mind, body, and spirit.  Samantha Kelly of Fierce Athlete will be the Keynote.7:05:  The goal is to see the goodness of femininity.8:00:   There's not one kind of femininity.  Everyone doesn't have to be like Barbie.9:00:  Who can come?Behold RetreatSaturday, March 2, 202410a-4pLourdes Shrine, Euclid, OH10:50:  Lindsay and Mike both didn't talk much with their own mothers, so the retreat will try to kick start those conversations.11:45:  Some people express themselves in writing better.12:35:  We often get disconnected from our heart and our feelings.13:50:  The grounds at the shrine are great for this.14:50:  Video can be found here16:20:   Church Search goes to Lourdes Shrine in Euclid, OH.Sunday Mass at 8AM and 9:30a17:50:  We reflect on this Sunday's Readings for the 5th Sunday in OT20:30:  The 4th Season of the Chosen is getting set to be released in Theatres!Behold RetreatSaturday, March 2, 202410a-4pLourdes Shrine, Euclid, OH
Is It Barbie's World or Ken's World?
Jan 9 2024
Is It Barbie's World or Ken's World?
Maria Wancata joins us to talk about The Barbie Movie winning the Golden Globe Award and her and FD did a workshop on the movie at CLE 21:6.1:35:  We recap the movie a bit.  And the tension between men and women and who should run the world?2:40:  The unresolved dilemma is that neither work well.3:25:  Review of the creation story and provide some teaching on complimenting each other as men and women.4:15:  One teen asked if boys and girls can be friends?5:45: Women have some different strength senses.  Hearing is one.6:40:  This is the first time FD has a majority of female co-workers.7:40:   Mike relates to this as well.8:05:  The Supreme Court scene in the Barbie movie.8:50:   A youth minister asks about whether the movie bashes men.  True?9:50:  Why we engage with culture as Catholics.10:55:  Maria notes that we have to watch movies with our kids too.12:10: Mike notes: Men have been consistently portrayed as dopes.13:35:  The Dukes of Hazzard and the A-Team comes to mind for FD.14:15:  We gotta talk about it!  14:40:  Mike and FD talk about the movie "The Jerk"15:40:  Check out Barbie on Amazon Prime.16:00:  FD is a big Margo Robbie Fan.16:40:  St Dominic's Parish and the Office of Black Catholics have a lot going on for MLK Weekend.  Sr Jane Nesmith joins us to recap these events next week. 18:20:  Readings for the 2nd Sunday of Ordinary Time.21:00:  New Year's Resolutions on Health.24:00:  Maria will be back on 1/30 to talk about an upcoming retreat for mothers and daughters.24:25:  Believeland retreat is still up for an early bird discount.
What Did We Learn About Priests From Catholic University?
Jan 2 2024
What Did We Learn About Priests From Catholic University?
WELCOME TO SEASON 20:00:  We review FD's NPR voice.1:25:   Mike talks about his experience of doing Sports on NPR.2:22:   We talk about 2024 and our looking forward to this for many years.3:00:  We talk about Generations among ourselves.3:30:   The Catholic Project at Catholic U is the subject today .4:20:   Priests and the Orthodoxy range in the study.5:00:  Fr Eric talks about how he sees this play out in inquirers at the seminary.6:00:   FD talks about how St. JPII and Pope Benedict were priests of the 2nd Vatican Council and were looked on as more progressive at one point.7:19:  Liturgical or Theological or Eccesiological?  Or all these things?8:00:  Is this the Spirit of reform of Vatican II and a resulting backlash?  9:00:  We have a diocesan seminary and Fr. Garris talks about how Priests relate to each other among generations.9:40:  FD notes that it's important to have priest-friends who don't think like you do.11:00. The Church has everyone in it.11:24:   Mike talks about how Fr. Casey Cole, OFM --speaks about wearing the habit and his experience of working as a Campus Minister in the Gross Anatomy Lab.13:20:  Fr. Eric talks about how he tries not to divide priests into categories.14:20:  The 2nd Vatican Council had to shake itself out and some clarifications needed to be made with the New Catechism.15:10:  Young People want things that last in faith traditions.15:50:   How is this being reflected in Pope Francis' papacy?17:00:   Mike's experience with a priest who was a Catholic radio Broadcaster.18:14:  Some more takes on the new study that gives a small snapshot.19:00:   Fr Eric's experience of a funeral that brought a bunch of people together.19:44:   Church Search does to St. James in Lakewood.23:28:   Readings for Epiphany24:00:  A musical interlude.24:40:  The FOUR Kings?25:12:  A stained glass window of the Magi is explored by FD.To get your question of faith answered by us: Email Mike here