After becoming Catholic, I went to Mass every weekend, and participated as an altar server as often as I could. One of my teachers asked me if I had thought about the priesthood. I began to think about it and felt that I had a calling, so shortly after graduating, I reached out to the local vocations director. He felt I had some maturing to do before I would be ready to take the next steps.

I trained as an EMS tech, and worked in that field for about six years. Then, during COVID, I began discerning again. I felt I definitely had a calling of some kind. I decided to attend Briar Cliff, a Franciscan university. There, I became involved with campus ministry, including speaking to area high school students about the importance of their faith. During this time, I discerned that instead of the diocesan priesthood, I was being called to religious life. I met with various orders, and the Franciscans reached out to me in return.

As my work in the EMS field indicates, I have a desire to help the less fortunate in their time of need. The Franciscan Order of Friars Minor serve the community around them. I love how they roll up their sleeves and dive in. Whether it’s in ministry or running hospitals, clinics, and other public services, they help others — and in doing so, bring the Gospel to the people and are Christ to others.

I look forward to living in community with the Franciscans, continuing to grow in holiness, and living a life of service to others around me.