Father Dan, 75, grew up in a Catholic family in Walpole, Massachusetts, about 20 miles outside of Boston. “My family wasn’t overly involved in the parish, and we never had a priest or nun ever come to our home,” he says. “However, we were religious in daily prayer and never missed Sunday Mass. And my mom always made sure my dad had his rosary with him going to work; he was a cop. My dad belonged to the Knights of Columbus, but it was mostly for the social aspect.” 

Father Dan, the oldest of six children, attended public school, where a vocation was not emphasized. Nevertheless, God was at work in his family as he and his younger brother, Michael, who is now deceased, both became priests, with his brother becoming a diocesan priest. 

The family lived in a rural area with no Catholic schools in the vicinity, but Father Dan was able to tag along with a friend to attend altar boy classes. 

Father Dan decided to enter the Franciscans’ minor seminary when he was 13. “My mother thought I was crazy,” he says, “but my dad said: ‘See if you like it. If you don’t, you can always come home.’” 

A Good Mix 

While attending St. Joseph’s Seraphic Seminary in Callicoon, New York, he noticed that the more academic friars who taught the seminarians would easily mix with the ones who did manual labor. “The seminary had a German background and valued work. So, the friars who worked the farm and the ones who were caretakers of the local cemetery mixed with the teachers, and I liked that about them,” Father Dan recalls. 

“Although I don’t think I ever read a book on St. Francis until much later, the friars that I met at the seminary made an impression on me. They worked in parishes, went on missions, worked on experimental farms, and taught in universities. I thought, These guys are great,” says Father Dan. After five years at the minor seminary, he moved on to Siena College in Albany, New York. “I then spent my novitiate in Brookline, Massachusetts, studied theology in Washington, DC, and was ordained on May 8, 1976, at the age of 27,” says Father Dan, who requested his first assignment be the St. Anthony Shrine in Boston. 

“My dad had Alzheimer’s disease, and I asked to be assigned close to my home,” says Father Dan. Within a year, he accepted an offer by the archdiocese to serve its campus ministry. “The ministry was located in the Back Bay area of Boston and served a wide range of students from the universities there, such as the Boston Conservatory, Berklee School of Jazz, [and] MIT,” he says. 

“After I was there for a while, I was walking with another friar one day, who stunned me by saying that I was wasting my time and that I should go back to school. I was ticked, to be honest,” says Father Dan, “but I completed a master’s at Boston College in 1981, and then I went to Notre Dame and earned a doctorate in history in 1985.” 

Father Dan went on to teach at Christ the King Seminary in Buffalo, direct friars in the post-novitiate in Washington, DC, and eventually serve as the president of the Washington Theological Union until 2005. “A friar-member of the union’s board of trustees and also pastor of a parish in Durham, North Carolina, told me he was retiring and that I should look into succeeding him,” says Father Dan. “They needed a pastor, and I took the assignment. 

“It was a wonderful parish with a large Latino population with a parish school. I served there for nine years, but while I could celebrate sacraments in Spanish, I couldn’t converse with the parishioners very well, so I thought it best that they have a priest who was fluent in Spanish, and I moved over to St. Andrew [Parish] in Clemson, South Carolina.” 

Switching Gears 

Father Dan’s decision to seek retirement was reached after accompanying students on a mission trip to Lima, Peru. “They were so enthusiastic, but I discovered how out of touch I was with their jargon and music!” he says. “And at the end of the day, they were still raring to go, but I was fatigued. It was then that I realized that they deserved more. So, I retired in the fall of 2024, which, after 48 years, was the first fall that I was not teaching or running a school.” 

But Father Dan is not idle. “As this area is strapped for priests, I’m still staying in Pendleton, South Carolina, at a farmhouse that a parishioner offered for me to live in. I’m only 20 minutes from the church and have told the parish and the campus ministry that I’ll help out wherever needed,” he said. “In my old age, I’ve come to learn that the Gospel is not what we are required to do for Jesus, but more about the wonderful things God has done for us. 

“It isn’t rules and rituals that attract others to God; it’s love in action. And not ‘love the emotion,’ but ‘love in action,’ which, as Dostoevsky said, ‘is a harsh and dreadful thing,’ requiring sacrifice for one another. It was the love in action of the friars in the seminary that attracted me. Love rolls up its sleeves and goes to work for people, and I think by focusing on flesh and blood, meeting people and letting them know that they matter is when they encounter Christ. Everyone wants to matter, and I’ve tried to express that throughout my vocation.” 

