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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Seminary: St. John’s Seminary
Hometown: Boston, MA

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.

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.

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.

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.