Parish: St. Gabriel the Archangel Parish, Neenah

Birthday: March 23

Seminary: St. John Vianney College Seminary

Seminary Address: 
2115 Summit Ave. #3493
St. Paul, MN 55109

College III

What is the best aspect of being at a seminary?
There are many blessings to seminary, but the one that stands out at me the most is the daily Eucharistic adoration and time for spiritual direction. Time in front of the Blessed Sacrament is pivotal to understanding our identity as sons of the Lord, from which springs our mission to be Christ to the world. Our relationship with the Trinity forms our identity and prepares us for missionary activity in our day-to-day lives.

What do you like to do for recreation?
I enjoy backpacking, camping, ultimate Frisbee, basketball, soccer, reading, listening to music, and of course putting my homework aside to enjoy a Packer game on Sunday afternoons.

Have you had any pets in your lifetime?
I had a bunch of different pets growing up. I had gerbils, fish, rabbits, and my favorite one was my guinea pig named Skunk.

What do you remember most about your Confirmation?
I remember the time I spent with my Grandpa, my sponsor, and the conversations that we had really showed me his love for the Eucharist, the priesthood, and also the awe that inspires him about how God has taken care of his family and blessed it so abundantly. As far as the sacrament itself, I remember feeling inspired and starting to appreciate the gift that we have to be Catholics.

What is your favorite poem?
My favorite poem is "The Hound of Heaven," by Francis Thompson. We often imagine ourselves searching for God and taking the initiative to try and find Him in the midst of our everyday circumstances. But this poem speaks about the reality that God is relentlessly pursuing his own sons and daughters, much like a hound chasing after something. God never ceases running after us, longing to share His life with us.

What was one of the best days of your life thus far?
The best day of my life had to be when I decided to enter the seminary. It was an ordinary day, unlike any other, and I just had dinner with the Vocation Director, Fr. Tom Long, and he did not even have to ask me "the question." I just knew that God was calling me in that moment to put away my own desires and say "Yes" to Him, and so far, God has been immeasurably more generous that I could have ever asked or imagined. A little "Yes" can go a long way when it comes to God!

Which saint should people ask to intercede for your vocation?
I would ask people to intercede to St. Joseph, the model of fatherhood, because the Lord saw him as a righteous man, and he refused to expose his bride, Mary, to shame. I find St. Joseph to be a man that I aspire to be, in as much as God will allow it, because he was so close to Jesus and Mary, and he was their protector and guard. St. Joseph is rarely mentioned in Scripture, and that silence about him speaks volumes of his humility.