Sister M. Karolyn, of the Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George (FSGM), in Alton, Illinois, took the name “Mary Karolyn” to reflect her admiration of and devotion to Karol Wojtyla, who became Pope John Paul II. 

“Originally, I thought I would take the name ‘Mary Xavier’ because St. Francis Xavier was a zealous, missionary, set-the-world-afire kind of saint, but after prayer and conversation, I recognized that Pope John Paul II encompassed those same qualities,” says Sister M. Karolyn, 43, who serves as her community’s vocation director. “When we take our names, we write a paper about it, and each year I reread the paper as a reminder of why God invited me to take this name. It becomes more pertinent each time I review it, and I see the significance that I am Sister M. Karolyn, not Sister John Paul. It was as Karol that his profound understanding of young people, women, sexuality, and suffering were formed, and those are all things that are important to me in my relationship with the Lord.” 

Not a Recruiter for Women Religious 

“Everyone thinks my job is to recruit women to our community, but I’m not out to get someone to sign on the dotted line,” she explains. “I look upon what I do as teaching people to pray and discern what they are to do with their lives. God, who is love, creates us in love and calls us to love, and I help women to determine how to respond in love to him.” 

Sister M. Karolyn knows that discerning a vocation takes time, reflection, prayer, and patience, as it took her some time to realize that she was called to religious life. “I grew up in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, the oldest of three children—my sister and brother, who are twins, are three-and-a-half years younger,” she says. “We were born and raised Catholic, but we attended public schools; I was a CCD kid.” Mass attendance was nonnegotiable with her parents, but they didn’t pray the rosary together every day or engage in any other family devotions. 

It was while she was attending Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio, that the seed for her vocation was planted. “We had a summer seminarian at our parish who was familiar with the university, and I began to research Franciscan [material] online,” Sister M. Karolyn recalls. “It was also at that time that I took an aptitude test that said I was suited to religious ministry, theater/drama, and education, and that was probably true, but I didn’t like being profiled like that.” Still, she decided to attend to study theology and religious education. 

“I met the Franciscan Sisters of the Martyr St. George at Steubenville, and their joy was attractive,” she says. “I’d only known old and angry nuns, but these were different. 

“Our community has a variety of apostolates where we make merciful love visible, including working in health care in positions such as nurses, X-ray technicians, and hospital administration. Another large percentage of sisters serve in education, from teaching in day cares to colleges. We also work in parishes, administration, and care for retired priests,” says Sister M. Karolyn, who noted that there are 110 members in their community in the United States, and that she lives with half of them at their provincial house in Alton, a town located about 25 miles north of St. Louis, Missouri. 

A Stirring of the Heart 

Upon graduation in 2003 from Franciscan University, she took a job in Tennessee serving as a youth minister and working in religious education. “In retrospect,” she says, “it was a stepping stone to my vocation. 

“At this time, I was only going home one to two times a year because I lived so far away,” she recalls. “I loved my job, dated some, but I was restless. Once, when I was in class in Steubenville, my professor read this line of Scripture from John 19:37, ‘They will look upon him whom they have pierced,’ and something popped in my heart, but I tucked it away.” 

In September 2004, Sister M. Karolyn made her first visit to the FSGM provincial house, and she knew she belonged there. She applied in November 2004, entered the community in September 2005, and professed her first vows later that year. 

She then worked for seven years teaching in New Jersey and Kansas, and, in January 2016, she was asked to become the vocation director for her order. Currently, there are two postulants, four novices, and three women in the application process for next year. Sister M. Karolyn says that, on average, it’s a three- to four-year accompaniment until a woman gives her yes. 

“I tell women that God works in the concrete, not in the abstract,” says Sister M. Karolyn. “There are so many options now, and we have so many expectations, and [we] are grasping. If you are interested in a vocation, I advise women to pay attention to their heart. Investigate what you know. If it feels like work trying to be something you’re not, it’s not a fit. I always ask: What does it feel like when you visit the convent? Do you feel like your true self?” 

She also tells women that their humanity doesn’t go away when they enter the convent. “Things like the way some people annoy you or the temptations for certain things don’t disappear. This life is not magical,” says Sister M. Karolyn. 

“I help women discern where they fit,” she says. “If you take a square and try to force it into the circle slot, you may have to manipulate it, or you may have to break the toy to make it work. Discernment shouldn’t be forced. I help women to find out where they fit in a place that suits how they are made.” 

Sister M. Karolyn knows that she is a good fit in her vocation. “God has fulfilled me in so many ways that I couldn’t have dreamed possible,” she says. “I wanted kids, and I have tons of them through teaching. I have been able to love so many people. I know I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be, and it becomes clearer every day.” 

