The thought of becoming a priest first occurred to me at an early age. This thought was nurtured by my upbringing in a large, faithful Catholic family until I decided to discern a priestly vocation upon graduating from high school. Even though the call became stronger within me, the time was not right, and I took a step away from active discernment. I reentered the workforce and built a successful career in school facilities management for over 28 years, having served the last 8 years as the Director of Facilities and Operations for a school district in the suburbs of Rochester, NY.

Despite a rewarding professional life, the call remained strong within me. I knew that I was loved by God in a unique way and I simply needed to respond accordingly. In December 2021, I resumed active discernment with the Diocese of Rochester in earnest. It was during this time I first learned of Pope Saint John XXIII National Seminary from an article written by Cardinal Dolan on the topic of later vocations. I wondered if it could be the place for me. In March of 2025, I got the opportunity to find out when I attended a PSJS discernment retreat. It was a pivotal experience, as I discovered the seminarians there had similar stories and circumstances to my own. I left feeling strongly encouraged about my future and compelled to return as a seminarian. In the summer of 2026, my wish was granted when my Bishop asked me to apply for enrollment at PSJS, which I did, and was accepted in July.

As I reflect on my journey, I can see the immense work God has put in to make sure I made it to where he wanted me to be. It is a sign to me that my vocation is valuable and precious to him. Because of this reality, I take these next steps with a deep sense of appreciation for his love and mercy, and for all of those he has put in my path.