Meet The Seminarians
These seminarians all started out right where you are now — exploring their calling and probably feeling the same anticipation you feel as well. You are in holy and blessed company.
REV. MR. GIRIS AZIZE
Fourth Theology
Rev. Mr. Diego Peña
Fourth Theology
Mr. Luca Azzani
Third Theology
Mr. Maximilian Muenke
Third Theology
Mr. Tim Walsh
Third Theology
Mr. Nicholas Colón
Second Theology
MR. RAFAEL STEFANO RUBIO
Second Theology
MR. LIAM WARNER
Second Theology
Mr. Connor Roukey
2 Pre- Theology
MR. DIEGO ARRELLANO-RAMIREZ
1 Pre- Theology
Mr. Juan Ortega
1 Pre- Theology
Mr. Quinn Cunningham
Propaedeutic Year
Mr. Chrisantusmary Eze
Propaedeutic Year
Mr. Ryan Immerman
Propaedeutic Year
Mr. Adam Sorrells
Propaedeutic Year
Mr. Davi Braga
Propaedeutic Year
MR. KYLE ELLIS
College Senior
Mr. Paul Simko
College Junior
Mr. Aaron Sanz
Itinerancy
REV. MR. STEVE BARUFFI
Fourth Theology
Mr. Louis Namugera
Fourth Theology
Mr. Alden Bronson
Third Theology
Mr. Henry Seuffert
Third Theology
Mr. Alexander de Tirado
Third Theology
MR. RYAN HENDERSON
Second Theology
MR. ISAAC VELASQUEZ
Second Theology
Mr. Kennedy Ogujiuba
1st Theology
Mr. Sean McKeown
2 Pre- Theology
MR. John-Vincent Barcinas
1 Pre- Theology
MR. John Manning
1 Pre- Theology
Mr. Rafael Ortiz
1 Pre- Theology
Mr. Aaron Beecher
Propaedeutic Year
Mr. Alexis Garcia-Acosta
Propaedeutic Year
Mr. Michael Joy
Propaedeutic Year
Mr. Christopher Siverio
Propaedeutic Year
Mr. Tomas Placensia
College Junior
Mr. Gustavo Neitzke
Itinerancy
Mr. Gerson Garcia
Itinerancy
Rev. Javier Padilla
Fourth Theology
Mr. Johnathan Saniuk
Third Theology
Mr. Joe Jasinski
Third Theology
Mr. Alex Charow
Third Theology
MR.FRITZ ANACREON
Pastoral Year
MR. PAULO CARVALHO
Second Theology
MR. JAKE LIVINGSTONE
Second Theology
MR. Samuel Kalu
1st Theology
MR. Juan Cano
2 Pre- Theology
MR. Patrick Earley
1 Pre- Theology
MR. Samuel Neumann
1 Pre- Theology
Mr. Angel Velasquez Paredes
1 Pre- Theology
Mr. Romeo Saucedo
Propaedeutic Year
Mr. Daniel Zatta
Propaedeutic Year
Mr. James Silva
Propaedeutic Year
Mr. Joshua Campbell
College Junior
Mr. Michael Castellon
Itinerancy
Mr. Rafael Milla
Itinerancy
Mr. Edward Rodriguez
Itinerancy
Meet the Directors
FR. ERIC CADIN
Fr. Eric Cadin is the Director of the Office of Vocations and Director of the Office of University Missions for the Archdiocese of Boston. An avid surfer with an overall passion for adventure sports, Fr. Eric recognizes God’s capacity to unveil Himself in places and thrilling moments of awe and beauty. Ordained to the priesthood in 2012, he is equally passionate about the opportunity he has to mentor and guide men along their own pursuits of holiness. Fr. Eric is proud to be involved in the campaign to promote Scivias, a video series he hopes will engage, inform, and inspire a new generation of men to discern a vocation to the priesthood.
