Quo Vadis retreat at The Pontifical College Josephinum / Facebook
The Diocese of Columbus’ 2025 Quo Vadis retreat for young men interested in growing in holiness and discerning a vocation to the priesthood drew more than 40 high school students from across the diocese to the Pontifical College Josephinum this summer.
Over the course of the July 27-30 retreat, those discerning attended Mass, prayed the Liturgy of the Hours together, and took part in a daily holy hour. There were also “talks about priestly discernment, masculine spirituality and panel discussions from both priests and seminarians of the diocese,” according to The Catholic Times. Participants were also given time to enjoy the Josephinum’s 100-acre campus, with some young men hiking and playing sports.
Each year, the annual retreat is organized by the Vocations Office and staffed by diocesan seminarians. It has been offered annually since 2018.
The retreat’s name comes from the story of St. Peter’s martyrdom. While the saint was fleeing Rome because of the persecution he faced, an apparition of Christ came to him. Christ appeared to be carrying his Cross into Rome. “Domine, quo vadis?” Peter asked, Latin for “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus responded that he was going to Rome, “to be crucified again.” St. Peter then turned around and was eventually killed for his faith in the city.
The Diocese of Columbus has seen a marked increase in the number of seminarians in recent years, in part due to the efforts o Bishop Earl Fernandes, as CatholicVote previously reported.
During his episcopal ordination and appointment to the Diocese of Columbus in February, the bishop joked that “there were more bishops being ordained that year than priests in the Diocese of Columbus,” according to Vatican News. People laughed, but it was true: There was not a single priest being ordained that year.
However, the future of vocations in the diocese looks bright. The number of seminarians more than doubled in just three years, going from 17 in 2021 to 40 in 2024, as CatholicVote previously reported.
Anyone interested in discerning the priesthood in the Diocese of Columbus is asked to visit the diocese’s vocations website and to reach out to Father Michael Hammerle, diocesan director of vocations.
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