Anticipated Priestly Ordination: 2020
Home Parish: Saint Paul Cathedral, Pittsburgh, PA
Other Parishes I Call "Home": The Catholic Community of Lawrence County, PA, St. Joseph in Verona, PA, St. Charles Lawanga in Pittsburgh's East End, St. Benedict the Moor in the Hill District and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Carnegie, PA.
Seminary: St. Mary’s Seminary and University in Baltimore, MD.
Pastoral Year: Parishes in New Castle and Lawrence County, PA
Career Background: Taught Social Work Macro-Practice at the University of Pittsburgh, specializing in Community Economic Development. Taught American History at Carlow University. Also taught students at Imani Christian Academy, K-12 in Middle School and High School English, Creative Writing and High School Sociological Research Skills.
Previous Work for Diocese Before Entering Seminary: work with parishes on leadership and discipleship among the laity, understanding that the parish is missionary in nature, and developing lay leadership through parish pastoral councils.
Elements Leading to Conversion to Catholicism: I grew up with fragments of the apostolic faith in the liturgical worship of the Methodist church but I wanted a fuller picture, which meant that I would have to go to the source from which we drew our fragments.
Values: To live a life of authenticity. This requires having meaningful and authentic relationships with God and with each other. It means being a member of authentic communities that do not disfigure the dignity of the human person. One of the secrets to living an authentic life is to encounter Christ in ordinary and everyday experiences. The other secret is self-emptying; it is to pour yourself out, unreservedly, in Christ.
The Process of Discernment Before Entering Seminary: 7 years of weekly nocturnal Eucharistic Adoration at the Ryan Catholic Newman Center, Pittsburgh Catholic Oratory.
Advice to Someone Considering a Vocation: Quoting Pope Saint John Paul II: “Do not be afraid. Do not be satisfied with mediocrity. 'Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch' (Luke 5:4).”
Advice from a Priest: Know your own story. Know the stories of your parishioners. Guide and accompany them on their journey to Christ.
Favorite Scripture Passages:
"Truly, truly I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit." John 12:24
“For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?” Mark 8:36
"Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh." Ezekiel 36:26
"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." Philippians 4:8
Favorite Authors of Religious Texts: (besides the obvious: Pope Saint John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI, Pope Francis, Bishop Robert Barron, Cardinal Donald Wuerl, and Mike Aquilina) Richard Rohr, Richard B. Hays, Dennis Billy, Raymond Brown, Michael J. Gorman, Gerald O' Collins, James K.A. Smith, N.T. Wright, Gregory A. Boyd, G.K. Chesterton, Luigi Giussani, James A. Cone, Richard R. Gaillardetz, Ronald D. Witherup, and Richard Rolheiser.
Favorite Saints: Saint Martin de Porres, Saint Ignatius of Loyola, St. Theresa of Avila, and St. John of the Cross.
Favorite Theologians: Hans Urs von Balthasar, Karl Rahner, and James Cone
Spirituality: Somewhat Ignatian
Mottoes: "Grace builds on nature," "Trust the providence that brought you here," "Go forth and set the world on fire."
