Family: Father: George; Mother: Helen; both deceased. Older sister, Eva, married with 2 grown children. Younger brother, Thomas, unmarried.

Grew up in: various parts of Illinois. From 1953 through 1961, lived in rural areas of Illinois. From 1961 onwards was in south suburbs of Chicago.

Education: Marist High School in Chicago; B.S., biology, Loyola University, Chicago; master’s degree, computer science, De Paul University, Chicago.

Seminary: Mount Angel Seminary, St. Benedict, Ore.; 3rd year theologian


When did you hear the call of your vocation?

On a vocation discernment weekend in the Archdiocese of Chicago in 1983 – after the weekend, the idea of becoming a priest was persistent and that fall I wrote a letter asking for an application form to the seminary. The rector told me to first speak with the vocation director for the archdiocese. This gave me an opportunity to vacillate and put off any further thinking of a vocation.

What moments or experiences in your life nudged you toward your vocation and/or awareness of it?

While working in Los Angeles, I became more involved with the Church and the stirrings toward priesthood were persistent. For six years at Easter, the thought of priesthood would reawaken. I took this to mean God wanted me to become more active in the Church and vowed after settling down to get more involved. When the chance to form a new parish in Walnut, Calif., arose, my involvement with the Church increased. I was invited to become a member of the interim parish council. After much soul searching, I agreed to become a member. Five months later I was talking to the vocation director for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

How have your friends, peers and family reacted to your vocation? What has been most helpful, in terms of support, from your friends and family?

All have been a positive source of support in my discernment process and continue to be supportive as I move through the various phases/stages of formation. Their prayers and words of encouragement have been most helpful in all aspects of my vocational journey.

Describe your seminary experiences thus far – what has surprised you about being a seminarian? How have your expectations been met or exceeded?

My recent life as a seminarian is joyful and peaceful mixed with feelings of excitement and nervousness as I near the completion of my time here at Mount Angel Seminary. It has and continues to be a prayerful, peaceful life mixed with moments of panic and chaos. It has been a fun and graced-filled experience to get to know other seminarians from other dioceses, religious orders and other countries. My expectations have been exceeded by the furthering of my knowledge and love of God and his Church. My expectations have been met by my growing confidence in being called to the priesthood to serve God by serving his Church in this diocese.

Who are your top three spiritual influences?

My top three spiritual influences would be Jesus Christ as number 1, Father K. Osbourne via his sacramental theology books, and Father Stanislaw Shaw, the pastor of my childhood home parish.

What advice might you give to those discerning a call to religious or priestly life?

Go for it. It’s a wonderful experience discerning God’s call to you. You’ll meet more great people along the way. You’ll deepen your relationship with God. You’ll get to know yourself better. It’s worth the time and effort to see if you are called.


Published in The Montana Catholic, Vol. 25, No. 3, March 20, 2009.


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