Thoughts on Priesthood:

I often view priests as caretakers of souls. The love of Jesus enters our lives through priests in unique important ways. Committing their lives to the will of God, priests bring us closely to Jesus through the wonderful gift of the sacraments. It is incredible that God chooses to spread knowledge and love for him in this special way through chosen priests, imperfect as we all are. The gift of the priesthood is a great example of God's boundless love for us, and that is very encouraging.

Why I want to be a Priest:

Through high school and into college I followed my plans for what I liked to do and what made me happy. As I delved deeper into my faith and learned more about it, I questioned whether my life plan matched God's. Would I be fulfilled 10 or 20 years from now? How does God intend me to live as a Catholic man? The more I discerned about what God had in store for me, the more the priesthood appealed as a way to use my God given gifts in service to others. Bringing people to Christ every day (especially through the sacraments) and helping others to live orientated toward God gives me joy just thinking about it.

Hobbies & Interests:

History of U.S., Europe and Russia, reading novels and non-fiction, cooking, watching movies with a compelling story, playing golf, and watching baseball (go Twins!).

Influence:

Our Blessed Mother has been the most influential. Additionally, Pope Leo XIII, G.K. Chesterton, and Bishop Fulton Sheen have made the biggest impacts.