When did you start thinking about being a priest?
I first thought about being a priest during the preparation for my Confirmation.
What were some Church activities that you participated in prior to entering the seminary?
I was someone who did not participate in any Church activities such as altar serving before entering the seminary.
What is your favorite scripture passage? Why?
A couple of parables have challenged me and a particular passage that Bishop Tobin used in a vocation commercial got to me. He quoted Luke 10:2, “He said to them, "The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest,” a passage regarding the mission and needs of the Church and the fact that we should ask for laborers for it. He also used the parable of the Rich Young Man (Mark 10:17-22) during the Seminary Retreat of 2006, which brought to mind worldly obstacles that prospective applicants
and seminarians can face. But the parable that principally inspired me was the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30). I did not want to be like the servant who buried what was given to him out of fear, fear of failure, of being unsure about what to do. Consequently, after I took the first steps of inquiry about being a priest and after much prayer and by the Grace of God, I was able to take another account of same gifts and talents and instead of going forward in a kind of fear I was carried forward in trust by an overflowing of deep, deep, gratitude, the flow of which has brought me to where I am today.
Who influenced/inspired you to priesthood? Explain.
I would have to say Pope John Paul II who led the Church during my lifetime with such zeal and holiness and was a true inspiration.
What would people be surprised to know about you?
Perhaps that I am an avid motorcyclist.
Did anybody invite you to consider the priesthood?
Yes, three people, two of whom are not Catholic.
How did you come to know Jesus Christ and his call in your life?
I had a formative Confirmation and a challenging time at the University of Rhode Island along with some deep personal challenges. It was during these times that I had the choice to trust and have faith in Christ, and I am grateful for that.
What were the spiritual events or activities that helped you develop and shape your personal relationship with Christ and his Church?
For me it was the ordinary things like participating in the Mass, reading Scripture, and studying the faith.
Were there any signs that led you to believe God was calling you to be a priest?
There has not been anything that I would consider a sign.
How did your family and friends react when you told them that you were entering the seminary?
I made the decision in secret and only revealed it once I was almost done applying. I was not sure what the general reaction would be, but it was overwhelmingly positive.
What was the transition like into seminary life? What did you imagine it to be, and in fact what was it like?
I am a new seminarian and this is my first year, so it’s hard to say.
Why is the priesthood so important today?
There are many reasons why the priesthood is important today, enough to fill a library. One reason is that through their service to the Lord and the Church they are symbols and examples of a life of virtue, that it is possible, with the grace of God, to live the fullness of the Christian life today.
What advice would you give to a man who is “on the fence” about entering the seminary?
I still am not sure if I am called to be a priest. I have a strong desire to find out and the seminary is the place where you do just that. If you are on the fence, go to the seminary to visit and see; doing that has gotten me this far.
