sleep to overtake them. This
time for me, however, was where vocational discernment began.
I can remember from my earliest
days daydreaming about the future, and my thoughts would quickly
focus on two particular areas: the priesthood and family life. For
example, I can remember being sent to bed at a young age, and vividly
imagining consecrating the Eucharist, while at the same time experiencing
a desire to have a large family. For many years, these two apparently
contradictory ideas would pull me back and forth, and create a significant
obstacle in discerning the path the Lord was calling me to walk.
It was with these two ideas
in mind that I progressed with relative ease through middle school,
high school, and eventually on to college. It was not until my second
year at Providence College (a time in which I tried to completely
avoid addressing these concerns) that I realized that if I was going
to be truly happy, I would have to attempt to tackle the matter.
Subsequently, I resolved to leave school for a while in order to
give myself more time to consider better the direction in which
the Lord wished to lead me.
It was during this time that
I slowly began to realize that these two ideas, which I had previously
thought were contradictory, were actually not opposed, but supported
each other quite nicely. In praying over the Scriptures, I realized
that if God can raise up a great nation from Abraham, “multiplying
his seed as the stars of heaven, and as the sand that is by the
seashore,” there is no reason that he can’t do the same
for me – even if it should be in the celibate state. I believe
that God fulfills this promise to every priest at every baptism
he celebrates, where we welcome new members into the Body of Christ,
the Church. He also fulfills this promise each day at Holy Mass,
where we are united with the countless members of the same Body.
At this point, the picture
began to become much more clear, so I decided to complete my undergraduate
degree, and I enrolled at the College of Our Lady of the Elms. While
at the Elms, and after much prayer, I made contact with the Vocation
Office of the Diocese, and began, with the assistance of the vocation
director, to more intensely discern my vocation. In my senior year,
I formally applied to the Diocese of Springfield to enter formation
for the priesthood, and I was subsequently accepted.
I am currently in third theology
at the Pontifical North American College in Rome. I have had the
great privilege of living and studying for the priesthood at the
center of unity of our Catholic Faith, which is the See of St. Peter.
My vocation has been strengthened by contact with the saints and
martyrs, whose testimony has urged me on in this endeavor. As I
prepare to petition for Holy Orders this year, the reality of the
priesthood is becoming more and more clear to me personally, and
it is something that I look forward to with great expectation and
deep spiritual joy.
May St. John Vianney, patron
of diocesan priests, pray for me and for all priests of our diocese
of Springfield! Praised be Jesus Christ!