Church of St. Elizabeth of Hungary, Melville

High School: St. Anthony’s High School

College: The University of Scranton

Hobbies: Chess (currently)

Favorite Saint: St Peter Faber

Favorite Bible Verse: “Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action.” (1 Jn 3:18) “If I say, ‘Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light around me become night,’ even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is as bright as the day, for darkness is as light to you.” (Ps 139:11-12) “For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.” (Mt 16:25)

Favorite Book: Pale Fire by Vladimir Nabokov and Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh are probably my favorite novels. In terms of theology books, it is Catholicism by de Lubac, Introduction to Christianity by Ratzinger, or Grammar of Assent by Newman. I will probably give the edge to Newman.

Vocation Influencers:  Fr. Rick Malloy, SJ, Msgr. Frank Schneider, Fr. Irinel Racos, and Fr. Tom Quinn were the most impactful for my vocation

Early movements in your vocation: The earliest moment I can recall thinking about the priesthood was during Mass when I was in elementary school. My mom had mentioned that I had large hands like priests do so I stared at Msgr. Scheider’s hands during Mass. I was staring at his hands during the elevation and my gaze drifted to the Eucharist. I had an immediate sense that something was different about the Eucharist, even if I could not yet articulate the Real Presence. Almost immediately, after sensing the Real Presence, I felt a strong desire to be a priest one day. This feeling would come and go for years, but this was the first time I ever felt a strong attraction to the priesthood.