Dr. Lipowski has fond memories of attending St. Pius X school in Toronto and seeing his mom at Mass when he was attending with his class. “Then she would usually get me a slice of pizza for lunch, so that was a nice plus!” 

Dr. Lipowski, 40, went on to finish his undergraduate education at Loyola University in Chicago, majoring in history with a theology minor. He then earned a master of arts in pastoral studies at the Institute of Pastoral Studies at Loyola University. 

“I also have a master of letters in Bible and contemporary world from St. Mary’s College (School of Divinity) at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland and a doctor of education in interdisciplinary leadership from Creighton University, as well as certificates in change leadership and HR management,” says Dr. Lipowski. 

Following Francis as a Layperson 

He counts himself blessed to have ministered with so many Franciscans during his career, calling it “one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.” His small consulting firm, Virtute Duce (Latin for “led by virtue”) has helped advise religious on advancing their mission. He has also worked with Franciscans in parish ministry, university teaching, and with Partners in Franciscan Ministries, the sponsorship corporation of the Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities. “Franciscan mission integration is my passion, and working for that sponsorship corporation has been where I really came to find and reignite my passion and love for St. Francis and the Franciscan way of life as a layperson.” 

Taking on the position with the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement at Graymoor seemed a natural progression for Dr. Lipowski, who came on board in 2022 and describes Graymoor as a “holy mountain.” Located in a serene area of the Hudson River Valley, Graymoor is about 50 miles north of New York City and is “a beautiful place for personal or group pilgrimages as well as retreats,” says Dr. Lipowski. 

It was at Graymoor that Mother Lurana White, SA, and Father Paul Wattson, SA, founded the Society of the Atonement and brought their charism of hope, healing, and harmony to the world. In 2017, Father Wattson was named a Servant of God, the first step toward sainthood. 

“There are beautiful shrines and chapels on the Holy Mountain, from the Chapel of St. John in the Wilderness on the Sisters of the Atonement property to the Chapel of St. Francis, Holy Spirit Chapel (in the Eastern tradition), Our Lady of the Atonement Chapel, the St. Anthony Shrine, and the Pius X Chapel on top of the mountain with the friars,” says Dr. Lipowski. 

Located at Graymoor is one of the oldest ministries for the Friars of the Atonement, St. Christopher’s Inn. The inn is a temporary homeless shelter dedicated to the rehabilitation of men in crisis. They call the men they serve “Brothers Christopher” because they are Christ bearers. It is also home to the Graymoor Ecumenical Institute, which has offices in New York City, where it publishes the Ecumenical Trends magazine. 

A World in Need of Franciscan Healing 

As chief charism officer, it is Dr. Lipowski’s aim to advance Graymoor’s mission and ministry throughout the world. “I think their charism is one that is so desperately needed in the world today,” he says. “We can see the pain that the broken world is causing around us, as we live and minster in it. This is not only external brokenness but also internal, whether in ourselves, in our relationships with others, or in the Church in general, and with those of other faiths. 

“Father Paul [Wattson] and Mother Lurana [White] saw that brokenness and knew that only the Franciscan way could help bring that healing! So, my goal is to help support them in that mission, to do what I can to bring hope, healing, and harmony to a broken world. 

“The community of friars and sisters (with their community at the bottom of the mountain), is extremely gracious and welcoming. It is something to experience!” says Dr. Lipowski. 

In addition to the friars’ work with individuals through healing and rehabilitation programs at St. Christopher’s Inn and the Do Not Fear to Hope HIV/AIDS support group and their pastoral work through the Holy Mountain Franciscan Retreat Center, they also have a bookstore and a thrift shop that help support their ministries. 

Dr. Lipowski’s wife, Katherine, is an educator and department chair at a high school in the western suburbs of Chicago. They reside in the northwest suburbs with their three children: Oliver, Amelia, and Clare. “We also have two dogs (American fox hounds Aryus and Camilla), two cats (Mimi and Bauer), a horse (Paloma), and five chickens (Hej Hej, Miss Checkers, Zuzia, Nugget, and Nova)!” 

When he’s not working, he enjoys reading, traveling to new places, and helping his wife with the garden. “And turning our property into a small farm, playing ice hockey, riding, and playing polo. I’m a member of the Barrington Hills Polo Club,” he says. 

