Birthday: March 31
Parish: Ascension, Overland Park
High School: St. James Academy
University: Cardinal Glennon & St. Louis University
Seminary: Cardinal Glennon Seminary College in St. Louis
Year in Seminary: 2nd Year College
Favorite Saint: Pope St. John Paul II
My advice to men considering the priesthood: BE NOT AFRAID: If God is Who He says He is, then pursuing His Plan for you will bring you the most joy and the most peace for yourself, and will bring the most healing and grace to those around you. Keep this in mind, and take time for silent prayer every day, preferably in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament, opening yourself up to God’s Will, for both your overarching Vocation for your life, and your vocation to the people around you for that day. Also, try to limit asking God during prayer about your Vocation to once a week; otherwise, you will drive yourself crazy!
Why I want to be a priest: Primarily, the thought of being able to lay down my life for a large group of people and serving them, especially in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, and in Reconciliation, brings me great joy. In addition, especially during my time in high school, God has awakened this desire in me to help the lead the youth of today and tomorrow away from a life of busy enslavement and distracting addictions, towards one that allows each individual to become more “fully alive” (St. Irenaeus), radiant with authentic joy and interior peace. I yearn to communicate this path of love and sacrifice in ways that the next generation of our Church can understand, from a good game of basketball, to exploring the depths of God’s Creation out in nature, to engaging in fellowship with authentic friends. Currently, I feel that the best way for me personally to live into this calling is as a Roman Catholic priest, where I can stand as a reminder to those around me that, in the words of Pope Benedict, “The world offers you comfort, but you were not made for comfort. You were made for greatness.”
Those who influenced me: My parents and family, Fr. Randolph Sly, Pope St. John Paul II, Fr. Alessandro Borraccia, Fr. Tom Tank, Fr. Nathan Haverland, Fr. Dan Morris, Fr. Scott Wallisch, Dcn. Nicholas Ashmore, Mr. Chris Walters, Mr. Luke Doyle, Dan Mauro, Ryan Geris, and the entire communities of Church of the Ascension, St. James Academy, and Camp Tekakwitha, among countless others.
Hobbies & Interests: Sports (especially ultimate frisbee, running, and lifting), singing, kayaking, acting, camping, reading, philosophy, and just sitting down to enjoy a good slice of bacon.