Seminary: Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary
College: Franklin Pierce University, Rindge NH.
Hometown: Amesbury, MA

Interest:
I enjoy dining out with family and friends. Participating in local charities and community events. I enjoy boating, golfing and local motorcycle trips.

Calling:
After a 40 year career in Government and Industry I answered the Lords call to the Priesthood. My desire and hope are to grow in Holiness, Love and Mercy while being a good shepherd to His flock. I realize I cannot make this journey alone, and need the Grace and Strength of the Holy Spirit throughout my discernment.

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.

Seminary: St. John’s Seminary
College: Ohio Northern University
Hometown: Spencerville, OH

Interest:
Hiking, mountain biking, lifting weights, reading, journaling, baking.

Calling:
God has given me a second opportunity to be in the seminary as a second career seminarian. I entered the first time after I graduated college, I later left to get work experience. After working in accounting and IT for ten years the return I thought would only take a couple years materialized and I reentered the seminary. While originally from Ohio I discerned that my place to live and minister is in the Archdiocese of Boston.

Seminary: St. John’s Seminary
College: Providence College / Our Lady of Providence Seminary, Providence, MA
Hometown: Peabody, MA

Interest:
I enjoy watching football and playing fantasy football with a few groups of friends. I also enjoy playing board games and card games with my brother seminarians. Prior to entering seminary, I was the Grand Knight for my home Knights of Columbus council and I enjoy visiting them when I am able.

Calling:
I first entered seminary right upon graduating High School and I spent four years in college seminary and one year in major seminary before I discerned out and left to continue discerning where God was calling me. I taught high school and middle school religion for three years and then realized God was calling me to re-enter seminary. Since returning, God has confirmed this decision through many blessings.

Seminary: St. John’s Seminary
College: Providence College / Our Lady of Providence Seminary, Providence, MA
Hometown: Franklin, MA

Interest:
In general terms, I enjoy everything nerdy, and I am known as the guy who is always up to waste a bit of time. I’ll play a board game at the drop of a hat, and often host sci-fi movie nights or series watch parties for the other seminarians. On my own time, I also enjoy pleasure reading, and have recently taken to the work of Brandon Sanderson. My more run-of-the-mill pastimes include culinary arts, hiking, biking, and ultimate frisbee.

Calling:
In simple terms, the reason that I entered seminary is that I felt that God had asked me to. From a young age, my family prayed together for clarity in vocations. From that young age, I had a sense that God wanted me to form for the priesthood, but it wasn’t until much later that I really came to understand what that meant. My vocation was a process of gradual growth in prayer and relationship with God

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.

Seminary: Pope John XXIII Weston MA
College: Northeastern University Boston MA
Hometown: Wellesley, MA

Interest:
I enjoy the Arts in the Boston scene. Trying new restaurants is fun. Historic and social places of interest are also of interest to me.

Calling:
I decided to give the seminary a chance, as I felt the call to priestly discernment for many years.

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.

Interest:
I have several interests I usually do in free time. I am interested in Robotic and technological fields. I like watching videos and movies talking about creative technology, including fiction movies. Besides, I love traveling though I haven’t done this much. Also, I am keen on learning some musical instruments, especially traditional instruments.

Interest:
Enjoy dining out with family and friends. Participating in local charities and community events. Enjoy boating, golfing and local motorcycle trips.

Calling:
“First of all, thanks to Fr. Caden and Fr. Zimmerman from the Boston Vocations Office for their support and assistance! After a 40 year career in Government and Industry I answered the Lords call to the Priesthood. My desire and hope are to grow in Holiness, Love and Mercy while being a good shepherd to His flock. I realize I cannot make this journey alone, and need the Grace and Strength of the Holy Spirit throughout my discernment.”

Seminary: St. John’s Seminary
College: SENA, Valledupar-Cesar, Colombia
Hometown: Valledupar-Cesar, Colombia

Interest:
Soccer is definitely one of my passions. I enjoy playing it and watching it on TV, especially the Barcelona soccer team. I also like to go the movies from time to time and to read good spiritual books. My favorite book is “The Story of a Soul,” an autobiography of Saint Therese of Lisieux.

Interest:
I have many interests in the arts. I sing and play piano. I enjoy entertaining and cooking for friends and family. I like getting in the car and going on day trips around New England. I like being outdoors, gardening, going for walks, playing tennis and treasure hunting on the beach. I especially like genealogy and history so I like to go to museums and research family trees.

