Bishop Donald Hanchon's guest appearances

Bishop Donald Hanchon

Open Door Policy 

Men of the Hearts

OwlTail

“Can I really be happy doing this?” Join hosts Fr. Craig Giera and Fr. David Pellican as they welcome Bishop Donald Hanchon, a Detroit native brimming with wisdom for vocational discernment. His Excellency shares his story of feeling called to the priesthood in grade school, attending high school seminary, and the questions and fears he faced along the way. A significant health concern in college seminary threatened his studies and brought him before Jesus in the Eucharist, a moment in which the Lord confirmed his vocation, “From your mother’s womb, I have called you.” Bishop Hanchon reminds us that God’s call for our life will bring us joy and satisfaction.  (00:26) Fr. Craig Giera welcomes Fr. David Pellican and our audience to this episode reviewing the last one with Monsignor Tim Hogan and his experience as a Navy chaplain. This month’s guest is Bishop Donald Hanchon, who is an auxiliary bishop here in the Archdiocese of Detroit. He shares a blessing about writing a talk recently for a Day of Prayer for the Family of Parishes’ Central Region. Together they discuss a busy May with seniors graduating from high school, a chapel altar construction project, and artwork.  (07:40) Fr. Craig shares a memory from his first year in the seminary, visiting Most Holy Redeemer parish, where the then-Monsignor Hanchon was pastor for many years. “I remember thinking, this guy is a cool guy.” His Excellency shares his passion for collecting memorabilia from his travels to the Holy Land and Mexico. Fr. Craig mentions his excitement over the upcoming Year of Prayer for Priestly Vocations, which starts with a Holy Hour with the Archbishop on the Vigil of Pentecost, June 4.  (11:40) “When did you start thinking about being a priest?” Bishop Hanchon shares his experience of growing up with excellent models of the priesthood; he first thought of becoming a priest in grade school at St. Mary Parish in Wayne. He was invited to take the entrance exam at the high school seminary, which he did. During one of his interviews for admission, he remembers being asked, “Why do you want to be a priest?” He recalls sharing his response and the priest adding, “and to save your soul.”  (19:50) College seminary: After a severe stomach ulcer that left him hospitalized, Bishop Hanchon feared he would be deemed unfit for the priesthood. Afraid, he went before the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament, and crying before God, he felt his vocation was confirmed from Him quoting Jeremiah 1:5: “From your mother’s womb, I have called you.”  (23:23) “God has a sense of humor.” Bishop Hanchon served as the Director of Priestly Vocations for the Archdiocese of Detroit. He shares: “A real vocation is something God gives you and that you respond to. If you think you have a vocation, talk to someone who knows more about vocations than you.” His Excellency feels God wanted him to discover the importance of friendship. This moved him to establish a priestly fraternity group, which has been going strong since 1975, allowing for the priests to hold each other accountable and trust one another with their blessings and difficulties.  (39:45) Common fears: “Can I really be happy doing this?” Or “Can my son really be happy doing this?”  Bishop Hanchon shares about the role of desire when it comes to discerning the priesthood. “Do you think God would call you against your will? That hasn’t been my experience of God…. I don’t think God wants you to be a priest if you don’t want to be a priest.” Fr. David reminds us that His plan for each man is one of happiness and salvation. Fr. Craig details the challenges of the priesthood but explains how the sacrifice required is worth it.  (53:00) Advice for men considering the priesthood: Bishop Hanchon explains his criteria: “Is this person generous with his time and patience?” Further, he shares that a man should also be “in the habit of prayer … and be open where God is leading you.”  Bishop Hanchon closes the episode with encouragement and prayer. 

