By RENEE WEBB
Content and Design Coordinator

Each summer the Vocations Office of the Diocese of Sioux City with the help of diocesan seminarians host a trip for young men of the diocese to explore masculine spirituality, prayer and fraternity.

This year’s group of 41 men included three priests – Father Travis Crotty, director of vocations: Father Ross Caniglia of Holy Trinity Parish in Fort Dodge and Father Zach Jones of Divine Mercy Parish in Algona - six seminarians and 32 young men of the diocese. Quest 2024: Climbing to New Heights of Masculine Holiness was held June 24-28 in the Black Hills. The group stayed at Terra Sancta Retreat Center, a former Benedictine Convent in Rapid City, South Dakota.

“This year’s Quest went exceptionally well,” said Father Crotty. “Young men from all over the diocese were able to build new friendships and rekindle old friendships as we had a few guys who have been coming for three or four years.”

The vocations director mentioned the seminarians helped to ensure no young men felt like loners as they accompanied the men in friendship and discipleship.

“We had a great time engaging in fraternity, yard games, Mass, hiking and other periods of prayer,” said Zach Steffens, a seminarian of the Diocese of Sioux City. “I loved getting to spend this time getting to know the young men of the diocese, who one day I hope to be serving in northwest Iowa. I had a great time sitting around the bonfire, playing paintball and going on some walks with the participants.” 

Father Crotty noted this was the first time they had played paintball together, but it was a big hit.

“Everyone was tired, hot, sweaty and exhausted but had a wonderful time teaming up and growing as brothers,” said the priest, who noted seminarian Matt Staley was a sharpshooter. “Obviously, the priest and seminarian team won, Blue Team rules.”

In addition to paintball, Father Crotty mentioned a fan favorite was “9-Square,” a game similar to 4-Square where players battled to keep the ball out of their square.

Zach Steffens and Jack JensenSteffens said he considered this the best Quest retreat they have hosted because all of the young men were willing invest their energy into the retreat. 
“I don't think any of the high school and college men who went on the trip would ever say that they regretted spending that time on retreat with us,” said Steffens, who noted he has had a lot of fun as a seminarian getting to help plan this retreat and as well as the other retreat the Vocations Office puts on called Quo Vadis slated for August. “Please continue praying for vocations for the diocese and inviting young men to consider the priesthood.” 

Father Crotty commended the seminarians taking on the responsibility for leading prayer. Each morning the seminarians offered an opportunity to pray the “coffice,” gathering for coffee in the cafeteria and praying the Office of Readings followed by a holy hour – all before morning prayer in the main church.

Father Jones pointed out that this was his first Quest trip and he was blown away by the experience.

“We had a great group of young men from all over the diocese really dive into the whole trip and enter into the activities, the prayer and the fraternity,” he said. “There was a wide array of personality types and backgrounds but all of them came together around their shared identity as men of God seeking after holiness.” 

By participating in Quest, Father Jones was able to witness its many benefits such as the men not feeling alone and isolated in their desire for holiness. By gathering with others from the diocese, it provided a strong community of other men seeking God’s will.

“There is also a vocational value in the trip. Not all the men will become priests, but some will and hopefully this opens them up to greater discernment and desiring God’s will above all else,” he said. “It also helps form good men who can be leaders of families, parishes, and communities in the future. We are lacking the abundance of strong men that our society used to have and we need to foster more positive Christian masculinity. This trip helps to do that.” 
Jack Jensen of Sioux City said he remembers taking part in Quest as a high school freshmen and meeting seminarians for the first time.

“Now I am actually a seminarian, it’s crazy to think about,” he said. “It’s such a blessing.”

The first day of the trip happened to be the second-year anniversary of Father Jones’ ordination to the priesthood. Father Crotty mentioned they were able to celebrate Mass for the Solemnity of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist and wished Father Jones a happy anniversary and many blessings of priestly ministry.

Father Crotty pointed out the main purpose of Quest is to allow a space for the young men to seek holiness and come together with diocesan seminarians and priests “to understand more clearly that the Christian life is not something that can be lived in isolation but rather that the Body of Christ, the church, is a family and a place to grow in relationship with God and one another.”

Quest takes a trip outside the diocese as the group seeks an experience of adventure and brotherhood, enabling them to see God’s beauty in nature and one another.

“It is a time of intentional formation as we pray the liturgy of the hours and daily Mass together and regularly share our experiences of how Christ is meeting us and changing us,” said the vocations director, who added that the number of Quest participants helps show many young men from the diocese are seeking holiness but often feel isolated in their small towns.

Through participation in Quest, Father Crotty said the young men are inspired to engage in the life of their parishes, Catholic high schools and university Newman centers with greater zeal.

“Most importantly, Quest is a place of hope, a place to see that the Catholic Church is not dying but is very alive in northwest Iowa and throughout the world,” he said.