My journey to the priesthood began in my home where prayer was taught to all the children at a very young age. Every morning, at five o’clock A.M., our family gathered for prayer which involved reading of Scripture passages, a reflection, hymns and vocal prayer. As a child, I heard my parents pray and learned what they prayed for. This experience influenced my own prayer life and love of God’s Word. It is this love of Scriptures and the desire to teach it to others that would eventually strengthen my desire for the priesthood.
Thoughts about the priesthood came to me for the first time after high school. I thought how wonderful it would be to preach and teach the Word of God, however, this stirring in my heart did not last long because I was preparing for university entrance to study microbiology. After two years of trying to enter the university, I decided to give seminary a chance. I wrote letters of my interest to religious congregations. Unfortunately, none of them accepted me. After this rejection, I suppressed the thought of priesthood and moved on with my life.
In 2007, I emigrated to the United States, this huge country with a lot of opportunities. One can imagine the culture shock I experienced. I set my mind to work hard and pursue a bachelor’s degree in biology. However, God was not finished with me. Throughout my undergraduate studies, I found myself telling my friends and teachers that I wanted to go to the seminary after graduation, yet, I was also hoping that I could get an advanced degree or go to medical school. In my junior year, when my mentor questioned what my plans were after graduating, I said I wished to go to seminary. His suggestion was to go to medical school first and then seminary. This left me thinking deeply about what I really wanted in my life. It was a turning point for me. For two weeks I was pretty restless trying to decide what to do. In my prayer, God gave me the grace to say yes to seminary and no to other dreams I had. At that moment, a sense of peace returned to me assuring me of the rightness of my decision.
When I received the application to enter the seminary, another wave of fear enveloped me, and the application stayed with me for one month before I completed it. I was afraid that I was about to sign my life away and lose all the aspirations I have had in life. Gradually, the Lord assured me that He will take care of me. He knew that I struggled with trust, trusting in Him. Eventually, I entered priestly formation at St. John Paul II Seminary for philosophical studies, and would go on to Mount Saint Mary’s Seminary for four years to complete theological studies. Through the mercy of God, I was ordained a priest of Jesus Christ on June 15, 2019, along with nine other men, by Archbishop Wilton Gregory. I am much happier as a priest.
Early in John’s Gospel, the evangelist recounts the disciples’ simple question to Jesus, “Teacher, where are you staying?,” and He replies, “Come and see.” These words encapsulate the journey I have been on with the Lord for most of my life; a journey that took me from Michigan to Washington, from school to work to the seminary and finally to the priesthood, and from a life of self-conceived notions of success to one seeking self-abandonment and trust in God’s providence. I have been blest with opportunities and experiences that have allowed me to grow in my faith, as well as with great friends and family who have helped me discern the Lord’s subtle yet constant call to give of myself entirely to Him and His people.
The Church has been an integral part of life since I was a child, and I am fortunate to have been raised with faith and in a family that was always committed to serving others because of our faith. My family’s parish was an important part of my life growing up, and it was there where I learned the joy of offering one’s gifts in service to God. I attended the parish school, served at Mass as a lector and sang in the choir, worked part-time in the office, and I participated in the youth group. I first thought about the priesthood back in high school, but I had other plans that took me to Albion College, where I discovered a deep desire to live a life of service for others, after which I came to Washington and served in the Jesuit Volunteer Corps. After my year in JVC, I returned to Michigan where I earned degrees in law and public policy from the University of Michigan.
Yet through it all, the Lord continued to speak to me, and eventually I came to a point in my life where I could no longer ignore consideration of the priesthood. With prayer and direction, I came to understand that I had to go the seminary to find out if the priesthood was what the Lord desired for me, and I am blest that I was able to attend St. John Paul II Seminary and Theological College in order to discern God’s will.
For a long time I have sought to know where the Lord Jesus is staying in my life, and in the seminary, I came to realize that He has always stayed with me, walking with me not only as my Lord and savior, but also as my friend and brother. It is my desire to know the Lord and help others better know Him that propelled me forward into ordained ministry, and this first year of priesthood has been extraordinary! To hear confessions, preach the Word, celebrate Holy Mass, prepare couples for marriage, anoint the sick, teach the richness of the faith, and encounter people in the complexity of their life and accompany them into a greater understanding of God’s presence-it is a privilege to “come and see” as a priest of Jesus Christ!
Vocation stories of our graduates show the grace of God that is working in their lives to receive and accept their call to the sacred priesthood. Please enjoy these videos and stories. Some are still in seminary formation, while others have been ordained priests.