My family thus served as the foundation for my vocation. Christ invited me to His service little by little. I had never really considered being a priest until I went to college and a priest asked me the question directly: “Do you want to be a priest?” That question was enough to plant the seed in my heart.

I joined the Newman Center at my college. During a weekend retreat, at the nudging of the Holy Spirit, I publicly acknowledged that I was considering the priesthood. I admitted this in front of everyone in attendance – even our bishop! It was the first time that I realized that my discernment process was not an interior one alone, but rather a communal enterprise. If I were really called to the priesthood, answering that call would be the fruit of a prayer life immersed in a Christian community.

For five years, I struggled with great doubts and insecurity while pursuing my calling to the priesthood. Even so, I entered the seminary right after college, and spent two of my seminary years in Mexico City. Covid brought me back home to Washington, where I spent a pastoral year in service. That year, I was blessed with the grace of conviction for my calling.

Saying “yes” wasn’t the hard part in my vocation journey…. Staying committed to that “yes,” remaining faithful to my love for Jesus – that was the hard part. I am grateful for those moments of grace wherein I received great consolation and conviction to keep moving forward.

I have come to understand that my heart alone is too weak to serve God properly. To be a good priest, I’ll need a heart like Christ’s, one that beats in sync with His Sacred Heart. I desire to serve Him with faith, joy, zeal, and humility.

I have a deep desire to be a diocesan priest in my home diocese of Yakima, Washington, because I want to give back to my hometown community and immerse myself in the lives of my parishioners, just as Christ immersed Himself in the lives of His disciples. In anticipating the priesthood, I look forward to loving people as Christ loved them, with an undivided heart dedicated to service.