"That was the first place where I was around Jesus." | Dcn. Bob Calleja

Dcn. Bob, a deacon for the Archdiocese of Detroit, came to know the Lord through a conversion experience he had in his twenties, but it was the Eucharist that sustained him. On this episode of the I AM HERE podcast, listen as he describes the role the Eucharist played in his family life, his discernment of the diaconate, and his daily life today.

Show notes: 

(00:43) We meet Dcn. Bob Calleja, who briefly shares about his upbringing, how he met his wife, and a conversion experience he had when he was in his twenties. He shares about the inspiration his Grandmother was to his faith.

(03:29) Fr. Mario highlights how the Lord has worked powerfully to eventually lead him to become a husband and father and serve the church as a deacon. Dcn. Bob shares the impact that his parents had on his faith life as a young person. He also shares about experiencing a season of “wandering” in his twenties and how the Lord was still close during that time. 

(06:18) Dcn. Bob talks about how he sought wisdom in his twenties and his desire to find a sense of purpose. He shares the sense of feeling that something was missing despite having good friends and a happy life. He goes into more detail about the conversion experience he had in his twenties, the role that his wife played on his journey to the Church, and describes his experience in RCIA. 

(10:03) He shares how, after getting married, he and his wife leaned on Jesus in the Eucharist when they sought to grow their family. He shares a powerful experience that he and his wife had before the Eucharist. He then shared how, soon after, he and his wife were somewhat miraculously given the opportunity to adopt their daughter. He describes how he shares his faith, especially in the Eucharist, with his daughter. 

(18:43) Dcn. Bob describes how he spends his time when he visits Jesus in the adoration chapel. He talks about the gift of being able to work for the Church and go to adoration fairly regularly. He shares the role that adoration had on his discerning the call to serve as a deacon. He shares a bit about that journey. 

(24:21) Fr. Mario comments on the way Dcn. Bob (and his brothers, whom he mentions) all use their gifts to serve the Church and how he has seen God use them. Dcn. Bob describes the prayerful aspect he brings to his work and how it can unite him to the Lord. 

Dcn. Bob, a deacon for the Archdiocese of Detroit, came to know the Lord through a conversion experience he had in his twenties, but it was the Eucharist that sustained him. On this episode of the I AM HERE podcast, listen as he describes the role the Eucharist played in his family life, his discernment of the diaconate, and his daily life today.

Show notes: 

(00:43) We meet Dcn. Bob Calleja, who briefly shares about his upbringing, how he met his wife, and a conversion experience he had when he was in his twenties. He shares about the inspiration his Grandmother was to his faith.

(03:29) Fr. Mario highlights how the Lord has worked powerfully to eventually lead him to become a husband and father and serve the church as a deacon. Dcn. Bob shares the impact that his parents had on his faith life as a young person. He also shares about experiencing a season of “wandering” in his twenties and how the Lord was still close during that time. 

(06:18) Dcn. Bob talks about how he sought wisdom in his twenties and his desire to find a sense of purpose. He shares the sense of feeling that something was missing despite having good friends and a happy life. He goes into more detail about the conversion experience he had in his twenties, the role that his wife played on his journey to the Church, and describes his experience in RCIA. 

(10:03) He shares how, after getting married, he and his wife leaned on Jesus in the Eucharist when they sought to grow their family. He shares a powerful experience that he and his wife had before the Eucharist. He then shared how, soon after, he and his wife were somewhat miraculously given the opportunity to adopt their daughter. He describes how he shares his faith, especially in the Eucharist, with his daughter. 

(18:43) Dcn. Bob describes how he spends his time when he visits Jesus in the adoration chapel. He talks about the gift of being able to work for the Church and go to adoration fairly regularly. He shares the role that adoration had on his discerning the call to serve as a deacon. He shares a bit about that journey. 

(24:21) Fr. Mario comments on the way Dcn. Bob (and his brothers, whom he mentions) all use their gifts to serve the Church and how he has seen God use them. Dcn. Bob describes the prayerful aspect he brings to his work and how it can unite him to the Lord.