FR. PETER SCHIRRIPA
Fr. Peter Schirripa serves the South Boston parishes of Gate of Heaven and St. Brigid for the Archdiocese of Boston. He studied history and education at St. Anselm College before returning home to teach middle school English and Social Studies and coach soccer, basketball, and baseball. When a colleague asked him to pray for her brother after a serious accident, saying he had no one else to pray for him, Fr. Peter came to understand the priest's role as an intercessor for those without a spiritual advocate. He entered St. John's Seminary in 2017 and was ordained on May 20, 2024. An active athlete who still loves playing and watching sports, hiking, and skiing, Fr. Peter is passionate about reminding people that they are made for God, and that the sacraments are the primary means of sanctification.
Learn more about The Seminary:
Events
Learning to discern? You are in good Company! Attend one of our events and connect with our community of seekers.
Scivias Sign Up
We hope the videos and this discernment guidebook of part I of Scivias has been helpful to you in arriving at before pursuing your God-given vocation. Action leads to certainty, not the other way around.
We know the way.
Connect with us to begin your discernment journey.
Mr. Alden Bronson
Seminary: St. John's Seminary
College: Boston University, MA
Hometown: Bradford, MA
Interest:
I like playing the cello, soccer, going on walks, learning different languages, writing, and also tennis if I can play.
Calling:
I’d thought about the priesthood before and it always seemed attractive, and still more-so after my final year at college. It just seemed attractive at the time, and I didn’t want to pass up the opportunity to enter when I could, and I’m very happy I entered. What excites me most about the priesthood is forming community and giving the catechism that is needed in the Church today; and more than that being a father to the young in faith.
Rev. Mr. Diego Peña
Interest:
In my free times I enjoy playing video-games, learning new languages, reading, watching movies and listening to music and painting.
Calling:
Someone who has influenced in my decision to enter the Seminary has been my Cousin, it was through him that I went to a vocational meeting, it was there that I began to consider and discern my calling to the priesthood. Something that I enjoy as part of my vocation is to share time with families, to know their difficulties, to listen to them and at times also to encourage them and to let their faith be forged and shaped by their trials.
Rafael Milla
Interest:
My interests outside if the priesthood is playing sports. I enjoy taking time during the day to play soccer or any sport whatsoever. I also enjoy listening to music and playing or learning any sort of musical instrument. Part of my routine is going out for walks; I realize that I meditate on any events throughout the day when I relax and take some time to explore what is around me and around the neighborhood. Traveling and pilgrimages are a big part of my activities.
Mr. Nicholas Colón
Seminary: St. John's Seminary
College: Harvard College, Cambridge, MA
Hometown: Brockton, MA
Interest:
I love reading, cooking, coffee, and being outdoors -- my ideal day would be spending the morning in prayer with a cup of coffee, followed by a few hours in a novel (also with coffee), going for an afternoon hike, and cooking and sharing a meal with friends in the evening.
Calling:
I had a number of holy priests in my life who showed me the love of the Father. Their example of humility and their love for God has remained with me, and my desire to love and serve Christ in the way they did grew in the years following college. Ultimately, I desire to be as close to the Lord as possible and to do His will for my life, and I ask for the grace to continue to say "yes" to him throughout my time in formation and beyond.
Rev. Mr. Johnathan Saniuk
Interest:
I enjoy running, hiking, and Tough Mudders, as well as video games, fantasy novels, and the occasional board game. Everything is best done with friends.
Mr. Joseph Jasinski
Seminary: St. John's Seminary
College: Indiana University, Bloomington, Ind. (undergrad);
University of Portland, Portland, Ore. (grad)
Hometown: Boxford, MA
Interest:
I’d like to consider myself a fairly active person. If given the opportunity, I get outdoors — sports (namely soccer and basketball), trail running, road biking, hiking/camping or just finding a nice plot of grass in which to read, write, and/or listen to music. I’ve also gotten into photography and, in my teaching/coaching days, produced a few (lackluster) raps. End the day sharing a great meal with friends and family and I’ve reached the bliss point.