Dr. Lipowski looks up to many saints, primarily those that have gone through some type of transformation. “I’m particularly devoted to St. Paul and how we wouldn’t have the faith we have today if it were not for his evangelization. St. Maximillian Kolbe, with his Christian charity, is another. St. Marianne Cope and her life of service to those who were truly marginalized and cast out is inspiring, as well as Father Paul Wattson and Mother Lurana White for their bravery and deep devotion to the Franciscan way of life—leaving the Episcopal Church to become Catholics, which was unheard of during that time,” says Dr. Lipowski. 

“There’s also St. Clare,” he says. “My birthday is her feast day, and my youngest daughter is named after her. St. Clare’s leadership is something that I admire immensely.” 

And, of course, he cites St. Francis. “St. Francis inspires me, especially in the way of life that he modeled for us, but the main inspiration is through his personal conversion and transformation,” Dr. Lipowski says. 

“I find it so relatable, even to this day. He was someone caught up in seeking fame and glory only to realize that wealth won’t bring happiness, but simplicity and service will deepen one’s relationship with God. His profound and deep love for the Eucharist also greatly inspires and challenges me on an everyday level. 

“Responding to God’s offer of living the example of Christ, like Francis, is a transformational process that doesn’t happen overnight. Like Francis, I would like to think that I could eventually do what he did and become what he truly loved,” says Dr. Lipowski. “Maybe sans the stigmata!” 

Barb’s grandmother didn’t speak English, so she learned to speak a dialect of Italian from a very early age. “My grandmother was a strong, faith-filled woman. I have vivid memories of her teaching me to say my prayers in Italian. I laugh [when I remember] that I was probably the only 4-year-old who could say the Apostles’ Creed in Italian,” says Sister Barb. 

Barb attended elementary school at St. Gerard Parish School and public high school in Southfield, Michigan. She enrolled in Oakland University, Rochester, Michigan, earning a BA in mathematics, and then she headed to Wayne State University in Detroit for an MA in mathematics. “A dozen years later, when I was a Sister of St. Francis, I went to St. Bonaventure University for an MA in Franciscan studies,” she says. 

Not Part of the Plan

Becoming a religious sister was not on her agenda. “I still tell students that when I was in college, I was certain about three things: I wanted to teach, I didn’t feel called to marriage and family life, and I absolutely did not want to be a sister! Two out of three isn’t bad,” quips Sister Barb, who explained that her relationship with God, nevertheless, was very important to her. “It was a central part of my life—that was why I knew I would never marry. I felt like there wasn’t room for anyone else. I loved every custom and tradition of the Catholic faith, but I just couldn’t see myself being part of a big group of women. I think it sounded too much like my family,” Sister Barb says with a laugh. 

From 1981 through 1994, she taught math and computer science at the high school and college level. “For 10 of those years, I taught with the religious of the Sacred Heart, north of Detroit. They are an amazing group of educators, very mission-focused and committed to sharing with their students a strong focus on social justice and a living and active faith,” says Sister Barb. 

At the same time, she was connecting with a group of Franciscan friars at Duns Scotus College in Southfield. “I was there daily, joining the friars for prayers, meals, and volunteering with their chapel ministry and their outreach to the community. The friars taught me a love of St. Francis, the Franciscan tradition, and community life—not with words, but with the example of their daily interactions,” Sister Barb says. 

She took a break from teaching from 1990 to 1991 and volunteered at Holy Rosary Parish in Houma, Louisiana, which at that time was staffed by Franciscans friars. At this time, she began to consider her vocation. “That was the beginning of the nagging thought that maybe, just maybe, I might find a home in religious life. After all, I was doing everything that the religious did, but I was still missing something. It was becoming clear that the missing piece was community. Since that was the very facet of religious life that I had seen modeled by the friars, it made sense that I should consider Franciscan life,” says Sister Barb, who asked several of the friars to name their top three Franciscan women’s communities, and Sylvania was on each list. 

After several months of conversation and initial discernment, she asked to be accepted as a candidate there. “Mind you, I was just getting this out of my system,” she says. “I assumed that after a year or so, I would head back to my old life having put this notion to rest.” 

She never did get it out of her system and professed perpetual vows in August 2000 at Queen of Peace Chapel, located at the motherhouse in Sylvania, Ohio. 

“As a second-year novice I was missioned as the director of Helping Hands of St. Louis Soup Kitchen in East Toledo while also serving as an adjunct math instructor at Lourdes University,” says Sister Barb. 

Balancing Teaching and Service

In 1999, she left Helping Hands and became a full-time member of the math faculty at Lourdes. In 2003, she began her ministry in the IT department at Lourdes, working as a project lead. “I was also a part-time campus minister. Then in 2005, I became full-time director of campus ministry and director of service learning. In 2020, I assumed my present position,” she says. 

