Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 days ago

---

In this week's episode, Bishop Thomas Paprocki of the Diocese of Springfield discusses his call to the priesthood at an early age playing Mass with his siblings, his call to the study of law and the importance of justice, and his thoughts on an American Pope from Chicago!

00:00 Introduction
01:00 Meet Bishop Paprocki
02:15 Paprocki's priestly autobiography
05:00 His mother's faith
06:50 Preparing for the priesthood at an early age
09:57 Majoring in political science in seminary
11:00 Straddling priesthood and law school
15:13 Memories of ordination day
17:33 Growing as a student in Rome
19:48 Becoming chancellor within the archdiocese of Chicago
23:30 Lessons from being a parish priest
27:30 Learning from Cardinal George & Cardinal Bernardin
31:48 What have you learned about the priesthood serving as bishop?
36:20 The importance of fitness in the life of a priest
41:40 The fruits of canon law
43:50 Receiving the news of Pope Leo as a Chicagoan!