I had first felt the calling to serve the Lord at age five. Assisting at the altar captured me, and after begging my parents to take us on a visit to the Byzantine Seminary at age thirteen, my resolve was strengthened all the more.

Yet just because I was sure of my own vocation, the process was not that simple. I had married my high school sweetheart, who grew up Roman Catholic, and we together needed to discern whether or not she was called to be a priest’s wife.  In the end, she agreed to trust the Lord and follow me down the path of priestly vocation.

As I attempted to discern which Eparchy to enter, I happened to meet the local bishop. He asked my wife and I to meet with him again, and during that meeting, he suggested I consider entering a Byzantine seminary located in Austria. It just so happened that I had been interested in that seminary before, so we excitedly agreed

My call to serve as a Byzantine priest involves my love for the Divine Liturgy as well as the Eastern-Rite spirituality, customs and theological expression. I feel a deep connection to the mercy of God in the mystery of Repentance. It is this sacrament which I am most excited to provide as a priest, as I’ve been blessed with so many mercies from God myself.