“I oversee and work with faculty to connect service projects to the academic content of their courses. Perhaps the largest part of my role is in the area of mission integration. I work with new employees and new students to help with orienting them to our mission and heritage as a Catholic and Franciscan university and a sponsored ministry of the Sylvania Franciscans. I also work with planning liturgies and prayers and connect our campus with a variety of community partners to put a face on the many community needs,” says Sister Barb. 

“One project that has had the greatest impact on our community is the Labre Project, which is part of a national movement named for Benedict Joseph Labre [an 18th-century Franciscan tertiary]. Students, employees, and other volunteers gather weekly to make sandwiches, dish out casseroles, and prepare other food,” she says. 

“We then head out into the community, where we serve meals out of our vehicles. But we don’t just serve food; we stay and get to know people, toss a football with the kids, and just have a regular conversation about sports or movies. Our students say, ‘The food is a vehicle to a relationship.’ Through the Labre Project, we’re able to put a face on some of our more anonymous neighbors.” 

In addition, Sister Barb has been a part of the Franciscan Pilgrimage Programs in Wisconsin, leading pilgrimages to Assisi and Rome. “These pilgrimages are a wonderful way to share the Franciscan way of living the Gospel of Jesus in our world today,” she shares. “We often underestimate the power of place. I can share countless stories about Francis, Clare, and Bonaventure, but when you are walking the streets that they walked, seeing the hills and valleys that they saw, experiencing the same sunrises and sunsets, and touching the stones they touched, everything comes alive on a deeper level and touches our spirits.” 

A quote that Sister Barb keeps before her is from Francis’ Letter to the Entire Order:  “Hold back nothing of yourself for yourself, so that he who gives himself totally to you may receive you totally.” 

“I didn’t expect that I would stay. I think it’s safe to say that I came in kicking and screaming, but I realized that this is where I am at peace,” says Sister Barb. “I think God is remarkably patient—and has a great sense of humor.” 

Friar Christopher Panagoplos, TOR, grew up in Altoona, but his road to the priesthood took no curves. 

“I was born the oldest of three children to Catholic parents, James Panagoplos and Elizabeth Pacifico Panagoplos,” says Friar Christopher, 75, who resides in the St. Joseph Friary in Hollidaysburg, located only five miles from his hometown. “My grandparents immigrated to America from Messina, Greece, and L’Aquila, Italy.” 

A Rich Tapestry of Faith 

“My family owned a grocery store and were bakers of genuine hearth-baked bread,” Friar Christopher recalls. “Who could not resist the sights and the aroma of freshly baked bread and the fragrance of cheeses and olives and dry cod packed in crates piled high near the cash register for the holidays?” 

Whether being inside or behind the shop or in the alley playing kickball, growing up within the family business helped Friar Christopher to learn at an early age how to respect and work with his relatives and employees, as well as how to cultivate relationships with the clientele who were regular shoppers. 

The Altoona area has had a significant Catholic presence. “Across the alley was a convent with 11 Sisters of Mercy,” says Friar Christopher. “Up the street were 12 Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, who taught us in grammar and high school. And they staffed the parish and taught religion at the Catholic high school. Such was the tapestry of my cultural and religious experiences growing up.” 

Faith was integral to his family and upbringing. “My mother insisted that I do my best at whatever I was doing, whether in school or helping my grandfather in the bakery or my dad in the store, checking on inventory,” he says. “All of this was sustained with daily prayer, Sunday Mass, and Tuesday devotions in honor of St. Anthony.” 

In addition, Friar Christopher grew up with great exemplars of the faith, who planted the seed of his vocation early in his life. He says the friars assigned to his church had different personalities but worked together to help parishioners. 

These friars proved instrumental in his vocation. “Father Vincent taught me Latin and how to serve at the altar,” Friar Christopher says. “He took us to the park for the end-of-the-school-year picnics. Several years later, he became my novice master. Father Damian, who was newly ordained, started a boys’ club (middle to high school ages) and helped us to learn to be gentlemen. Lastly, Father John was the pastor: quiet, straightforward, and observant, especially at report card time. Later on, he became my superior in post-novitiate formation.” 

In eighth grade, Friar Christopher decided that he wanted to enter the seminary. “I approached Father Damian after Mass and told him that I wanted to enter the Franciscan prep seminary,” he remembers. “The advice he gave was not what I expected. ‘Go to high school first,’ he said. ‘Learn to get along with others, especially the girls.’ This was excellent advice.” Friar Christopher was ordained in 1976 at the St. Thomas More House of Studies, Washington, DC. 

