Holy Name of Jesus
House of Formation
2589 S. Webster Ave.
Green Bay, WI 54301

Parish
St. Thomas More Parish,
Appleton

Birthday
January 10

Are there any books that you love so much that you
have read them twice (or more)?

“Man’s Search For Meaning” by Dr. Victor Frankl and “The Little Prince” by
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry are books that impacted me
so much, I read them almost once every year.
When you find yourself with a “free night,” what is
something you are likely to do? Taking time to read,
write, or compose music are important to me, and with
my busy schedule, it is hard to find time for them. On the
rare occasion when I have a free evening, that is how I
like to spend it.

What do you remember from your First Communion?

I remember the excitement. Every step of the way
going up to my First Communion, I was brimming with
excitement, eager to finally receive Communion. I also
remember enjoying all the ceremony and pomp and
circumstance surrounding my First Communion; taking
classes to get ready, picking out a new suit to wear, and
more. All this helped build excitement within me to help
me understand the importance of what I was about to
partake in.

Where is one of your favorite places to pray, and
what makes it special to you?

My favorite place to go and pray is in the chapel at my old high school. Since the
school is run by Capuchin Franciscans, the chapel is built
to feel like a cave since St. Francis of Assisi was famous
for praying within caves. The somber atmosphere of the
chapel, combined with my many memories I have there,
including the place of my confirmation, make it feel like
a spiritual home to me. Since I’ve graduated, it is rare I
am able to pray there, but whenever I am, it is a beautiful
opportunity.

What role has the Eucharist played in your
discernment of the priesthood?

The Eucharist is one of the driving forces behind my vocational discernment.
Seeing the love of God made manifest through Christ
offering himself to us as food is truly beautiful. When
I was in high school, one of the moments that would
always set my heart thinking about the priesthood was
at Mass when the priest elevates the Eucharist and sings
the Doxology. Something about that specific prayer has
always drawn me into the beauty of the Eucharist and the
beauty of the priesthood. Eucharistic Adoration has also
been important to my discernment. The opportunity to
rest in the presence of the Lord, marveling at the love he
holds for me and all creation is a powerful experience.
This form of prayer is where God reminds me that I am
his beloved son and I do not need to earn his love. This
chance for rest and assurance draws me into the mystery
of God’s love in which all vocations are rooted.

If there was one thing you could communicate to the
faithful about the importance and role of the Eucharist
in our Catholic faith, what would it be?

Love lies at the heart of all God’s work and this is especially prevalent
in the Eucharist. In the Eucharistic sacrifice and the
celebration of the Mass, the sacrifice of Christ on the
cross is offered once again for the salvation of all. In
addition, Christ, the King of the Universe, the God
through whom and for whom everything was created,
conceals his divinity, and becomes food for us. If there
is one reality about the importance of the Eucharist that
I want to convey to the faithful, it is the beauty of this
reality.
The reason I think this is so important to our Catholic
faith is that it reveals to us the wonder of Christ’s love.
Christ’s love is perfect, and thus that love is not selfish.
It is a love that involves the constant offering of self.
As Christ releases his Spirit on the cross, concealing
his divine nature, he does the same in the Eucharist,
appearing to us in the form of bread and wine. It is a
powerful love that is spurred by Christ’s deep and
earnest desire for communion with us. It is this powerful
love that gives us the Bread of Life that is Christ, food for
salvation. It is this love that teaches us how to love here
on Earth; to love with a self-sacrificing spirit. Thus, the
Eucharist is essential to our communion with Christ and
our communion with each other.

Which saint should people invoke for your vocation
and why?

St. Francis of Assisi is a great intercessor
for my vocation. Francis’ devotion to following the will
of God and saying “yes” to him unreservedly in every
situation is truly admirable.