BACKGROUND

I grew up in Huntington Beach but ended up moving to the city of Orange around 3rd grade. I grew up with two sisters and one brother. I eventually graduated from UC Irvine and worked a few years before entering the seminary. I was not very involved with parish ministry as our family would usually just go to mass on Sundays and leave afterwards.

What are some of the factors that led to your decision to enter the seminary and discern the question of a vocation to the priesthood?

I wanted to die knowing I lived a meaningful life and I felt that this was the direction God had chosen for me. There was a feeling that there was someone who had known me for a long time and I had known this person but I was quite far away from this person, and the path to the seminary was my path back. My decision to enter seminary was very nostalgic in that I felt I was on the path back home to a place I had always known about.

Who are some of the people who influenced your decision to enter the seminary? What is it about them that assisted you?

My parents first of all, for forming the foundation of my life as a person and as a Catholic.

Describe the moment that you knew you wanted to take the next steps to become a priest?

I wouldn’t say there was any step that knew for sure because each step of the way I had some doubts. I took it step by step, but each major step was usually because of something a priest said or encouraged me to do.