Building Relationships Centered on Christ 

During his nearly five decades of being a priest, Friar Christopher has served in various assignments, including as pastor and assistant pastor, school principal and high school religion teacher, hospital chaplaincy, and formator for a diocesan lay ecclesial ministry program. 

One of his greatest joys has been to serve as a hospital chaplain. “My ministry to patients and families as a hospital chaplain has enriched my vocation,” Friar Christopher says. “It taught me to be present to them, to become a better and attentive listener, to be mindful and empathetic, and to try to see the face of Christ in the faces of others. To see the Christ-face, I must look and act Christlike—to love and be loving, to value and care for that which does not belong to us.” 

Friar Christopher currently serves as a local minister and delegate of the provincial minister as spiritual assistant to the Secular Franciscan Order. “I am one of four friars serving a 12-year term on the Conference of National Spiritual Assistants,” he says. 

The conference is composed of four spiritual assistants—representing the Order of Friars Minor, Capuchin, Conventual, and Third Order Regular—who provide assistance to the Secular Franciscan Order. Each Franciscan order has a rule, with distinct charisms and statutes. 

“Relationships define life,” he says. “My inspiration comes from the witness the friars have given and still give in the spirit of St. Francis by living the Gospel: hospitality, humility, putting others before self, devotion to prayer and ministry, outreach to the poor, a willingness to assist in a project, accompanying others on their journey, taking time to be contemplative and time to be active, and having the mind and heart of Jesus.” 

There are two Franciscan charisms that are particularly dear to Friar Christopher: prayer and penance—living the rule and a conscious desire to work it every day and being mindful of the presence of God and God’s presence in others. A hospitable Franciscan respects the dignity of every person and of all created beings, reflected in the goodness of the Creator. “And to do all this well, one must get up at 5:00 a.m.,” he says. 

She’s talked to murderers, abusers, and even those wrestling with the occult. Sister Mary Frances Seeley and volunteers answer all calls with a message of God’s unconditional love and prayerful support. 

Sometimes life can be scary, lonely, and wild. Katarina Moberg, 36, of Sweden, knows that all too well. In the summer of 2022, her mother was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of cancer. Moberg, a nurse, moved in to care for her mother, in effect becoming her private-duty nurse. When the stress of watching her mother die and being on call 24/7 became too much for her to bear, Moberg sought help. 

“I searched online, and for some reason the Upper Room Crisis Hotline (TURCH) came up. Sweden is a Protestant country, and my family was not religious, but I emailed the contact at the hotline and poured out my heart. They got in touch with me and said they were there to listen. I think for the first hour on the phone, I just cried,” says Moberg, who speaks excellent English as well as six other languages. Since then, a volunteer from the hotline has contacted her weekly, supporting her through her mother’s illness, death in March 2023, and accompanying grief. 

“I had never had anyone tell me that they were praying for me before,” says Moberg. “I was an agnostic, and religion was always laughed upon here. We only believe in science, but this experience—my mother’s passing and the unconditional love and support I’ve felt coming from the Upper Room Hotline—has convinced me that there’s something more, and I’ve begun to search for God. I’ve begun to wear my Finnish great-grandmother’s silver cross, and I’ve even made myself a rosary from yarn.” 

Moberg refers to her contact at TURCH and the staff as her “guardian angels.” “However, my family’s English is so-so,” she says, “and they don’t always translate things properly. I have a dedicated ringtone to alert me when my Upper Room contact is calling. When they hear that, my family exclaims, ‘It’s your saints in the wild.’” 

A First in Crisis Hotlines 

TURCH, whose tagline is “God’s love has a toll-free 800 number,” is a free, confidential, faith-based hotline in the Catholic tradition. The toll-free number is 1-888-808-8724. It was founded in Joliet, Illinois, by Sister Mary Frances Seeley, OSF, who has a PhD in law, policy, and society and an extensive background—50 years—in crisis hotlines. The nonprofit was incorporated in March 2007 and began taking calls on January 1, 2008. 

“I had started two public crisis hotlines back in the 1970s, and the Priests Council of Chicago knew of my work and asked me to set up a hotline for priests and religious,” says Sister Mary Frances. The clergy sexual abuse scandal had come to light, and the hotline was founded to help priests and religious who were also grappling with the scandal. “I believe this was the first faith-based hotline in the country, and somehow the laity found out about it, and we began getting calls from them. In 2013, the hotline was officially opened to anyone,” says Sister Mary Frances, who recently celebrated her 75th jubilee as a Franciscan and is writing a book about her experiences as a pioneer in crisis hotlines. 