Calling:
Deciding to become a priest was probably the easiest decision I have ever made. I have always had a calling to the priesthood and after a lifetime of teaching, helping, serving, and administering to people, I decided (with help from the Holy Spirit) it was time to use my gifts to do the Lord’s work. I will continue to be an instrument of God in charity while spreading the good news of Jesus and the works of the Holy Spirit.

Seminary: Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary
College: Boston College
Hometown: Tiko, Cameroon, Africa

Interest:
Soccer is a popular sports in my native Cameroon. I grew up playing soccer with friends on the streets in Cameroon. I still enjoy playing soccer. I started as a defender but then converted to an attacking midfielder. Watching soccer is also a big hobby of mine. I enjoy watching good football. The type of soccer played by Arsenal Fc and Manchester City of England. Arsenal Fc in the English premier league is my favorite team in the world.

Calling:
Pope John Paul II (1978-2005) was a priest par excellence and I always to become a priest like him. Coming from Africa, I consider myself a missionary to the US. Growing up in Africa, there were many missionaries from Europe and America who evangelized us. It is time for the Church in Africa to also help out in the West. I enjoy learning the different theologies of the Church. The brotherhood in the seminary is also great. Our vocation directors are very helpful.

Interest:
I enjoy running, soccer, squash, hiking, and most sports. When I’m not playing sports, I enjoy: reading and writing; playing piano or learning guitar; and drinking a whole lot of coffee.

Calling:
“The original discernment retreat lasted 10 seconds…Christ walked along the shore, called, and 12 brave men answered” I was blessed to hear these words at a vocations retreat and graced to respond to them! It’s God who calls us, our only response should be Mary’s joyful Fiat. The life God has prepared for those who follow him is immeasurably greater than anything we could imagine.

Interest:
I was a working Musician before entering the seminary, playing the Piano, Organ, and Singing. I still enjoy playing music when time allows. I also enjoy going to the movies, going for long walks when the weather is nice, and dining with friends.

Calling:
I had great, holy Priests in my life that helped me discern this calling. I felt drawn to the life of the Priest, the work of the Priest, and his relationship with his flock. Without question, it can be a difficult choice to make. However, Jesus Christ comes to us in the power of prayer and the sacraments. He will guide us every step of the way. My time in the seminary has been the most fulfilling part of my life. I look forward to the Priesthood with great joy!

Seminary: St. John’s Seminary
College: Ha Noi Open University
Hometown: Thuong Tin, Hanoi, Vietnam

Interest:
Since I was a kid, I have played soccer. Soccer taught me how to communicate, cheer, and encourage team working. I often watch the Premier League with my friends. My other hobbies are reading books, and especially I usually spend my leisure time reading novel books while listening to instrumental music. I enjoy walking, and I like spending time in nature and capturing all the beautiful moments of beauty with my camera.

Calling:
My home parish did not have a pastor when I was a kid. I got up at 4:30 am, then walked mostly 2 miles to the next town to attend the Sunday mass. Therefore I grew up intending to be a priest. My first pastor of my home parish influenced my vocation too. Due to his kindness and holiness, I have been attracted to the diocesan priestly vocation. Beside, my priestly call was influenced by my devoted catholic parents.​

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.

Interest:
I have fun going to see Red Sox and Patriots games with my brothers. I enjoy taking long walks and bicycle riding by the ocean.

Calling:
Priesthood was one of many things I had considered as a calling when I was in high school but I decided to study computer science. After college I worked as a software engineer north of Boston for nearly 30 years. During that time I was as a chapel volunteer at Fernald State School. When the state closed Fernald I got involved with parish life. I volunteered to be an RCIA leader at my parish which lit my faith on fire. It drove me to discern my calling later in life.

Interest:
I enjoy nature, photography, and horseback riding.​

Calling:
My baptism meant very much to me when I was young. I understood it as a kind of pledge of myself to God, to give myself to Him for His worship and service. Eventually, a parish priest asked me if I had ever thought about becoming a priest myself and put me in touch with the Vocations Office.

Seminary: Saint John’s Seminary
College: KU Leuven
Hometown: Amesbury, MA

Interest:
My interests include 19th and 20th cent philosophy and theology, electric guitar, and exercise.

Calling:
I have met so many inspirational men and women of various religious communities, many diocesan priests like those in Boston, all of whom left a profound impression on me. I cannot list them all. They reside in many different countries and work for the Church in various capacities. They have all taught me so much; I am indebted to their example and friendliness. Our Church is big and beautiful — let this suffice.