“Can I really be happy doing this?” Join hosts Fr. Craig Giera and Fr. David Pellican as they welcome Bishop Donald Hanchon, a Detroit native brimming with wisdom for vocational discernment. His Excellency shares his story of feeling called to the priesthood in grade school, attending high school seminary, and the questions and fears he faced along the way. A significant health concern in college seminary threatened his studies and brought him before Jesus in the Eucharist, a moment in which the Lord confirmed his vocation, “From your mother’s womb, I have called you.” Bishop Hanchon reminds us that God’s call for our life will bring us joy and satisfaction. (00:26) Fr. Craig Giera welcomes Fr. David Pellican and our audience to this episode reviewing the last one with Monsignor Tim Hogan and his experience as a Navy chaplain. This month’s guest is Bishop Donald Hanchon, who is an auxiliary bishop here in the Archdiocese of Detroit. He shares a blessing about writing a talk recently for a Day of Prayer for the Family of Parishes’ Central Region. Together they discuss a busy May with seniors graduating from high school, a chapel altar construction project, and artwork. (07:40) Fr. Craig shares a memory from his first year in the seminary, visiting Most Holy Redeemer parish, where the then-Monsignor Hanchon was pastor for many years. “I remember thinking, this guy is a cool guy.” His Excellency shares his passion for collecting memorabilia from his travels to the Holy Land and Mexico. Fr. Craig mentions his excitement over the upcoming Year of Prayer for Priestly Vocations, which starts with a Holy Hour with the Archbishop on the Vigil of Pentecost, June 4. (11:40) “When did you start thinking about being a priest?” Bishop Hanchon shares his experience of growing up with excellent models of the priesthood; he first thought of becoming a priest in grade school at St. Mary Parish in Wayne. He was invited to take the entrance exam at the high school seminary, which he did. During one of his interviews for admission, he remembers being asked, “Why do you want to be a priest?” He recalls sharing his response and the priest adding, “and to save your soul.” (19:50) College seminary: After a severe stomach ulcer that left him hospitalized, Bishop Hanchon feared he would be deemed unfit for the priesthood. Afraid, he went before the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament, and crying before God, he felt his vocation was confirmed from Him quoting Jeremiah 1:5: “From your mother’s womb, I have called you.” (23:23) “God has a sense of humor.” Bishop Hanchon served as the Director of Priestly Vocations for the Archdiocese of Detroit. He shares: “A real vocation is something God gives you and that you respond to. If you think you have a vocation, talk to someone who knows more about vocations than you.” His Excellency feels God wanted him to discover the importance of friendship. This moved him to establish a priestly fraternity group, which has been going strong since 1975, allowing for the priests to hold each other accountable and trust one another with their blessings and difficulties. (39:45) Common fears: “Can I really be happy doing this?” Or “Can my son really be happy doing this?” Bishop Hanchon shares about the role of desire when it comes to discerning the priesthood. “Do you think God would call you against your will? That hasn’t been my experience of God…. I don’t think God wants you to be a priest if you don’t want to be a priest.” Fr. David reminds us that His plan for each man is one of happiness and salvation. Fr. Craig details the challenges of the priesthood but explains how the sacrifice required is worth it. (53:00) Advice for men considering the priesthood: Bishop Hanchon explains his criteria: “Is this person generous with his time and patience?” Further, he shares that a man should also be “in the habit of prayer … and be open where God is leading you.” Bishop Hanchon closes the episode with encouragement and prayer.

Emily and Fr. Patrick welcome Bishop Donald Hanchon, who shares the story of his journey through the priesthood and how his many years serving minority communities in Detroit have formed him as a joyful missionary disciple with a heart for God’s people. (0:55) Fr. Patrick and Emily discuss what they are excited about and grateful for in the liturgical Christmas season. (3:30) Fr. Patrick and Emily discuss their key moments of formation in their personal faith lives as Catholics. (4:45) Emily introduces guest Bishop Hanchon, who discusses his talent with the ukulele and shares about his early vocational call to the priesthood.  (11:15) Emily asks Bishop Hanchon about a key moment of growth in his faith and he shares how his early experiences serving with the Black community in Detroit shaped him as a priest and his passion for ministering in urban communities.  (17:00) Bishop Hanchon shares about the gifts of community connections he has found within the many cultures represented within the Archdiocese of Detroit.  (20:00) Emily asks Bishop Hanchon what has been his experience of being a joyful missionary disciple, and he reflects on the importance of having a joyful witness to faith and how he has kept his dream of living out his vocation as a missionary at the center of his work as a priest and Bishop.  (25:50) Fr. Patrick invites Bishop Hanchon to talk about his advice for listening to the voice of the Lord. Bishop Hanchon discusses how a relationship with God is based on communication with God and being open to it through direct listening to God, as well as to those around us who God may be using to speak to us.  (28:30) Emily asks Bishop Hanchon what his dream is for the Church in Detroit. Bishop Hanchon voices that the Church must continue to actively work against racism and his hopes that profound faith will be instilled within the young people in our communities through encounters with Jesus. He shares about the importance of family members in his life who have had a positive impact on his faith and encouraged him to be a disciple.  (33:30) Bishop Hanchon leads Fr. Patrick and Emily in closing prayer.

Emily and Fr. Patrick welcome Bishop Donald Hanchon, who shares the story of his journey through the priesthood and how his many years serving minority communities in Detroit have formed him as a joyful missionary disciple with a heart for God’s people. (0:55) Fr. Patrick and Emily discuss what they are excited about and grateful for in the liturgical Christmas season. (3:30) Fr. Patrick and Emily discuss their key moments of formation in their personal faith lives as Catholics. (4:45) Emily introduces guest Bishop Hanchon, who discusses his talent with the ukulele and shares about his early vocational call to the priesthood. (11:15) Emily asks Bishop Hanchon about a key moment of growth in his faith and he shares how his early experiences serving with the Black community in Detroit shaped him as a priest and his passion for ministering in urban communities. (17:00) Bishop Hanchon shares about the gifts of community connections he has found within the many cultures represented within the Archdiocese of Detroit. (20:00) Emily asks Bishop Hanchon what has been his experience of being a joyful missionary disciple, and he reflects on the importance of having a joyful witness to faith and how he has kept his dream of living out his vocation as a missionary at the center of his work as a priest and Bishop. (25:50) Fr. Patrick invites Bishop Hanchon to talk about his advice for listening to the voice of the Lord. Bishop Hanchon discusses how a relationship with God is based on communication with God and being open to it through direct listening to God, as well as to those around us who God may be using to speak to us. (28:30) Emily asks Bishop Hanchon what his dream is for the Church in Detroit. Bishop Hanchon voices that the Church must continue to actively work against racism and his hopes that profound faith will be instilled within the young people in our communities through encounters with Jesus. He shares about the importance of family members in his life who have had a positive impact on his faith and encouraged him to be a disciple. (33:30) Bishop Hanchon leads Fr. Patrick and Emily in closing prayer.