Parish: St. Clare Parish; Wrightstown, Greenleaf, and Askeaton
Birthday: July 25 
Seminary: St. John Vianney College Seminary
Address: 
2115 Summit Ave.
Mail #5024
St. Paul, MN 55105-1048



What kinds of toppings do you like on your pizza?
For whatever reason, my ideal toppings are deeply controversial. Pineapple with some Canadian bacon is my favorite combination!

What is one skill people would be surprised you have?
While it does not take too much skill, I do have a motorcycle license, and I like to ride on occasion! I suppose I should make the distinction that riding well is what takes skill, which is debatable for my situation.

If you had a talk show, who would be your first guest?
If I had a talk show with tons of listeners, I think my first guest would be Mother Mary Catherine of the Missionaries of the Word. Mother has incredible spiritual insights that are the fruit of her immensely deep love for Jesus. She also tells the best stories from her childhood, her years as a Missionary of Charity, and her life now as superior of the Missionaries of the Word. She is amazing!

What is your favorite line from a Eucharistic prayer?
I love a part from the Roman Canon, also known as Eucharistic Prayer I. It says, “Therefore, O Lord, … we, your servants and your holy people, offer to your glorious majesty from the gifts that you have given us,
this pure victim, this holy victim, this spotless victim, the holy Bread of eternal life and the Chalice of everlasting salvation.” It shows our utter dependence on the Father, for even this sacrifice which we are immensely blessed and humbled to offer is completely his gift. Yet through it, by his mercy we find eternal life and everlasting salvation. 

How would you advise someone who wanted to deepen their love of the Eucharist?
First, if you have this desire, acknowledge this incredible blessing. It is only because he desires this for you that you now desire it as well! Allow that desire to be present and insatiable, for it will prepare your heart for the deep love that he wants to instill in you. Next, go be with him in the Eucharist! I can only love him if I know him, and I can only know him if I spend time with him! To spend intimate time with him, especially by frequently attending Mass and Eucharistic Adoration, is the best way. I also encourage people to learn about the lives of saints who lived heroically for the Eucharist. Ultimately, all saints are Eucharistic saints, but some are highlighted especially for their devotions to this sacrament. One example is Blessed Carlo Acutis, one of the patron saints of the Eucharistic Revival in the U.S. You can learn more about him and the Eucharistic miracles he loved to share on the website he created before he died! (miracolieucaristici.org)

When you envision yourself celebrating Mass one day as a priest, what do you imagine will be going through your mind and heart?
While surely all I can do is imagine, I sincerely hope and pray that I will be filled with a healthy, holy fear along with a deep love and reverence for the supernatural mystery taking place. To be able to stand in the person of Christ and offer the eternal sacrifice is something I surely cannot comprehend at this or any stage of my formation. I pray that I may celebrate it worthily, focusing my mind and heart on the purpose of making present the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ for the glory of our all-powerful God. Venerable Fulton Sheen would talk about the priest as priest-victim. The priest offers and dies to himself, uniting himself to Christ the Victim. To have this reality in mind before, during, and after the celebration would also do me good.

What joy does this beautiful sacrament elicit! I can only imagine the joy of being able to participate in the Holy Sacrifice in this way. It makes me think of Blessed Imelda Lambertini, who, upon receiving her first Holy Communion at the age of nine, actually died of happiness! I pray that as I celebrate Mass, my joy is made that full and complete, and I am left with nothing to be desired.

Which saint should people invoke for your vocation?
This year I ask for the intercession of St. André Bessette!
He has been described as “poor, humble, and obedient,”
and that is how I desire to live my life and my vocation.