For students living in an age when questions can be quickly answered by artificial intelligence, sometimes only a bishop will do.
Several youth from diocesan schools gathered for a high school student forum with Bishop Earl K. Fernandes, hosted by St. Gabriel Radio on Friday, April 17. Students received a chance to ask the diocese’s shepherd a question of their choosing.
The forum, held at Columbus Bishop Hartley High School, is set to air Wednesday, April 22 on St. Gabriel Radio: Central Ohio AM 820, FM 88.3 in Scioto County and FM 106.7 in Athens.
The question-and-answer session, produced by the local Catholic radio station, was recorded in multi-part segments. Students lined the wall of the school classroom for their chance at the microphone stationed across from the bishop’s table.
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Students hailed from Columbus Bishop Hartley, Bishop Ready, Bishop Watterson, St. Charles Preparatory, St. Francis DeSales and Cristo Rey Columbus; Lancaster Fisher Catholic; and Newark Catholic high schools.
Question topics ranged from faith and science to how to live the Catholic faith in a career as an artist.
Many of the students’ questions were deeply personal, pondering how to live the Catholic faith while facing judgment and maintain a faith life.
Another inquired about Church teaching on dating and what to look for in a spouse, to which the bishop encouraged marrying someone who is hardworking and willing to make sacrifices.
Several teachers attended the recording, securing a front-row seat to their students’ pressing questions.
Tricia Oswald, who teaches at Cristo Rey Columbus, was particularly impressed. The high school theology teacher had not witnessed such an exchange.
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“It’s extraordinary that you have a bishop who actually wants to give a voice to the youth and actually communicate with them and show that they are important – and to bring them closer to the Church,” she said. “This is unheard of, that a bishop takes so much time for the youth.”
Oswald thought the questions were relevant to a high schooler’s experience today, she said. She also appreciated Bishop Fernandes’ answers, which, she added, she expects will help students grow in faith and be active Catholics.
“They’re probably feeling very valued right now, that ‘Hey, they care about my faith. They care about what I’m about to do with my life,’” she reflected.
Lainey Caton, 18, a senior at Newark Catholic, had several takeaways.
“I’m really glad I got to be here and listen to all the questions and hear the bishop’s thoughts,” she said afterward. “I always love learning more details about the faith and about what our Church leaders think about these topics.”
Caton added that she enjoyed Bishop Fernandes’ mention of great saints such as Thomas Aquinas, a Doctor of the Church. The bishop drew wisdom from saints and Church figures in answering students’ questions.
It was Caton’s first time engaging in a dialogue with the diocese’s shepherd.
“I’ve been to several events with Bishop, but I’ve never had a chance to meet him really in person,” she reflected. “I was really excited to get to be in a room like this.”
The sentiments were shared by Hannah Slaby, 14, a freshman at Fisher Catholic.
She was interested to ask Bishop Fernandes why he was appointed bishop and chose his vocational path. Although time did not permit her to ask the question, Slaby enjoyed the experience.
She recalled her enthusiasm when asked to participate in the event.
“I said, ‘Yes,’ really excited to go,” she shared. ‘I’m like, ‘Oh, that’s right; that’s Friday,’ and I got all excited all over again.”
The complete high school forum with Bishop Fernandes will air on St. Gabriel Radio at 7 a.m. Wednesday, April 22 and again at 4 p.m. that afternoon.