Planting Seeds: Discernment retreats give young men a window into the priesthood

By Michael Lehnertz

COLORADO SPRINGS.  The Diocese of Colorado Springs held two Discernment Retreats this past summer: one on July 12 for men ages 18-40, and one on Aug. 16 for boys ages 11-17.  This was the third consecutive year for these discernment retreats and it was also the third consecutive year that Bishop James Golka was our keynote speaker.

Both retreats were well attended.  The bishop spoke for about 20 minutes and then took questions and I was impressed with how easily he established a rapport with the men, their concerns and equally impressed with the discerners thought-provoking questions. 

Our diocese is blessed that Bishop Golka places such a high priority on vocations.  He and Father Kyle Ingels, Vocations Director for the Diocese of Colorado Springs and Vicar General, work tirelessly on vocations.  “Once again, we have four new seminarians that just started their journey to the priesthood; two of the men attended one or more of our discernment retreats.  That’s the best kind of feedback we can get that we’re doing something right,” said Father Ingels. 

Recently, I came across some revealing statistics from the ordination class of 2025 priests: Nine in ten responding ordinands (89%) reported being encouraged to consider the priesthood by someone in their life, most frequently by parish priest (60%), friend (52%), or parishioner (42%).  Nearly three in four responding ordinands (73%) served as altar servers before entering the seminary. 

Please encourage your sons, grandsons, nephews, or friends to consider the priesthood. Encourage the younger ones to become altar servers.  One person, as mentioned above, can make a significant difference.  Please pray for our priests, seminarians and continued priestly vocations.

Father Kyle and I will be planning two more retreats for 2026, so look for more information in The Herald as well as your parish’s bulletin/newsletter.  If you have been thinking of the priesthood or someone has told you that you would make a good priest, contact Father Ingels at kingels@diocs.org.  Another great resource regarding vocations is your pastor or deacon because they have already traveled the “discernment journey.”

Finally, pray to Our Lord and Savior for guidance; pray to the Blessed Virgin Mary for her courage and faith; pray to St. John Vianney, the patron saint of priests.  Pray…and listen…and then pray some more…you’ll be glad you did.

(Michael Lehnertz is the Director of Vocations at Our Lady of the Pines Parish and is the parent of Father Benjamin Lehnertz of the Diocese of Orlando, Florida.)