Parish: SS. Peter & Paul Parish, Green Bay

Birthday: August 9

Seminary: St. John Vianney College Seminary

Seminary Address:
2115 Summit Ave. #2008
St. Paul, MN 55105

College II

What is the best aspect of being at a seminary?
The best part of seminary is the brotherhood, and the opportunities for prayer. The men in seminary constantly help me strive for holiness and it's an incredible blessing to have a chapel right downstairs that I can go to whenever I want.

What do you like to do for recreation?
Anything related to sports or outdoors. Since I was little I have loved to try any sport that I can get involved in. In high school I played football, basketball, and ran track. I also love to hunt, fish, and camp whenever I get the opportunity.

Have you had any pets in your lifetime?
My Dad is extremely allergic to all things with fur so the only pets I had when I was growing up were hermit crabs. They were not exactly the best pets. Ninety percent of the time they very much resembled pet rocks, and the other ten percent they were generally hanging from one of my fingers as I tried to pry their claws open. I sort of gave up on the whole pet thing so right now the house is empty of any creatures.

What do you remember most about your Confirmation?
My family and I came to the Catholic Church when I was in 8th grade. I went through the RCIA program with my brother and at the Easter Vigil we both received the sacraments of First Communion and Confirmation. What I remember most is before the service started, all of the lights were dimmed except one shining on the crucifix and tabernacle. I did not know much about my faith at the time, and I really did not care about what I did know, but it was like Jesus was saying that He was all I needed and it was really powerful.

WWhat is your favorite poem?
My favorite poem is "The Touch of the Master's Hand." It talks about an old violin being worthless and beaten up, but when a master violinist plays it, it becomes worth thousands of dollars. A lot like how we are worthless until Christ makes us worth everything.

What was one of the best days of your life thus far?
I would have to say that it was when I was sitting in my home parish's adoration chapel and I finally decided to give in to God's call to the priesthood. I had been fighting it for a long time and nothing has ever compared to the sense of peace and the knowledge of God's love for me that I felt that day.

Which saint should people ask to intercede for your vocation?
I would say St. Therese of Lisieux. Her little way of holiness and her beautiful resignation to the will of God are huge inspirations for me. I never feel the presence of the saints more than when I pray for her intercession. My other patrons are St. Padre Pio, St. Damien of Molokai, Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, and the Blessed Mother.