In 2019, Sister Mary Frances “retired,” although she still serves as president of the hotline’s board of directors and as a special advisor. Terry Smith, PhD, who has over 40 years’ experience in special education and mental health, became TURCH’s executive director. 

“Our most recent monthly data shows that we took 625 calls, so when you multiply that by 12, we receive approximately 7,500 calls a year,” says Smith. During one month, nearly half of the calls that the hotline received (48 percent) were from people simply needing to talk with someone, 35 percent were asking for prayer, 27 percent were dealing with mental health issues, and 22 percent were suffering from isolation and loneliness. Fifty-eight percent of the callers were males, with 62 percent professing to be Catholic. In addition to the hotline, 140–150 emails were received and responded to by volunteers. 

“I describe the issues people call about as being a microcosm of life. They are dealing with anxiety, depression, diagnosed mental illness, and just the difficulty of coping with life,” says Smith. “Many people are simply suffering from isolation and loneliness. We also get lots of calls asking for prayers, and our counselors will pray with them; we have a list of prayers appropriate for the caller’s specific need.” 

TURCH’s mission is to “emulate Christ through the guidance of the Holy Spirit,” reflecting seven pillars of caring support, including spiritual support and prayer, focused and reflective listening, empathy, compassion, nonjudgment, affirmation, and patience. Callers lead the discussion, and the phone counselors serve as facilitators to respond to those needs. TURCH supports people of faith and no faith and refrains from proselytizing. “We do not try to convert anyone but to respect their religious traditions,” says Sister Mary Frances. “If the caller asks for information about the Catholic faith, we freely talk to them about it.” 

“Our volunteers are trained to provide focused and undivided attention through reflective listening, and spiritual support and prayer are offered when requested,” says Smith. Phone counselors also are trained to respond to callers at risk for suicide or other crisis situations to provide immediate support or intervention and referrals. 

Ongoing Support for Callers 

The hotline continues to expand and has received calls from all over the United States as well as 35 other countries. Most callers speak English, but several volunteers speak Spanish. 

Unlike other crisis hotlines, TURCH can provide continuing support. As part of the Extended Caller Support Program, a volunteer can call on a weekly basis for an extended period. Over the past four years, 10 callers—from across the United States, Sweden, and the Philippines—have received extended caller support. “We provide support and get to know our callers, developing a rapport. One benefit of this is that it eliminates the caller from having to repeat their problems anew each time they talk to a volunteer,” says Smith. 

In 2019, right before the COVID-19 pandemic, TURCH “fortuitously” changed its phone system, Smith says. “Otherwise we would have had to shut down the hotline. That would have been catastrophic, as we saw feelings of isolation and loneliness increase as well as a rise in stress. Parents were trying to work while dealing with children being sent home to learn remotely. They were trying to cope and make adjustments. There was a lot of change in a short time. 

“Many also felt cut off from the faith as religious services were curtailed, and they had no access to the sacraments. Some callers felt that their faith was faltering. And obviously, the medical issues of dealing with COVID made people more fearful and anxious.” 

_{Sister Mary Frances Seeley, OSF, who has 50 years of experience in handling crisis calls, is the founder of the Upper Room Crisis Hotline.}

The volunteers who staff the hotline are highly trained. Prior to the change in phone systems, all training was done on site, and calls went through a central Upper Room line center. This limited the number of callers they could help. Now training is done remotely, and volunteers can receive calls on their cell phones, which has opened volunteer opportunities for more people. The hotline has approximately 70 volunteers, including staff, but about 45–50 active volunteer phone counselors. 

Training sessions are offered two to three times per year and run for eight weeks, with two sessions per week. “We get constant feedback from volunteers, and many have said it is like a graduate class,” says Smith. 

Sharing God’s Unconditional Love 

“Ella” (not her real name) has been counseling callers for two years. “I took a four-year Biblical Institute Course and kept in touch with my instructor. She emailed me about TURCH needing volunteers and suggested I look into it,” says Ella, who prayed extensively about it, wondering if it was something to which she was suited. “I don’t have a background in counseling or mental health, but I was involved in my parish, talking and helping people who were dealing with issues. As I was discerning if I wanted to volunteer, I felt I was almost compelled by the Holy Spirit to do it.” 

Although Ella felt very well-prepared when she began counseling, she was understandably nervous when she answered her first call. “Before I picked up that first call, I prayed to the Holy Spirit to guide me and give me the words to say. I have done that every time since. It works, and the Holy Spirit has not failed me.” 

