‘God’s call can come at any time’
Special to On Mission
NEENAH — “Let’s Build a Civilization of Love” has served as a focus of the Global Outreach Catholic Exchange Program since it was formed in 1991. Since then the Global Outreach Catholic Exchange Program, based locally here in the Diocese of Green Bay, has brought over 652 Catholic high school students to Wisconsin, Minnesota and Nebraska.
This year the program has welcomed 23 Global Outreach Students from the Czech Republic, Hungary, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Ukraine.
The mission came full circle in September of 2024 when Fr. Valentín Harničár, Global Outreach Class of 2015-2016, returned to his host family’s parish of St. Margaret Mary, Neenah to celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving.
Fr. Harničár, who was an exchange student at Xavier High School in Appleton, is a priest in Slovakia.
In addition to Fr. Harničár, several other former Global Outreach students credit their Catholic exchange experience as a formative step in their call to religious life.
Fr. Harničár and Fr. Miroslav Házy, a Slovakian priest who was an exchange student at Roncalli High School in Manitowoc, offered the following reflections on their Global Outreach Catholic Exchange Program experiences.
Fr. Harničár
How did your experience with the Global Outreach Catholic Exchange Program affect your path to a religious vocation?
My Global Outreach year in the United States helped me a lot with my discernment of a religious vocation. As a junior in high school, I was at a critical age of deciding which direction my life would turn to. Even though I had not decided to pursue a religious vocation by the end of my Global Outreach year, it had really given me more light for my future decision. Fr. Larry (Seidl, retired Global Outreach spiritual director), my Global Outreach family, my host family and my friends had the most positive impact on me through discussions, discerning meetings or just spontaneous talks and notes like “you could make a good priest.”
Did your host family have an influence on you and your choice to pursue a religious vocation?
My host family, the Pables, did have an influence on me. They showed me the beauty of an actively living Catholic family that has always had time for their kids — even for their “Global Outreach kid.” Every time we got to talk about vocations, they said they could imagine me being a priest. They have always supported me along the way, but at the same time they never pushed me to do something I did not want.
Are there experiences during your time in the United States that brought you into a closer relationship with God?
There were several such experiences. The greatest experience was a year-long experience with Global Outreach. Just seeing so many faithful, young people and being a part of such a community was an experience that strengthened my faith. Another great experience was being part of two TEC (Teens Encounter Christ) weekends — one as a participant and the other one as a staff member. It was wonderful to see many teens really encountering Christ and starting to live out their faith. My host family also brought me closer to God by living their faith at its full potential.
What would you tell other young people about ways they can be open to hearing the call of a vocation?
Listen, discern and make a decision. Listen to God´s voice in prayer. He speaks, we just need to listen. Listen to what others tell you. God speaks through people, too. Listen to yourself, to what your heart tells you. Picture yourself in vocations. The more peace you feel being in one of them, that is the one. Discern with somebody you trust — a friend, a family member or a priest. Do not rush, but at the same time do not be afraid to make the decision and at least give it a try. God will let you know whether you are on the right path or not.
How did the mission of Global Outreach to “Build a Civilization of Love” impact you while you were in the USA and now as you serve God’s people?
The Global Outreach experience has taught me what kind of leader a good Christian should be; a leader whose example is Jesus alone, Jesus who came not to be served, but to serve. A true leader is a servant leader, the one that shows the way, inspires and walks along the people he is in charge of. That is the way of love to love himself. That is how we build a civilization of love: by living out our vocation authentically and joyfully right where we are.
Fr. Házy
How did your experience with the Global Outreach Catholic Exchange Program affect your path to a religious vocation?
Although I had been considering a spiritual vocation for a long time before I became a Global Outreach student in 2012, Global Outreach helped me to recognize and accept my calling to the priesthood.
