Growing up in a devout family, where we went to Mass every week, and getting to know many wonderful priests over the years have probably been the two biggest things that have prepared me to undertake this vocation. But I’d also mention that there have been a few particular experiences which dramatically changed my life.
I wasn’t particularly devout or interested in the faith from about ages 13 to 21, but a surprise invitation to attend World Youth Day 2016 in Poland set me on a path to reignite my faith. I was in a small parish in a suburb of Warsaw the week before WYD, and during Eucharistic Adoration one night I had a profound experience of prayer in which I realized and felt the immense love and mercy God has for me. Even 10 years later, that moment has stayed with me, continuing to shape my prayer and my relationship with God.
Although I thought about being a priest as a child, there were two main motivations for me to seriously consider seminary. First, I attended an ordination shortly after that World Youth Day, when my parish priest was unexpectedly named a bishop. Fr. Bob (Bishop Robert Kasun, now an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Toronto) was a great and dedicated pastor, and a model of priestly service. Attending his ordination and seeing the fraternity of the presbyterate gathered there with him got me thinking about the priesthood again.
There was also the support of two friends whom I spent a lot of time with in the years after I graduated from university. They were returning to the faith themselves, and their zeal for Christ was inspiring. When I offhandedly mentioned to them that I had been musing about entering the seminary, not only did they encourage me to discern the priesthood more seriously, but they actually connected me with the vocations team and a few months later I had the application on my desk.
There are too many moments like this for me to list since I entered St. Joseph Seminary, but I’ll specifically mention that my experience in 2024 as the program director at Our Lady of Victory Camp really helped me to know that I was on the right path. I had very little experience with the camp before, but I wanted to do some kind of ministry that summer, and so I took a shot by applying for the role.
Being the director was not only a good challenge for me administratively and ministerially, but also personally. Every day I was amazed by the real joy the campers and volunteers had in their encounters with Christ and the community, and it helped me better appreciate those encounters in my own life. I left that role so blessed by the people I had worked with and the kids we had served, and especially grateful that the Lord has been calling me to this vocation where I will share in ministries like this for the rest of my life.
When did you first feel that God might be calling you to this vocation? What was that experience like?
I first started thinking about the priesthood shortly after receiving my First Communion, back in 2004 at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Edmonton. Shortly thereafter, I was allowed to begin altar serving, and I loved being up close to everything that was happening.
After St. Francis closed in 2005 and my family moved to St. Alphonsus, I continued serving there until the pandemic and my entry into seminary. Parishioners regularly thanked me for it and asked me about being a priest, so the possibility was always just there, even if I didn’t engage with it for a while. But now I’ve come to realize that the Eucharist and participating in the Mass have always been at the heart of my discernment, drawing me deeper and deeper into love with God and leading me to this moment.
Every year at seminary had moments where I came to a greater appreciation of God’s love and presence in my life or a better understanding of this vocation, but most of them weren’t during or because of big, noteworthy events. One of these moments came during my first year, during a holy hour before the Eucharist; another was just a comment from one of my spiritual directors; and another was just a few months ago during a dinner I had with some friends. When I reflect on my time in seminary, it’s usually moments like those that I appreciate the most.
What has been the hardest part of this journey, and how has it changed you?
Probably not as concrete an example as you’d like, but it’d be learning to let go of things and entrusting them to God. As anyone who has worked with me can tell you, I like to be in control of what I’m doing and making sure that it gets done right, and I also feel a great sense of responsibility and care for my friends and family.
It hasn’t been easy to step back from those things when the Lord has called me somewhere else, whether that’s to the seminary and priesthood in general, or away from particular groups, projects, or events.
It’s taken time for me to finally say to God, “I trust you with this,” and it’s been a great blessing to realize the obvious: He’s much better at taking care of the people I love or of guiding a ministry I’ve worked on than I am, and that just because I give something to Him does not mean He takes it away from me.
Were there times when you struggled or questioned your path? What helped you keep moving forward?
Absolutely. There have been several times, even in the last year, where self-doubt and realizing the immensity of this vocation have just caused me to stop and ask, “What am I doing?” I would say three things have helped me move forward: the Lord has, in His time, given me great peace in prayer; the support and example of some of the priests and seminarians I am privileged to know; and that which is the greatest joy of my formation
What has brought you the greatest joy during your formation?
Being with the people of God – whether that’s been my family, my brother seminarians, my friends from the Newman Theological College and young adult communities, the parishioners at St. Alphonsus and St. Theresa’s, the campers, staff, and volunteers at Our Lady of Victory Camp, the kids and teachers from dozens of schools that I’ve visited, folks in the hospital whom I’ve brought the Eucharist – literally thousands of people across the Archdiocese and the country.
I’m not doing this for myself. Being with the people of God, being able to bring Christ to them, and witnessing them grow in love and faith has been more rewarding and more fruitful in my own life with Christ than anything else I’ve done.
Who has supported you along the way, and what would you like to say to them?
There have been so many people, but I’ll especially mention that my mom, a few of my close friends, several priests, and a number of people in different parishes have been more influential and supportive of me than they might know. I’m not always great at telling them this, but I want to thank them for their witness of faith, especially when I’ve been doubting, and their constant friendship which has given me the encouragement to carry on.
There is also my father, who died in 2005. He was there to see my early enthusiasm for the faith and the priesthood, and he supported me in that. Only the Lord knows how different this journey may have been had he been here with me, but I am confident that his prayers have helped bring me here today.
How do you feel as your ordination day approaches?
Excited, nervous, relieved? I’m not sure. I first thought about this over 20 years ago, and it feels almost surreal that it’s about to happen. To be honest, I’m looking forward more to the days after my ordination than the celebration itself – just getting to live and work as an ordained minister. There’s so much emotion and anticipation that I have for (June) 16th that the anxiety is killing me!
What are you most excited about as you begin serving God’s people as a deacon?
It was participating in the liturgy that brought me to ordination, and it’s leading the liturgy that I’m most looking forward to after ordination. When I think about the deacon’s parts in the Mass, I am excited that I will be able to take up this role and offer something for the people that I haven’t been able to yet. I’ve also already told many friends that I’ll be ready and happy to baptize their newborns and bless their houses; I want to share those joyful moments with them.
One thing I’ve realized during my time in seminary is that the Lord usually answers my prayers in unexpected ways. While there have been times when I’ve had some epiphany or consolation come through personal prayer, more often than not I’ve found His responses come via the Holy Spirit in the insights, kindnesses, generosity, and counsels of the people He has put in my life.
And so, knowing that in the priesthood I will be challenged in numerous and difficult ways, and knowing that I will be tempted to turn inward when that happens, my prayer for my future ministry is that I won’t forget, or underappreciate, or ignore that reality. The greatest joys of my ministry thus far have been with the people of God, and I hope that I will always be able to find the voice and the face of the Lord in the people I will serve.
