Quest offers fraternity and faith opportunity

By DAWN PROSSER
Director of Communications
 
The vocations director pointed out past trips were further away from the diocese, but the sites selected for 2025 will provide for a meaningful visit for the participants.
 
Seminarian Zach Steffens suggested that Father Crotty bring the Quest participants to Winona, where he and fellow seminarians Jack Jensen, Brian Schmit and Anthony Sibbel attend Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM) Seminary. Father Crotty agreed that it was a great idea for the trip.
 
“We’re actually going to visit the seminary and stay at the Alverna Center – a former convent with a really beautiful church owned by the University of St. Mary,” the vocations director said. “We can hike the bluffs around the Mississippi River there.”
 
Although not all four IHM seminarians will be on the trip, Father Crotty said it would be an opportunity for the men to see the seminary, similar to a typical college visit. It is also an opportunity for the seminarians to showcase their seminary to the Quest attendees.
 
As Our Lady of Guadalupe is the patroness of the diocese, a visit to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in La Crosse will provide a meaningful and convenient stop for the Quest event.
 
“It just so happens that the Guadalupe shrine is very close to Winona,” the priest said. “It’s our first time going there. I’ve never been myself – I just heard so much about it from our own seminarians at Winona. They visit it frequently.”
 
Father Crotty said there is also benefit for the young men of the diocese to have an opportunity to meet the seminarians. He pointed out that the current college seminarians participated in Quest and the Quo Vadis retreat before applying to the seminary.
 
In addition to the seminarians, the four chaplains of diocesan Catholic schools will be on the trip and will interact with the men attending. Father Crotty is chaplain of Sioux City Bishop Heelan High School and Briar Cliff University, Father Zach Jones is chaplain of Algona Bishop Garrigan High School, Father Ross Canliglia is chaplain of Fort Dodge St. Edmond High School and Father Peter Pham is chaplain of Carroll Kuemper High School. 

He said 2024 was the first year that the chaplains joined the Quest trip. Father Crotty is hopeful they can encourage young men from their high schools to attend the 2025 event.
 
“The support will be helpful, but I was so impressed by the guys getting to see priestly fraternity – not just seminarian fraternity, but that this was actually lived fraternity. I think it was exciting for the seminarians, too,” the vocations director said. “We each get to take turns preaching and celebrating Mass. They will get to see a variety of priests preaching. It fell on Father Zach’s ordination anniversary last year, which was so exciting. You get to see such good priest camaraderie.”
 
Last year’s trip took the young men to the Black Hills and Rapid City, South Dakota with nearly 50 attendees.
 
“The guys were saying it was the best one they’ve been to so far. I think much of that was about the community that was fostered,” the priest said.
 
Activities will include Mass, liturgy of the hours, paintball, outdoor leisure, confession, witness talks from the seminarians and Emmaus walks. The cost will be $150 – with much of the cost covered by a ​gift.
 
Shortly after the conclusion of the trip, Deacon Jake Rosenmeyer will be ordained a priest on June 7 and the Quest attendees will be invited and encouraged to attend the ordination Mass.
 
The vocations director said many of the men also attend the August Quo Vadis retreat for discerners. However, many of the Quest participants indicated they also wanted to discern a vocation. Quo Vadis will be held August 1 to 3 at Camp Okoboji. Most of the seminarians would be present as well as Father Crotty and Father Shane Deman, director of seminarians and vice-rector for Kenrick-Glennon Seminary. More information and registration links will be announced closer to the event.
 
To register for Quest, CLICK HERE. 
 
For questions regarding Quest, contact Michelle Steinbach of the Office of Vocations at [email protected].