"He reveals my true self to me” | Fr. Jim Lowe, CC

Although he grew up in a Catholic home and knew well the “motions” of his Catholic faith, it was an unexpected prompting from the Holy Spirit and encounter with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament that led Fr. Jim Lowe to be set on fire with love for Jesus. In this episode, meet a man who, through the Eucharist, has come to deeply love Jesus and live to share that love with others; hear how his love for the Eucharist led him to hear and respond to his call to the priesthood.

(00:34) We meet Fr. Jim Lowe, a member of the Companions of the Cross, currently serving at St. Scholastica Church in Detroit. Fr. Jim shares about his community and his love for leading people into encounters with Jesus. 

(02:32) Fr. Jim shares a moment in his childhood which hinted at his eventual vocation as a priest and describes his upbringing in a faithfully Catholic home. He goes on to describe what his faith looked like as a college student and young adult, as he found himself going through the motions, and living a life inconsistent with what the Gospel calls us to. 

(05:35) Fr. Mario comments on how the role of parents and even even going through the motions, at times, can be a reality that God uses to draw us in, little by little, to surrender to him, 

(06:38) Fr. Jim shares an experience that moved him from going through the motions into a deep devotion to Jesus. He describes following a prompting of the Holy Spirit to go to Mass at National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica, and encountering Jesus in the Eucharist in a renewed way. He shares how this experience led him to begin serving in youth ministry, growing in his own faith, and cultivating a deep relationship with Jesus. 

(10:48) Fr. Jim describes how adoration of the Blessed Sacrament became a true experience of closeness with Jesus and shares a particular experience of adoration that assured him of Jesus’ presence in the Eucharist during Holy Thursday. Fr. Mario asks what it’s like for Fr. Jim to experience God and he shares what it’s like. 

(13:42) Fr. Jim shares how essential encountering Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament was to his hearing and responding to the call to the priesthood. 

(19:49) Having embraced his vocation to the priesthood, Fr. Jim describes what his experience is like, getting to share the gift of the Eucharist through the celebration of the Mass and in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Fr. Mario echoes Fr. Jim’s sentiments and the two reflect on how humbling it is to be caught up in the mystery of the Blessed Sacrament.

(23:00) Fr. Jim describes how he spends his personal time before the Blessed Sacrament is like each day.