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2nd TheologyHometown: Johnstown
Home Parish: Saint Andrew Parish in Johnstown
Seminary: Saint Vincent Seminary in Latrobe
Personal Interests: I enjoy canoeing, kayaking and hiking. I like playing baseball, watching Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, or Marvel movies, playing board games, and spending time with my family.
Why do you feel called to the Priesthood?. I want to bring people to Christ and Christ to people. I want to be available to offer the Sacraments for the faithful of His Church, and to help people along our path through this life, to find Jesus who is the Way to Life everlasting. I want to commit my life to this, to sharing Christ’s love with others. I have a deep love for Our Mother Mary, and for the Holy Eucharist, and I want to share this love with others and to help to cultivate a sense of amazement and appreciation for these amazing gifts that we have been given from God in the Holy Catholic Church.
What advice would you give to a man considering the Priesthood?
First I’d say what a seminarian whom I met in high school once said to me, when I was considering a vocation to the priesthood. He said to me: “Follow the peace.” Adding onto that, I would say that sometimes it takes time to become more certain of one’s vocation. If the call is persistent over time, and you feel at peace about moving forward, then go for it. If you are not at peace, then pray for God to show you where he wants you right now, and be patient. This leads to an important point: Prayer. Ask our Lord and our Lady to help you in your discernment, and do not focus exclusively on discernment during prayer time. I wasted many hours in high school, “thinking” about my calling throughout the whole of prayer time. It is necessary to think about it, but it should not consume the whole of prayer time. When you pray, focus on growing closer to Jesus, praising and thanking him for your life, and pray for others and the grace to help others. Then, bring your discernment to Him as one aspect of your life. Yes it is a big one, but it is not the only one, and we need to put our personal relationship with our Lord first, and then discern within that context. This will help lead to that peace and perhaps help us to quietly come to a realization of our vocation. Sometimes when we relax and are more at peace about our discernment, God is able to more easily and gradually guide us to where he wants us to be, when we are not constantly playing tug of war inside of our minds and in our hearts. Finally, realize there are many out there willing to listen and to help you on your journey, and in fact we need each others’ help and the help of our current priests to discern our vocation and follow the Will of God! Reach out to someone in our diocese that you trust or whom someone recommends and whom you know is willing to talk with you, whether that be our vocations director: Father Peter Crowe, or your pastor, or another priest that you know and trust very well. Pray about that step, and then take it! The priest you choose to talk to will not pressure you or try to talk you into it. Rather, he will listen to your experience of discernment and help you to sort through your fears and doubts, your hopes and prayers, your questions, and help to guide you as you prayerfully seek God’s Will for the next step you are called to take. Also, know that there are many out there praying for you too! I will be praying for you! Feel free to reach out to me or any of the other seminarians as well! We are always glad to talk! God bless you!
