Quo Vadis Retreat
with Father Brett Brannen
December 30, 2022 - January 1, 2023
Spiritual Life Center, Wichita, KS
The Quo Vadis Retreat is an opportunity to examine where your life is going and ask the Lord if you are going in the right direction. This retreat is designed for young men to discern a vocation to the priesthood, to religious life, or to marriage. On this retreat, you will take time to ask the Lord where He desires to lead you.
(Open to men who are High School Juniors through 30 years of age.)
A Parental Permission Form is required for all participants who are in High School. A Medical Release Form is required for all participants. Review each form for submission deadlines.
Our Retreat Master
Father Brett Brannen
Fr. Brett Brannen was ordained a priest in 1991 for the Diocese of Savannah, where he served as vocation director (10 years) and as a pastor of five different parishes. From 2005- 2011, he was the vice-rector of Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, MD. Fr. Brannen has preached numerous retreats for diocesan priests, seminaries and religious communities, as well as discernment retreats for vocation candidates. He taught many years at the Institute for Priestly Formation (IPF) in Omaha and with The Theology of the Body Institute (TOB and the Identity of the Diocesan Priest). He is the author of “To Save a Thousand Souls: A Guide for Discerning a Vocation to Diocesan Priesthood” (2010) and “A Priest in the Family: A Guide for Parents Whose Sons are Considering Priesthood” (2014). Fr. Brannen is currently the Spiritual Director at The Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio.
The Legend
“Where are you going?”
The name Quo Vadis refers to a story about St. Peter that occurred a few days before his crucifixion. Legend tells us that as Peter was walking away from Rome he encountered Jesus carrying His cross on the Appian Way. Peter was leaving Rome in discouragement due to the persecutions, thinking that Christ’s Church would never be founded.
When he encountered Jesus, Peter asked Him, “Quo Vadis Domine?” or “Where are you going, Lord?” Jesus replied, “I am going to Rome to be crucified once again.” At that moment, St. Peter’s discouragement turned to courage. He turned around and walked back to Rome, knowing what he had to do. A few days later he bore witness to Christ and was crucified upside down in the area of the Vatican Hill, planting the seed where the Church would grow.