Transformative Encounters: Adoration and Vocation

“Take the next step, whatever that might be.” Fr. Mario Amore joins Men of the Hearts hosts Fr. Craig Giera and Fr. Drew Mabee to talk about his journey to the priesthood. His path was full of twists and turns, with stops in altar service and music ministry. After applying to Sacred Heart Major Seminary and subsequently delaying enrollment for two years, Fr. Mario finally took “the next step” to answer God's call. 

(0:26) Hosts Fr. Craig Giera and Fr. Drew Mabee introduce their guest this month, Father Mario Amore, Director of Evangelization and Missionary Discipleship for the Archdiocese of Detroit who also serves as a priest in solidum for the Resurget Cineribus Family of Parishes, which includes St. Aloysius, Old St. Mary’s, and the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament. Fr. Amore reflects on his last few months, including Christmas and the annual SEEK conference.  

(6:55) Fr. Mario is no stranger to podcasts, having previously hosted the Archdiocese of Detroit’s I AM HERE podcast in support of the National Eucharistic Revival. Our hosts join Fr. Mario in a discussion about some of the beautiful stories shared through that effort. Fr. Mario also shares his experience hosting the Certifiably Catholic podcast alongside Mary Wilkerson and Mike Chamberland, current hosts of Archbishop Vigneron’s Eyes on Jesus podcast.

(12:25) Fr. Drew and Fr. Craig reflect on their last few months. Fr. Drew has been “learning the lay of the land” at his assignment in Novi and recently had dinner with his brother and a longtime friend. Meanwhile, Fr. Craig has been encouraged by increasing attendance at Sacred Heart Major Seminary’s recent Discernment Weekends. The group also talks about the significance of altar serving to encourage vocations to the priesthood.

(20:12) Fr. Mario shares his vocation story. He attended Catholic school as a child and attended Mass every Saturday evening with his family, “doing whatever I had to do to embarrass [my parents].” Still, he remembers his maternal grandfather predicting that he would become a priest one day. He started serving the parish as an altar server before taking a detour into music ministry as a teenager. Ultimately, his interest in theology led him to explore taking classes at Sacred Heart Major Seminary, which he calls his “first foot in the door” of discerning the priesthood. 

(33:11) Fr. Mario recalls attending a discernment weekend at Sacred Heart. He was already familiar with the academic experience of the seminary, having taken classes since high school, but his discernment weekend affirmed for him that he could find joy in the brotherhood and community of Sacred Heart. After working in a parish for two more years, Fr. Mario finally decided to apply to become a seminarian—but waited and discerned another two years before officially entering the seminary.

(44:53) Fr. Mario talks about his time as a seminarian at Sacred Heart, his ordination in 2015, and celebrating his first Mass at St. Pius X in Southgate on the anniversary of his baptism at the same church. He also touches on what it’s like to serve both as a parish priest and Detroit as Director of Evangelization and Missionary Discipleship for the Archdiocese of Detroit. He then offers his advice to men considering the priesthood: “Take the next step, whatever that might be.” The episode concludes with a prayer and blessing.