Tell us a little bit about you personally: Where are you from, your home parish, what’s your family like, etc.

I am the middle of three boys. Over the years, my family and I belonged to several parishes, but, in a certain sense, we were kind of like “Catholic nomads.” We enjoyed going to different churches around the archdiocese and experiencing the communities in the area. For several years, I have claimed St. Cecelia, in Oakley, as my home parish. I used to work there during the summer months cleaning, painting, and updating the school. Growing up, I was always interested in music, theater, and anything with an engine.

When did you first begin to discern your calling to the priesthood?

I first began to feel a call to the priesthood at a relatively young age. That being said, however, I was never the kid who knew exactly what he wanted to do when he grew up. Being a priest was not really something I wanted to do because I wanted a “normal” life like everyone else. But our God is very generous and is never outdone in generosity; everything we offer to the Lord will be rewarded in ways we cannot imagine!

Who has been a mentor for you along the way?

There are too many good and holy people who have guided me along the way to list them all. Fr. Dave Sunberg, Fr. Eric Wood, Fr. Jamie Weber, Msgr. Frank Lane, and Fr. Stretch Mierenfeld, and so many more. Thank you to all who have helped me along the way through the years. I am very grateful to all of you.

What are you looking forward to most about being a priest?

As a priest, I am most looking forward to hearing confessions. I have profoundly experienced God’s mercy through the confessional, and I look forward to being able to provide that encounter with the Lord for others.

Do you have any particular favorite devotions or prayers?

The older I have gotten the more I realize that life is seldom simply black and white. For most of us, life is usually very gray, and it is not usually clear what the “right” thing to do is. This is why I have found the devotion to Mary, Undoer of Knots to be particularly helpful the older I have gotten. Through this devotion, we ask the Mother of God to help us by working to undo the knots that complicate our lives. If you have something going on in your life, and you are not sure how to navigate or deal with it, I highly recommend asking Our Lady Undoer of Knots to help! I also have a very strong devotion to Pope St. John Paul II because of the courageous way he lived his faith in the midst of the world. He constantly encouraged people not to settle for what the world had to offer but instead challenged them to live for Christ.

What’s a hobby or activity you enjoy?

During the fall and winter months, I greatly enjoy watching football, especially the Cincinnati Bengals. As the weather grows warmer during spring and summer, I enjoy being outdoors and riding my motorcycle.

Anything else you’d like to share with the faithful of our archdiocese?

I would simply ask that you please pray for my classmates and I, that we may be holy and effective priests as we begin serving the good people of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.