Parish: St. Francis Xavier Cathedral, Green Bay
Birthday: October 13
Kairos Year: Holy Name of Jesus House of Formation
2589 S. Webster Ave. Green Bay, WI 54301


What kinds of toppings do you like on your pizza?
I love any pizza that has lots of onions and is covered in meat, specifically pork.

What is one skill people would be surprised you have?
I really enjoy fishing. It is awesome to just go out on the water for a while and drop a couple lines down.
Catching is also a ton of fun, especially when they put up a fight. Then it is extra satisfying to have overcome the adversary.

If you had a talk show, who would be your first guest?
Mother Mary Catherine of the Missionaries of the Word. She is such a wise, loving woman. She has a deep relationship with the Lord that she can give such wise perspective for any topic. She has seen many people and situations, and she has so much understanding that she can just love and help basically anyone or anything.  

What is your favorite line from a Eucharistic prayer?
My favorite part of the Eucharistic Prayers is the Epiclesis, when the celebrant, in the person of Christ,
lays his hands over the offerings and asks the Holy Spirit to come down over them. I particularly like the one in Eucharistic Prayer III, because it proceeds right from the prayer of thanksgiving and Sanctus immediately preceding it. “Therefore, O Lord, we humbly implore you: by the same Spirit make holy these gifts …” The prayer itself gives us a beautiful insight into what our heart’s disposition is to be, and it leads us there. 

How would you advise someone who wanted to deepen their love of the Eucharist?
Adoration is the best way for anyone to deepen their love for the Eucharist, no matter their walk of life. I would tell them to start going to frequent adoration in front of the Blessed Sacrament. The face-to-face time with Jesus is irreplaceable. Our Lord speaks to us frequently and clearly in the silence, and adoration helps us to enter into that silence. Adoration is a lot like the catch-up time you have over the phone with a parent, or over coffee with a friend, as you leave it more closely attuned to that person, their life, and their struggles. You frequently leave adoration more attentive to the Eucharist, the Blessed
Virgin, the Holy Spirit and the Trinity as a whole, and to yourself. As you move forward, you will start to see that time given to the Blessed Sacrament starts to overflow into your daily life and interactions with others. You will start to be attentive to the Holy Spirit in everyday life.

When you envision yourself celebrating Mass one day as a priest, what do you imagine will be going through your mind and heart?
I imagine looking out over the congregation and being moved for them. I have come to know most of these people and part of their stories, as they have shared their ups and downs. Now I am up in front of them, as an instrument of the Holy Spirit for all of them, trying to speak Jesus into their lives. We are all “sheep without a shepherd” (Mt 10:36) in some way, and sometimes it can be extra apparent to the one appointed their shepherd on earth, not as a highlighting of failure, but as a wave of love that makes you want to give everyone a hug of comfort.

I also imagine myself chuckling internally at the antics of the little ones, despite their parent’s exasperation. As the oldest of ten children, I have seen and even been part of many childish stunts. Having grown up and seeing other kids doing these things, I find it amusing. Watching these little ones trying to have fun or just rebelling against a higher power can provide insight into the spiritual life. I don’t have to change their diapers, so they are just cute and energetic images of their Father. It is at times like
that when you can see the Father’s special love for the little ones.

Which saint should people invoke for your vocation?
Please ask for St. John Vianney’s intercession for me. He is my confirmation saint, the patron of diocesan priests and seminarians, and he has been close to me these last few years.