Home Parish :
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St. Mary's, Holliston, Mass.
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High School :
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Medway High School, Medway, Mass.
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College :
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Undergraduate - Providence College, B.A. in History
Graduate 1 - Providence College, M.Ed. in Secondary Education
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Hobbies :
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Road biking, skiing, genealogy, foreign languages and travel
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When did you first start thinking about the priesthood?Around sophomore year of college, when I was 19. This occurred on and off for a number of years until I was about 30 and could no longer ignore it!
What were some major Catholic activities you participated in prior to the seminary? (e.g. Any world youth Day's? Any Major parish events? Any seminary/ Vocation Retreats? Movements? Cursillo? Pilgrimages?)Teaching in a Catholic high school, helping coordinate Quincy Theology on Tap, serving as an altar boy and youth lector at St. Mary's, as an extraordinary minister of holy communion at St. William's(Dorchester) and St. Ann's(Wollaston), participating in Catholic young adult groups at St. Catherine's(Somerville) and St. Clement's Shrine(Boston), participating in and speaking on Antioch Retreats, helping to coordinate the first young adult/college student Eucharistic Congress in Boston in 2008, chaperoning the Pilgrimage for Life to Washington with my students and advising their Respect for Life group, the Boston Catholic Men's Conferences, LIFT, supporting the traditional family through Catholic Citizenship, going to a strong Catholic college, and the PACT program (Providence Alliance for Catholic Teachers).
How did you come to know Jesus Christ?I was raised in a Catholic family where Mass and CCD always came first, and where I learned a deep respect for the Church. I came to know Jesus Christ most profoundly through the Eucharist and Eucharistic Adoration, but also in learning to unite personal suffering to his, and knowing his mercy in the confessional. Spiritual direction and praying with the scriptures allowed me to enter into a level of contemplative prayer I had not previously reached. Finally, praying the mysteries of the Rosary, while recalling powerful images remembered from the Passion of the Christ allowed me to contemplate the meaning of Christ's sacrifice and Mary's "yes" in ways I had never considered.
What is one of your favorite scripture passages? Why?Mark 10:51. Here, Jesus says to the blind Bartimaeus, "What do you want me to do for you?" I always love this passage, because one would think it would be obvious to Jesus what Bartimaeus needed, but in fact, Jesus shows us by this unique personal encounter that he wants us to come to him with our needs and to tell them to him in no uncertain terms, and to know that he really has the power to heal us in whatever way we need, if only we have the hearts and minds of faith to see as the blind Bartimaeus did. Jesus really wants to do so much for us, so much more than we often imagine. I try to remember that Jesus is asking me this daily as I approach the Eucharistic table at Mass, just as Bartimaeus approached Jesus.
What is one thing that people would be surprised to know about you?That I was once a Boston cab driver.
Please describe the importance of prayer in your life.Prayer anchors my life. Without it, I never would have known my true vocation, and would therefore never have been open to the real happiness the Father has prepared for me. Prayer has real power, and I have seen the fruits of these prayers--enough never to doubt that God hears our prayers and answers us--though not always how we expect!
What are some of you your favorite books, spiritual readings, magazines?I love anything to do with local history in and around Boston and Massachusetts, especially Whitehill's "Topographical History of Boston" or Stephen Puleo's fine chronicling of "The Boston Italians." In the last few years, I began re-reading C.S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia, now with new eyes of faith. I love to read about the life of St. Pio of Pietrelcina, my favorite saint. Magnificat has greatly expanded my knowledge of the saints and other sacred writers, while our faithful Pilot continues to print thought provoking and informative articles.
Is seminary formation what you thought it would be? How has it been similar or different from your expectations?In many ways, it is what I thought it would be--though in some ways, I didn't spend a lot of time being concerned with just how it would be. I knew that if this was God's will for me, what Seminary was is just how God wanted it to be for me now. It is perhaps less restrictive than one might imagine, while still having full days, especially as a pre-theologian. My pastoral assignment was different than I imagined, really getting into serious ministry right from the get-go--which I enjoyed and which challenged me in all good ways.
What activities would you recommend in order to foster a culture of vocations?Proximity to the sacraments is essential: the faithful need access to confession after work in places besides downtown Boston and daily Masses before or after work to grow in the holiness and grace that these two sacraments offer. Strong Catholic families have always been and will continue to be the fertile ground for faithful servants of Christ. Parents should speak of religious vocations as if it is something that is not unusual and that they would be happy with their children regardless of how God calls them to serve him in this life. Additionally, young people need contact beyond the Mass with good holy priests and good holy religious sisters who are happy in order to see what a beautiful life this is.
