Parish: SS. Edward & Isidore Parish, Flintville Birthday: January 1 Holy Name of Jesus House of Formation 2589 S. Webster Ave. Green Bay, WI 54301-2951
Which saint should people invoke for your vocation? Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati. He knew how to meet people where they were on their journey and bring them closer to Our Lord. Please pray I may allow Christ to work through me to others as Frassati did.
Coffee or tea? Coffee over tea any day as of now! The smell of coffee connects me with many memories and experiences with friends. We will see how and if the Kairos Year changes me. If Jesus drove a vehicle during his public ministry, what would it be? Jesus would have driven an Overlanding Astro van because it can drive on pavement, gravel, and grass to spread the Gospel. An Overlanding Astro van has all the amenities to camp and is capable of going off the grid in nature. What is your ideal way to spend the Lord’s Day? Growing up, my family always went to 8 a.m. Mass on Sundays, so naturally I prefer to get up early and attend Mass. At St. Mary Parish in Appleton, we gathered with coffee and donuts after Mass. I enjoyed the social time spent with family and with other parishioners. After spending time with the community, I like spending time with family and friends outdoors in God’s beautiful nature. If you could celebrate Mass anywhere in the world, where would you and why? In 2018, I had the opportunity to be a team leader with a Colorado Leadership Retreat (CLR). During the retreat, we grew in holiness and our Catholic faith while being in the mountains of Colorado. One day during the week, we climbed a mountain and celebrated Mass on Twin Sisters mountain peak. If the opportunity to celebrate Mass on a mountain peak were presented again, I certainly would! When Fr. Matt Settle elevated the Eucharist, all you could see was Jesus and God’s beautiful creation. I want to be able to take Jesus to the heights! What spiritual book or author has most influenced your journey of discipleship? “Is Jesus Calling You To Be a Catholic Priest?” by Msgr. Thomas Richter is a book that contains a variety of questions a man discerning the priesthood may be thinking or feeling. I read this book many years ago and thought it was beneficial, but the last time I read the book I discovered my “why.” When discerning, it is important to know why I believe God is calling me to be a priest and to enter formation. In reading the book and discovering my “why,” I was able to see the Lord’s will for my life and that God was asking me to take one step closer to becoming a priest. The book made it simpler to reflect on the basics of his call. The Lord is calling all of us to grow closer to him and to trust his will, as difficult as that may be at times. Trusting God’s will has given me the grace to be able to help others follow and trust in the Lord’s will as well. How is the Eucharist meant to foster unity in the Church? The Eucharist fosters unity in the Church through being one Bread and one Body. Jesus is the Bread of Life and the Church is the Body of Christ. Each and every one of us is invited to have an intimate relationship with Jesus through the Eucharist every day, whether during Adoration or receiving Jesus at Mass. Jesus is not just for one person or a select group of people; he sacrificed himself for everyone. As sinners, we are all in need of the True Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. We need to confess our sins and long for Jesus in the Eucharist so that we can be saved and spend eternity with Our Lord in heaven. As Catholics, our sin and the Eucharist unite us with each other and with Christ, and the Eucharist brings us peace. The culture may be divided and filled with sin, but the Eucharist is the rock that brings peace to us all. Unity and peace are gifts that have been given to us through the Eucharist. We need to share the unity that is given through the Eucharist with the world. Jesus gives us the opportunity to be walking tabernacles as we go forth with the Eucharist within us.