Quo Vadis retreats began in the diocese six years ago as a means to help high school students start to think about a possible vocation to the priesthood.

In the past few years, the number of young men entering seminary has skyrocketed. Whether or not there’s a correlation is unknown, but evidence points to the retreats having an impact.

“I think having Quo Vadis in our diocese has led to a significant increase of interest in the priesthood,” said Father Michael Haemmerle, the associate director for vocations and a parochial vicar at Westerville St. Paul the Apostle Church. “Most of the college seminarians (from the diocese) we have now came on a Quo Vadis retreat — some more than once — while they were in high school.

“You know, discernment is never just one thing. Usually, it’s a whole combination of things. So we hope this is one more thing that contributes to guys discerning — and discerning well.”

Quo Vadis participants and leaders assemble for the first time in a classroom at the Pontifical College Josephinum.
Hector Daniel Cruz, 15, (left) a member of Columbus Christ the King Church, speaks with Deacon Joey Rolwing at the Quo Vadis registration table on Sunday, July 28.

The recently ordained Father Haemmerle was joined by Father William Hahn, the diocese’s director of vocations and vicar general, and current seminarians who welcomed 30 young men to the Pontifical Josephinum on Sunday, July 28 for this year’s Quo Vadis retreat.

Participants are given an opportunity to experience the seminary while engaging in physical activities, learning to pray the Liturgy of the Hours, attending Mass and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, and listening to talks on faith formation and vocations.

Bishop Earl Fernandes celebrates the final Mass for Quo Vadis while being assisted by Deacons Kevin Girardi (left) and Sam Severance.   CT photos by Ken Snow
Quo Vadis attendees and families attend the final Mass in St. Turibius Chapel at the Pontifical College Josephinum.

The retreat concluded with a Mass celebrated by Bishop Earl Fernandes on Wednesday, July 31.

“Quo Vadis is a retreat in which you try to get away from everything to listen to the Lord, and the talks and everything are focused on discernment, especially on discernment to the priesthood,” Father Haemmerle said.

“The talks are important, but the most important part is that time for quiet and prayer. And it’s good for them to get to know the other guys who are doing the same thing – that there are other guys they can talk to and lean on in their discernment – and to build up a sense of fraternity.”

Tire flipping proves to be a challenge requiring physical force.
Gabriel Dzikowski (right) hands off a bucket of water to Isaac Mendez during one of the Quo Vadis outdoor activities.
It takes teamwork at the Quo Vadis retreat to push a truck during one of the activities. CT photos by Ken Snow

Quo Vadis, which is a Latin phrase that means “Where are you going?”, was started in the diocese in 2018 after seminarians heard about similar retreats in other dioceses.

“It’s really a time to step away from the world and enter into intentional fraternity and prayer with the aim of asking God, ‘What do you want from me in my life?’’ said seminarian Shane Gerrity, the organizer for this year’s retreat who is entering his second year of theology at the Josephinum.

“Because of that, we take time to talk about discernment, prayer, the Mass, aspects of the priesthood and various aspects of religious life as well as formation for a vocation. And through all of that, the retreat will hopefully be able to help them find God’s will toward a vocation in their life, whatever it may be, whether it’s in married life as a husband and father or to the priesthood.”

For more information on vocations, visit www.vocationscolumbus.org.

Deacon Kevin Girardi raises the monstrance during Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at the Quo Vadis retreat.
Gavin Dillon, a member of Zoar Church of the Holy Trinity, prays during Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament in St. Turibius Chapel at the Pontifical College Josephinum during the last day of the Quo Vadis retreat. CT photos by Ken Snow