“I have learned so much from my callers,” says Ella. “I listen to them and affirm them. No matter what issues they are dealing with, I invite them to pray with me and strive to bring them to a deeper relationship with the Lord. We have very good conversations and develop relationships. Since we are not seeing each other face-to-face, our words are the most important. We deal in words,” says Ella. She estimates that 97 percent of her callers are Catholic, but the hotline receives calls from Protestants, Jews, and to a lesser extent atheists and agnostics. “That’s what we do,” says Ella. “We help by offering support, compassion, and nonjudgment to each caller because the Lord’s love is in our hearts, and it is purely unconditional.” 

For anyone who feels they may be called to be a hotline volunteer, Ella encourages them to pray about it and take the training course, where further discernment will confirm whether it’s in God’s plan for them. “It’s a commitment, but there is a lot of support for the volunteers,” she says. “Sometimes we get very tough calls like those dealing with domestic violence, alcoholism, addiction, thoughts of suicide, but we are well-trained and have resources to assist them. I take the Lord’s words ‘Do not be afraid’ to heart.” 

The hotline is always seeking volunteers. “I conduct an initial interview of prospective volunteers, and I ask for a letter from their Church official attesting that they are a Catholic in good standing and have a heart for serving others,” says Smith. Volunteers also write a short autobiography and “we evaluate them throughout training, to see if this is a mutually beneficial situation,” says Smith. “We make sure our volunteers have a strong ethic, strong faith, and a heart to serve others.” 

Jean Haas, TURCH’s director of marketing, says most people find out about the hotline by searching the Internet or by referral. “Our website is our most important tool. We often have new videos on our website and Facebook page. Unfortunately, Facebook is not that favorable toward us, but search engines rank the website high,” says Haas. 

TURCH raises funds through online donations and Amazon’s affiliate program. “When you make a purchase through our link with Amazon, a portion of that purchase is donated to us,” says Haas, who points out that no one who calls the hotline is charged a penny. All donations go directly to pay the phone bills, office supplies, etc., and no one benefits financially from the hotline. Everyone is a volunteer, including the staff, Smith, Haas, and Sister Mary Frances. 

No Calls Go Unanswered

This support has allowed the Upper Room Crisis Hotline to expand. In addition to its Extended Caller Support Program, from which Moberg benefited, the hotline also operates the Sunshine Program for retired clergy with medical issues. “We do a daily wellness check on them, and currently we have one priest in Michigan participating in the program,” says Smith. 

The hotline receives many requests from callers asking for spiritual direction or guidance from a priest. Therefore, the hotline has instituted a Priest on Call Program, where callers can discuss struggles with their faith, questions about the faith, and receive help from a priestly perspective. All callers need to do is phone the hotline and ask to speak with a priest. The caller’s name and phone number are then taken, and a priest calls them back, generally within the same day. All of this is done under a cloak of anonymity. “Some callers have doctrinal questions, some have relationship difficulties, some are feeling they are being demonically influenced,” says Smith. “The priest can counsel but cannot do confession over the phone.” 

Prayer is an integral part of the hotline. In addition to the prayers offered by the volunteers, the Poor Clare Colettines, a group of cloistered nuns in Minooka, Illinois, offer prayers twice daily for TURCH and pray specifically for callers and their intentions when requested. 

For those who are struggling but reluctant to call, Sister Mary Frances says: “Do not hesitate. We are not shocked and are well-trained to help. I’ve talked to murderers, sons who have been sleeping with their mothers, abusers, and I’ve even dealt with the occult. One young man called the hotline terribly frightened, and he explained to me that he was scared because he had abandoned God and had invited Satan in. At first, things were going well for him, but now they were deteriorating. In the middle of the call, I heard an ugly voice say, ‘He’s mine. He’s mine. He’s mine.’ I asked the caller if he heard anything unusual on his end of the line, but he said no. So, I simply said, ‘Satan, go back to hell where you belong.’” 

Afterward, Sister Mary Frances contacted her bishop for guidance, and he had her undergo deliverance training. “I’m not an exorcist, but we can even help with those dealing with demonic influences.” 

Yes, life can be scary, lonely, and wild, but thankfully, there are “saints in the wild” at TURCH who can help those in need navigate this world. 

You can reach the Upper Room Crisis Hotline toll-free at: 1-888-808-8724. To learn more, how to become a volunteer, or donate, visit CatholicHotline.org, the Upper Room Crisis Hotline Facebook page, or send an email to CatholicHotline@gmail.com.