Parish: St. Bernard Parish, Green Bay
Birthday: December 30
Seminary: Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary
700 Terrace Heights
Box #587
Winona, MN 55987





What kinds of toppings do you like on your pizza?
I am a simple man. Pile on the meat and cheese, and I will sleep like a baby. That being said, only one fruit belongs, and that fruit is not pineapple, but tomato.

What is one skill people would be surprised you have?
There are not many skills I feel I possess that would surprise many people, but in a time where many of my peers lament of poor handwriting, I have often been complimented for my above-average penmanship skills.

If you had a talk show, who would be your first guest?
Ever since I began desiring to go deeper in my understanding of our Catholic faith and traditions in college, I have found Fr. Mike Schmitz’s YouTube videos with Ascension Presents to be very insightful and amusing. Having him as a guest on my theoretical podcast seems only right and just, as it would allow for deeper dialogue with him about the Church, his priesthood, and our shared love for Jesus and Mary.

What is your favorite line from a Eucharistic prayer?
In Eucharist Prayer I, there is a moment where the priest bows with his hands joined together saying, “In humble prayer we ask you, almighty God: command that these gifts be borne by the hands of your holy Angel to your altar on high in the sight of your divine majesty, so that all of us, who through this participation at the altar receive the most holy Body and Blood of your Son, may be filled with every grace and heavenly blessing.” The image of the priest beseeching the Father on behalf of himself
and his sheep is always inspiring. 

How would you advise someone who wanted to deepen their love of the Eucharist?
In my experience, the greatest way to get to know someone you love, or in this case desire to love, is to
be in a relationship with them. At first, beginning new relationships or deepening old ones can be intimidating, because they necessitate a certain level of vulnerability between both persons. We all want to be seen, known, and loved by the one we are pursuing. When it comes to developing a relationship with Jesus in the Eucharist, Jesus desires to fulfill that desire in us by giving himself entirely, Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity, holding nothing back. The appearance of ordinary bread and wine is
how Christ continues to bridge the infinite gap between the divine and the human, allowing us to receive him physically in our mortal bodies through the incarnation. The Mass is not the only opportunity we have though, to encounter the Eucharistic Christ. Most parishes have time throughout the week where you can stop and make a Holy Hour before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament letting Him adore you.

When you envision yourself celebrating Mass one day as a priest, what do you imagine will be going through your mind and heart?
I was never one of those kids who played Mass growing up, but in recent years there have been moments alone in the chapel where I have walked up to the altar and looked out at the pews just to see what the priest sees when he is offering up the sacrifice of Christ during Mass. It has always been an overwhelming moment of fear of my unworthiness, but also excitement for what the Lord may be calling me to. Some of the younger priests that I have gotten to know have told me that their diaconate
ordination was more nerve racking for them, because by the time their priestly ordination rolled around, they already had spent a whole year up at the altar assisting the priest. That is not to say these young priests were not filled with nerves, but rather that Christ’s grace was flowing freely through them helping subside any fears. When, God willing, that glorious day finally comes for me, I imagine that nerves will surely be a part of the whole experience, but will hopefully be a sign of just how grateful I am for being called by Christ to share in his sacred priesthood and will overflow my heart with love for the Trinity and for his sheep he has entrusted to my shepherding.

Which saint should people invoke for your vocation?
St. John Paul II was an exemplar in what it meant to love God and neighbor. Please pray that I may allow Christ to work in my heart so I can be a gift of his love to others as JPII was to the Church.