Did anyone invite you to consider priesthood? Please explain.Yes--primarily a variety of priests over the years, but also friends, fellow Catholic school teachers, and sometimes even people that didn't know me all that well.
What were some of the spiritual events or activities that helped you develop and shape your personal relationship with Christ and His Church?Participating in Eucharistic Processions around Boston, inviting peers to deepen in knowledge of the faith through Theology on Tap, the Divine Mercy Masses at St. Ann's in Neponset, retreats, and especially Spiritual Direction.
What signs led you to believe that God was calling you to be a priest?I slowly found myself saying yes to becoming involved in more and more church activities, especially with my fellow young adult Catholics. Having begun some discernment of priesthood in the two years before seminary, I had been praying throughout that time to know God's will for me, to know the path he has chosen for me to attain holiness. It was after six months of very directed discernment about my vocation with my Spiritual Director, Fr. Dave Nicgorski OMV, that I had a very powerful experience in prayer before the Eucharist--actually at LIFT--that for me, was the answer I had been waiting for.
Please tell us, what are some of the most important parts of discernment?The most important part of discernment of any vocation is a posture of openness to God's will for you. To desire to know God's will in your life, knowing that to go against it will not lead you to happiness and fulfillment, is to let go of any fear of what God has for you. There is no way that what God has for you would lead to unhappiness and ultimate unfulfillment--what God has for you is only good, only the best, only the exact thing He made you for. On a basic level, this amounts to trust in God's will, and therefore, a fearless desire to know it, and then to ask God unrelentingly what that will is. Whether it is priesthood, marriage, religious or consecrated lay life, only trust in the Father's will for you, His beloved child, will open the door in prayer to his freely given answer.
Who influenced you/ inspired you to priesthood? Please explainOver the years, I have been blessed to know so many good diocesan priests, Dominican Friars, and Oblates of the Virgin Mary that I can truly say that each of these had a profound influence on my faith and spirituality, and that several from each of these groups were men that impressed me enough to want to be like them, or even be open to the possibility that I could perhaps, be a priest.
What would you say to a young man who thinks he may have a vocation?Stay close to the sacraments, the Mass and reconciliation. Be sure to have a good spiritual director. Find a good priest who you can relate to and ask him everything that's on your mind. Trust in God's will for you--remember, you are a Beloved Son. Stick with good friends who share your faith, and avoid those who turn you away from the Lord. Entrust your vocation to Mary--you will be amazed what she will do when you call upon her. Maintain some kind of daily prayer. Make Eucharistic Adoration a regular part of your life. Read good spiritual works, such as the lives of the saints. Watch EWTN and CatholicTV. Complement your music with good sacred or praise and worship music. Allow yourself times of silence--otherwise you can crowd the Lord's voice out with noise from the world. Don't worry if you don't feel ready--you'll have a long time to know for sure in the Seminary. The Lord really wants you to be his instrument of holiness in the world--offer back to him every gift he has given you: this is what will bring you the happiness and fulfillment you have always sought.
What is your day like in the seminary?I begin the day with the beautiful singing of Morning Prayer in the chapel, followed by Mass. Breakfast with brothers in the Refectory. Classes in philosophy, languages, introductory theology and more. We pray the Ignatian Examen prayer together in silence before lunch. Lunch with brothers, faculty and staff, great conversations and different people to sit with every day. Spanish table on Thursdays. Pro-Life Club meeting every few weeks. Getting to know brothers from the Neo-Catechumenal Way and religious orders. Afternoon class, then maybe a quick run around the reservoir or a few miles' bike ride. Clean up then time for Holy Hour: Eucharistic Adoration and sung Evening Prayer every day. Dinner follows, like lunch, preceded by the Angelus. Evening brings time for study, or on some nights, talks, small group discussions, and time for community recreation.
Through the Cardinal, God is calling you personally to help rebuild His Church. How might the priest respond to this mandate today?The priest can help rebuild God's Church here in the great Archdiocese of Boston by living a life of holiness and simplicity, founded in daily contemplative prayer before the Eucharist, and made apparent by his love and mercy for others, dedication to the truth, obedience to Holy Mother Church, and by taking the gifts of the Holy Spirit bestowed on him by Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Orders and lavishing them on those in need in our broken world.
How does a priest best follow in the footsteps of the apostles?Like the Apostles after Christ, the priest must take up his cross and follow Christ to eternity, bringing along with him every soul he possibly can. The priest must meet God's people at every stage of faith and every circumstance of life and offer to them Christ's mercy and reconciliation, healing and resurrection to new life.
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