Formation Stage

Propaedeutic Year

Home Parish

Holy Family, Orange

Seminary

St. John’s Seminary

Favorite Saint(s)

Maximilian Kolbe, Pius Ludwig Bartosik, Brendan the Navigator, Padre Pio, Don Bosco

Favorite Marian Apparition(s)

Lourdes, Rosary

Favorite Book or Movie

Ask my friends – I am NOT a movie person haha and they always get mad when I haven’t seen a so called ‘must see’ movie. In general I like war movies.

Favorite Hobby

Water Skiing, Snow Skiing, Traveling

Background

What are some of the factors that led to your decision to enter the seminary and discern the question of a vocation to the priesthood?

Simply, I feel a call. I discerned as much as I can outside seminary and feel the need to continue discerning in the seminary environment. Now that my commitment to the Coast Guard is complete, I can see if this is what God is calling me to do.

Who are some of the people who influenced your decision to enter the seminary? What is it about them that assisted you?

The biggest influences are all the wonderful military chaplains and pastors I have had in my life. From Monsignor Kidder and Fr. Wells at Holy Trinity to the Coast Guard Academy Chaplains, Fr. Parisi, Fr. Shuley, and Fr. Appel to Fr. Duane and Fr. Jim in rural Michigan to Fr. Tom and Fr. Perkins in Coastal Connecticut. Each of these men has had a different influence from knowing each parishioner’s name and delivering easy to understand yet though provoking homilies, to making the sacraments accessible and building strong faith communities in challenging circumstances. I of course cannot leave out my parents, family, and friends who support me through this crazy journey.

Describe the moment that you knew you wanted to take the next steps to become a priest?

After attending a discernment retreat as a fourth class (freshman) cadet at the Coast Guard Academy, I always figured I would try seminary after my Coast Guard commitment was completed.