Calling:
For me, earnest discernment began, rather organically, in Spring 2020. Discovering time for stillness and prayer allowed me to better receive God’s graces and realize a perceived calling to the priesthood — a vocation which still seems, in Year 1 of seminary, like a mystery in its totality. But even at this onset of my priestly formation, I know it holds so many profound promises of encounter, love, and intimacy with Christ … and these ideas genuinely ignite my heart.
Rev. Mr. Javier Padilla
Mr. Maximilian Muenke
Seminary: Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary
Hometown: Bevergern, Germany
Interest:
Meeting with family and friends on a regular basis is like food, water, and air to me. In addition, I love meeting new people, seeing God's grace in each of them, and growing from each interaction. Hikes in nature either in the neighborhood, along the Appalachian Trail in the US, or the Camino de Santiago in Spain nourish me and are one of the many gifts from God. Lastly, I had the privilege and joy to travel for work around the world and serve in many countries.
Rev.. M. Giris Y. Azize
Seminary: Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary
Hometown: San Juan Puerto Rico
Interest:
I like music (play organ and piano) amateur, In addition, I also likes to take pictures and video (professionally as a part-time) and likes to go on hikes and mountain bike. I also am a snow skier.
Calling:
My calling was most inspired from our Blessed Mother’s inspiration at Fatima, Portugal in 2019 and a priest within my diocese who thought I had a vocation, including my parish priest. In addition, many prayers from friends and parishioners who thought that I could serve as a Priest was helpful affirmation. While I inclined toward discernment of a vocation to the priesthood while in college, unfortunately, I didn’t follow it as I should have. Instead, many hours of prayer and discernment with my spiritual director were most helpful.
Liam Warner
Seminary: St. John's Seminary
Hometown: Boston, MA
Timothy Walsh
Interest:
I love anything and everything Irish. I like listening and playing Irish music on the tin whistle. I’m the Irish language so that I can eventually celebrate Mass in my grandmother’s town. I also really enjoy being on the Seminary Basketball team. Any activity I can do with my brothers is always fun.
Calling:
I entered seminary because no other life could satisfy the longing in my heart for discipleship. After attending 3 diocesan retreats during college, I finally decided to enter after graduating. Entering seminary was the best decision I ever make. I get to study the word of God and do it alongside some of my closest friends. I can’t wait to share the fruits seminary has gifted me with my future parishioners.
Henry Seuffert
Seminary: Redemptoris Mater Seminary
Hometown: Ridgewood, NJ
Interest:
My favorite activity is fishing, but I also enjoy playing baseball, and spending
Calling:
The reason I entered the seminary was a vocation to the priesthood that I
discovered during my pilgrimage to Rome. Even though I felt the call, I was
still very young and did not know what to do with it. Later, I received a Word
from God that clearly told me to follow Him and gave me the courage to take
the risk and begin my formation. What excites me about my calling is studying
new topics that I had never heard of before the seminary.
Alexander De Tirado
Interest:
In my free time, I enjoy outdoors activities: I like going for a hike and enjoying the beauty of nature and of God’s creation. Being from Miami, I used to go fishing with my grandfather and I fell in love with it. In fact, fishing has taught me many things, especially patient and the virtue of forbearance.
Gerson Garcia
Edward Rodriguez
Luca Azzani
Aaron Sanz
Gustavo Neitzke
Joseph Nguyen
Seminary: St. John's Seminary
Hometown: Brighton, MA
Interest:
I usually spend my leisure time reading books or playing sports. Along with this, I also like cooking when I have free time on the weekend.
Calling:
I grew up a devout Catholic in Viet Nam. When I was 9, I often served as an altar boy in my home parish. From that point, I was gradually attracted to the priesthood. So, when I graduated with a philosophy degree, I enrolled in Saint Joseph’s Seminary in Ha Noi, Viet Nam. My bishop sent me to Boston to study and to serve for the Archdiocese of Boston.