I viewed my Global Outreach year in the USA as an opportunity to challenge myself. My father often told me, somewhat ironically, that my faith was strong only because of my spiritual background at home and the religious friends I had in my parish and school. I wanted to prove to myself and my family that my faith was deeply rooted in God, not just in the people around me. Indeed, during my Global Outreach year, God provided me with many confirmations and proofs that my faith is a gift from Him and that I am genuinely called to the priesthood. Regardless of where I am or who I am with, God is always with me (Psalm 139).
How did the mission of Global Outreach to “Build a Civilization of Love” impact you while you were in the USA and now as you serve God’s people?
The mission of Global Outreach to build a civilization of love has profoundly impacted me both during my time in the USA and now as I serve God’s people. This mission statement, inspired by St. John Paul II, who frequently emphasized it during his pontificate from 1978 to 2005, has completely transformed my worldview. I realized that the only way to rebuild society and the church is by fostering a civilization of love.
But what does this mean? It means living authentically with true love, which is the most genuine and powerful force in this world. Jesus Christ demonstrated how to love and live authentically, and both the world and the Church need authentic Christians — servant leaders who embody this love.
Since embracing this mission, I strive to live my life and faith authentically every day. Despite my ups and downs, I try to keep my focus on Christ, always recognizing the purpose of service.
Did your host family have an influence on you and your choice to pursue a religious vocation?
I am very happy to say that the Holy Spirit worked through my entire host family during my stay with them. The Lohrs were the first to know that I was considering a priestly vocation, and they provided me with all the spiritual support they could. They were proud of me as if I were their own son, and sometimes, I felt more spiritual and emotional support from them than from my own Slovakian family. In the USA, I experienced being part of a true Catholic family where everyone attended church, and faith was one of the most important values.
However, my vocation was born in Slovakia, and I can’t forget the support of my own mom, who is the only one in my family back home who believes and practices her faith. I also need to mention the family of my Byzantine Catholic pastor, Fr. Michael Hospodár, who brought me to church when I was a kid. Through my friendship with Fr. Michael’s son, now my best friend, Peter, I decided to get baptized when I was 8 years old.
Are there experiences during your time in the United States that brought you into a closer relationship with God?
One of the biggest advantages of the Global Outreach program was having my own spiritual director. Fr. Larry (Seidl) played a crucial role in helping me recognize and accept my priestly vocation. He was always there for me and was one of the best spiritual and confessional fathers I’ve ever had.
Additionally, the experience of three TEC (Teens Encounter Christ) weekends was very powerful and transformative. The St. Andrew Dinner project with Bishop David L. Ricken of Green Bay and the March for Life in Washington, D.C., were deeply touching experiences, both spiritually and emotionally. Another important aspect was that my host family accepted my Byzantine Catholic identity and regularly took me to Byzantine celebrations at the Holy Resurrection Monastery in St. Nazianz.
What would you tell other young people about ways they can be open to hearing the call of a vocation?
I believe the most important way to be open to hearing the call of a vocation is to keep your heart open to the Lord. Don’t close yourself off to his voice. God speaks to us through the Scriptures, sacraments, prayers, biographies of saints, different people and his special actions. You never know when the Lord is calling you. Don’t be afraid to follow his voice in your heart.
I personally heard his voice strongly in my heart twice: once as a little boy in Slovakia and again as a young man in the USA.
The second time was particularly clear during a TEC weekend in October of 2013. I read a TEC letter that included the words, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord” (Luke 4:18–22).
In silent prayer, I heard his voice in my heart, saying, “This is my plan for you, Miro. I am going to send you out there, and you will be doing the same.” From that moment on, I knew I was meant to attend seminary right after high school. I got accepted, and here I am.
To other young people, I say: remain open, listen carefully and don’t be afraid. God’s call can come at any time and through various means and following it can lead to a deeply fulfilling life.
For information about Global Outreach Catholic Exchange Program, visit Global Outreach Catholic Exchange Program | Oshkosh, WI (globaloutreachprogram.com).