Interest:
In my free time I like to take my mountain bike out and experience the many paved and unpaved trails in the area. The views of the city are also great on the many bike lanes. Kayaking is another seasonal recreation I enjoy but this winter I want to branch out to winter sports and try snowshoeing and cross country skiing. In all seasons going to they gym to lift weights is a staple in my schedule. When I can I also am up for going to live sports and music.

Calling:
Simply put every man is in the seminary because God has called him there, the contributions to determine this call for me is multiple, briefly: The example of good, holy priests that I want to follow in their footsteps. Many people strangers, parishioners, and friends even ones not practicing the faith have noticed in me something that caused them to encourage me in my vocation. Finally there is peace and consolation in following this call or even thinking of this call.

Calling:
I grew up in El Salvador, a small country in Central America; I come from a very Catholic family, where Catholic values were taught day by day. When I was twelve years old, I received my first Holy Communion. For me, that day changed my life since I knew what it meant. As an altar server, I had a deep desire to become a priest. I am now in my last year of formation at St. John’s Seminary, and I am looking forward to my priestly ordination in 2024.

Seminary: St. John’s Seminary
College: Brown University
Hometown: Dorchester, MA

Seminary: St. John’s Seminary
Hometown: Fortaleza, Brazil

Interest:
I enjoy and spend my free time weightlifting, backpacking, singing and playing guitar with friends. Exploring new cultures is a big part of my personality. I believe that others are always enriching, and I personally build an important part of my character when I make new friends. I have lived in five different countries, which exposed me to mixed perspectives of the world, and I have discovered that Jesus Christ is the only permanent and solid foundation for all men.

Calling:
I considered the priesthood for the first time in my life on January 15th, 2018. I had just arrived in Santiago, Chile, on the same day that Pope Francis arrived for an apostolic visit. I had no idea that Pope Francis was arriving that day! I decided to go to the massive vigil and when I looked at the crowd of young people, I realized, after years of discernment, I was feeling called to embrace a life of total dedication to Jesus Christ in the exercise of the priesthood.

Seminary: St. John’s Seminary
Hometown: Baltimore, MD

Interest:
I worked in the culinary field and still enjoy cooking. Since I have a very creative imagination I have always been inclined to create things with my hands, including wood carving small scale carpentry projects. I am also an avid gardener and I sing and play guitar.

Calling:
I joined the Franciscans shortly after my reversion to the practice of the Faith when I was twenty seven. I initially felt called to live the relatively quiet life of a simple lay brother, but began to sense a call to the priesthood after almost twenty years of religious life. About four months ago I discerned a further call to switch from being a Franciscan seminarian to studying for the archdiocese of Boston.

Seminary: St. John’s Seminary
Hometown: Cypress, CA

Interest:
I like to stay active by playing soccer and walking. I also like traveling, some places I have traveled are Germany, France, Spain, Italy but mainly all for pilgrimages. During this pilgrimages I have seen many Holy sites and have received many graces.

Calling:
During the summer, I did a missionary experience announcing the Gospel in the streets and the Lord was waiting for me in the streets! During this time, I heard Jesus telling me “Get up, pick up your mat, and walk”. Although I didn’t quite understand the meaning of those words, I realized that God had just given me an opportunity to follow him, discern my vocation and explore my vocation to the priesthood.

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

Interest:
In my free time, I especially enjoy reading, cycling, gardening, and traveling. And when the chance arises, I am always excited to go to antique or architectural-salvage shop. Most of all, though, I simply enjoy having the opportunity to walk through places of any sort and ponder the things that I see. I do not play sports too often, but when I do, I can really get into a game of ultimate frisbee. If I could pursue any new activities, I would like to horse-back ride.

Calling:
I decided to enter the seminary years ago in middle school after having a formative and moving upbringing at my home parish, but am only starting at St. John’s now after having completed my college studies and worked for a few years at a nearby church. In recent years, what has most motivated me to pursue the priesthood has been witnessing the ability that priests have to form and influence their flocks for the better, which I look forward to doing even as a seminarian.

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.

Interest:
I enjoy playing soccer, hanging out with friends, going to see nature or scenic views, and playing the guitar. All these things are what kept me interested throughout my childhood, I was always trying to do those things in order to have some fun or get out of the house for a little while.

Calling:
Ever since I was young I looked up to priests very much, because my family was very close to some priests. I was always afraid of what people would think of me if they found out that I had the calling to the priesthood. However, after I went on a pilgrimage to Gettysburg with my parish, I received a reading by chance that encouraged me not to care what others think about me, to unite myself to Christ, follow him and the happiness that I longed for would be given me.

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.