God Calls: Catholic Vocation Stories

Episode 7: How Do You Know God Is Calling You? | The Vocation Story of Fr. Jim Gallagher, C.S.C.

What does it actually feel like to discover God’s calling in your life? For Fr. Jim Gallagher, C.S.C., vocation discernment didn’t come with a dramatic sign from heaven. It began with an unexpected question from his uncle: “Have you ever thought about being a priest?” After studying engineering and working a repetitive job, he began wrestling with questions many young people face: What am I doing with my life? Where will I find meaning? And how do I know what God wants from me?

In this inspiring Catholic vocation story, Fr. Jim shares his journey into the Catholic priesthood, from uncertainty and doubt to seminary formation and a deeper understanding of discerning God’s will. Fr. Jim’s story is a reminder to pay attention to your daydreams, your desires, and what makes your heart come alive. His experience of the Catholic faith shows that following God doesn’t necessarily make life easier—it can lead to challenge, growth, relationships, meaning, and deep joy. If you’re searching for direction, purpose, or your own calling, this story may help you ask a new question: What is God inviting me to desire?

God Calls: Catholic Vocation Stories

Episode 6: “I Wanted to Be a Wife and Mother” — Then God Called Me to Be a Sister

What happens when the life you planned for yourself isn’t the life God is calling you to? In this powerful Catholic vocation story, Sister Shawn Pauline, O.C.D., who dreamed of becoming a wife and mother wrestles with the unexpected call from God to religious life. Dating, a shooting star, a life-changing moment after Communion, and even her favorite color become part of an unforgettable journey of vocation discernment.

Discover how she eventually found her home as a Carmelite sister and Bride of Christ, embracing a life of chastity, poverty, obedience, prayer, and community. Her candid story offers an authentic look at becoming a Catholic nun—including the fears, doubts, sacrifices, friendships, and moments of grace that helped her realize that following God doesn't mean becoming less yourself. For anyone wondering what God wants for their life, her experience shows how discernment can unfold in surprising and deeply personal ways. Her story connects sports, teamwork, relationships, Scripture, the Eucharist, and the Catholic faith with the joy of discovering a deeper purpose.

God Calls: Catholic Vocation Stories

Episode 5: 46 Years a Priest | Why It’s Still a “Great Adventure”

After 46 years of Catholic priesthood, Father Leon Hutton, Rector and President of St. John’s Seminary in Camarillo, California, still describes his Catholic vocation as, “a great adventure.” From celebrating the Eucharist to serving as a seminary rector, he shares what decades of following Jesus have taught him about faith, uncertainty, sacrifice, joy, and finding your purpose.

For anyone considering vocation discernment or wondering how to become a priest, Fr. Leon’s advice is refreshingly simple: find happy priests, ask questions, and don’t be afraid to try. Rooted in the Catholic faith, Fr. Leon’s story shows why vocation isn't simply about what you give up—it's about what you receive, what you offer, and who you become. From first feeling called during Mass as a high school sophomore to helping form the next generation of missionary disciples, his journey is a reminder that God can work through our questions, fears, failures, and unexpected turns.

God Calls: Catholic Vocation Stories

Episode 4: "We're Not Called to an Easy Life" | A Priest's Journey to Faith and Purpose

What does it mean to be a strong man,  and what happens when success, sports, partying, and ambition still leave you searching for something more? In this powerful faith journey, Catholic priest and pastor, Father Ed Benioff, shares how he went from knowing almost nothing about Jesus Christ to discovering a radically different vision of Christian masculinity. His story speaks directly to a generation wrestling with finding purpose, anxiety, depression, loneliness, and the question of what makes life truly meaningful.

After encountering the Catholic faith in college, his priorities began to change. Eventually, that transformation led him to the priesthood and a life centered on community, sacrifice, and service. Drawing inspiration from Mother Teresa’s community, he also helped launch Feed My Poor, bringing food directly to people experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles. His experience serving the homeless reveals a Christianity built not simply on words, but on compassion, action, and recognizing our responsibility to one another.

God Calls: Catholic Vocation Stories

Episode 3: What Life as a Religious Sister Is REALLY Like | The Truth About Catholic Sisters

In this inspiring and eye-opening conversation, Sister Mary Regina DeVreese, O.S.F., from the community of the Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration, shares what religious life is actually like—from pickleball to prayer, community life to Mass and Eucharistic adoration. For Sister Regina, the journey to becoming a religious sister began when college, full-time work, and loneliness, led to a growing desire to know Jesus. Her story offers an authentic look at life as a sister, the discernment process, and what it means to completely give your life to God.

At the heart of their community life is the Eucharist and perpetual adoration—a commitment to being with Jesus and growing in trust, poverty, obedience, and chastity. Sister Regina also describes the unexpected friendships, family-like community, and deep joy she has discovered through her vocation. Whether you're Catholic, curious about religious life, exploring your own faith, or simply interested in a perspective you don't often see online, this video invites you to look beyond stereotypes and discover an authentic human story behind the habit.

God Calls: Catholic Vocation Stories

Episode 2: That’s Punk Rock | How Jesus Led a Punk Rocker to the Diaconate

Deacon Ryan Adams' journey from punk rock and rockabilly culture to becoming a Catholic deacon is a powerful story about faith, vocation, identity, and finding your purpose. In this inspiring conversation, Ryan shares how his love for the rebellious, radical Jesus of the Gospels shaped his understanding of Catholicism and taught him that no one is outside of God’s love. From sitting quietly in the back pew to answering a call to ordained ministry, Ryan opens up about Catholic faith, serving people on the margins, and discovering that his unconventional appearance could actually become a bridge to people who might otherwise feel disconnected from the Church.

At the heart of Ryan’s message is something remarkably simple: love God, love people, get back up when you fail, and keep moving forward. His ministry alongside his wife, including their work supporting children in the Holy Land, reflects a commitment to putting love and service into action. For Millennials and Gen Z navigating questions about spirituality, purpose, authenticity, and community, this is a conversation about finding meaning without pretending to be someone you’re not.

God Calls: Catholic Vocation Stories

Episode 1: 
Don’t Let Fear Stand in the Way of Your Calling | Fr. Pete McCormick, C.S.C.

In this conversation, Fr. Pete McCormick, C.S.C. opens up about his journey toward the priesthood, the doubts and fears that shaped his discernment, and the freedom he discovered by learning to trust God. Whether you're discerning marriage, religious life, the single life, or a vocation to the priesthood, this conversation offers a powerful reminder that fear doesn't have to make your decisions for you.

Fr. Pete shares how God challenged his expectations during seminary, unexpectedly led him to serve at Notre Dame, and helped him discover that surrender can lead to greater joy. He also talks about faith, biology, basketball, campus ministry, friendship between priests, and the importance of authentic relationships in a world where trust can be hard to find.  Ultimately, this is a conversation about vocation as a gift rather than a burden. You don't need to be perfect to be called, and you don't have to have every detail of your future figured out.