Embracing Solitude: Living From Jesus

“We can bring everything to Him.” Fr. Brian Cokonougher joins Men of the Hearts hosts Fr. Craig and Fr. Drew to talk about surrendering to Jesus, discerning his vocation, and serving as a spiritual director to seminarians studying at Sacred Heart Major Seminary. Though he was raised Catholic, Fr. Brian did not consider the priesthood until young adulthood, when his pastor invited him to attend a discernment weekend at the seminary.

(0:44) Our hosts introduce this episode’s guest, Fr. Brian Cokonougher, who shares what he’s been up to this summer. He recently completed a road trip through Ohio with a fellow priest, stopping at some churches and the house used to film A Christmas Story. He also caught some of the Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis, saying it was “exactly what we needed” in the U.S. Church. He highlights a talk about the kerygma and shares how the surrender prayer has become central to his prayer life lately.

(11:50) Fr. Brian says he once thought he would have to give up trumpet playing and other hobbies to become a priest. “But then the Lord's given me a myriad of opportunities to play for his glory—at a nursing home, or with the children's choir, or at Mass—in ways that maybe I wouldn't have as a layman. I think that's just a sign of God's generosity for us.” All three priests then discuss taking on new assignments this summer before segueing to Fr. Brian’s vocation story. Though he was raised Catholic, Fr. Brian did not consider the priesthood until young adulthood, when his pastor invited him to attend a discernment weekend at the seminary.

(30:10) Fr. Brian talks about receiving his letter of acceptance from Sacred Heart. He highlights what he considers to be four of the seminary’s strengths: community, worship and prayer life, apostolic ministry program, and academics. He shares his assignment history over his 25 years of priestly ministry and then talks about serving as a spiritual director, helping seminarians better understand their discernment process and strengthen their prayer lives.

(58:24) Fr. Brian shares his appreciation for the Ignatian Discernment of Spirits, used to distinguish between spirits of consolation and desolation in one’s life. In a light-hearted moment, he recommends all men discerning the priesthood read the Lord of the Rings series for the imagery of being on an important journey, the attacks one can endure, and where to find consolation. His advice to men wondering what seminary is like: “Read ‘The Hobbit.’”

(1:00:11) Fr. Brian also shares what he might ask a man who is considering the priesthood: including whether they’re attending Mass each week, regularly attending Holy Hours and praying the Rosary, and who they look up to and why. Also, in this segment, Fr. Brian assures young men that they do not need to have everything together to be serious about discernment: “I would say if you don't have it all together when you enter [seminary], welcome to the club. You’re 100 percent on board with everybody else. We're all growing in our prayer lives and even in how to discern.” Fr. Brian closes the episode in prayer.