I am from Eden, New York State's "Garden Spot" and home of the famous Corn Festival. I have no brothers or sisters, but I am very close to my cousins. I graduated at the top of my class from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in Troy, NY (close to Albany) where I received a Bachelor's of Science in Computer Science with a minor in Information Technology. Throughout college, I worked as an IT Consultant for RPI and as the coordinator of a fundraising program. Both jobs gave me some real-world experience that helped me to land a job soon after college.

Most of my family lives in Buffalo and fortunately I was able to return to the area for work. I was employed at a small engineering firm as Manager of Information Technology. I was responsible for the company's entire computer infrastructure in both their Buffalo and Dublin, Ireland locations. I really loved my job and worked with some interesting people. I stayed in that position for three and a half years, until I decided to enter the seminary.

I initially discovered my vocation, my "call" to the priesthood with the help of others. I had a great job and success - everything you need according to the world, right? I just began to feel that there was something missing. At first, I could not quite put my finger on it. I had thought of becoming a priest in high school and even earlier, but I decided to go to college and experience life a bit first. After working for a while, I began to feel a sense that I was not fulfilling God's plan for my life. No, there was no "lightning bolt moment" where I heard the voice of God telling me to report to the seminary! Instead, it was a gradual awareness that developed as God nudged me and spoke to me through people in my life. Friends and family would make comments to me that I was a good listener, or a good teacher, or any of those things you think of a priest being. After a while, these comments became more numerous and they stuck with me and made me start thinking.

I talked with my pastor about my vocation and we had a wonderful discussion. He suggested that I contact the Vocation Office. The vocation director at the time was not available, so I left a message. He called me back on Holy Thursday, when we as a Church celebrate the institution of the priesthood. I took this as a great sign that maybe I was headed down the right path.

So far, seminary life has been wonderful. As I said, I have no brothers or sisters, but the seminary has blessed me with many, many brothers! The Christ the King Seminary community has become an extended family for me. And yes, just as in a real family, we don't always get along, but that's half the fun! We are all here because we have one thing in common - we want to know what God is calling us to do in our lives, whether it leads to ordination one day or not. That is what binds us in a special kind of community and brotherhood.

I am entering my final years in the seminary in preparation for ordination in 2012, God willing! I started my journey in 2006, but it seems like just yesterday! I have studied a variety of subjects, including Scripture, Biblical Greek, Pastoral Counseling, and Sacramental Theology just to name a few. A great thing about our seminary is that we have many opportunities to put our academics and training into practice.

During the summer when we're not studying, we are assigned to local parishes to work alongside pastors and lay leaders so that we can get a feel for what life in the ministry as a priest is like. My assignments have included Blessed Sacrament, Kenmore; St. Mary of Lourdes, Mayville and Bemus Point; Christ Our Hope, French Creek and Sherman; and Our Lady of the Snows, Panama. I also spent one summer at Sisters Hospital in Buffalo as a Chaplain Intern in the "CPE" (Clinical Pastoral Education) Program.

Halfway through our theology studies, we are given a full "pastoral year" away from the classroom to live in and serve a parish. I spent my pastoral year at St. Christopher Parish in Tonawanda, NY and loved every minute! All of these experiences have helped me to see how the study of theology and God's Word can be put into action and they have also helped me to discern my call to the priesthood. My parish work allowed me to experience the great privilege and gift priests are given when they are invited into people's lives. They are given the awesome responsibility to share in people's most intimate moments of joy and sorrow as the bearers of God's message of healing, comfort, and peace.

I would encourage anyone who is thinking of a vocation to the priesthood to inquire - stop by the seminary for Mass or dinner or drop me an email (I'm also on Facebook!). Talk to priests, and I'll bet you that they will all say that their lives are happy and fulfilling and better than they could have ever imagined.

Of course as followers of Jesus, the foundation of everything we do should be our prayer life, so I would encourage you to pray about your vocation! It might also be a good idea to talk about it with your close friends and family. Encourage others who you think may have a vocation to the priesthood or religious life. Our vocation, whatever it is - marriage, single life, as a member of a religious order, or as a priest - is a wonderful gift from God. I think the priesthood is my vocation, but if you're still trying to discern what God is calling you to do, please listen with an open heart!! You are in my prayers!