Come follow me! With these words, Jesus called the disciples. They had trials and disappointments. They were confused and did not know where the Lord was leading them, but they followed him anyway.
As I approach my Ordination to the Priesthood, I have had an opportunity to reflect on my vocational journey. Through this reflection I have come to understand how the disciples might have felt, as they followed Jesus. My vocational journey was not easy. I, like the disciples, had many trials and obstacles to overcome. I remember when I started my journey, I had just finished High School, applied and was accepted to St. John’s Seminary in Brighton, MA; I was sponsored by the Diocese of Fall River, this was my home diocese. After a year of seminary, I decided to take time off. I returned home to attend the local Community College and take courses that I needed. I took courses and decided to move out and find my own place to live. I lived in an apartment in downtown, New Bedford and continued my courses. After a few months, I found it was difficult to take courses and work, so, I left the college and began working. First I started at Subway, then McDonald’s, and finally at Friendly’s Restaurant where I became a manager. I worked at; Friendly’s for four years and enjoyed it. It was a job and it paid the bills. I was ok with that, but there was something inside of me that kept nagging; something that kept telling me, this was not where I belonged. Through reflection and constant prayer, I realized that this nagging was our Lord. He knew where I belonged and he wanted me to get there. But How? How was I going to do this? I remembered what my religion teacher told me in grammar school. Each day, Sister Louise Angel told us to take Jesus’ hand and he would lead us. I realized that in the years prior I had not allowed Jesus to lead me, but that I was leading Him. I met a priest who helped me to enter the seminary again, this time, at Holy Apostles College and Seminary in Cromwell, CT. Holy Apostles is one of the only seminaries that will accept men unsponsored and help them to find a Diocese. Because I had studied for the Fall River Diocese in the past, I needed permission from then, Bishop Sean O’Malley, now Cardinal Archbishop of Boston, to enter Holy Apostles. I sought out his recommendation and it was through his recommendation that, I was accepted to Holy Apostles. Soon, I received Diocesan Sponsorship from the Diocese of Norwich and began my formation.
My years of formation included many experiences that have helped me in my preparation for the Priesthood. One summer I was asked to go to Mexico to study Spanish. I was a little apprehensive, but I went and thoroughly enjoyed it. Next, in 2004 I was asked to take a Pastoral Year; I really did not want to do this, but, I thought, if I want to be a priest then I need to do what is asked of me. Well, one pastoral year turned into two. In March of 2005, I was asked to take on an added year away from the seminary. I really, really did not want to do this, but once again, I knew that my vocation depended on it. I knew that at anytime I could have packed it in and gone home, but I also knew that the Lord was still calling me to the priesthood and that I needed to go where I was asked. This adventure took me to Houston, Texas where I was enrolled in a Clinical Pastoral Education Program, or, as it is more commonly known as CPE. This program put me in the midst of a Level I Trauma Center in the heart of Houston’s Medical District. There I was a full-time Resident Chaplain and ministered to patients of all faiths. Through this ministry, I ministered to many patients, especially, those who in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, came to our hospital seeking medical help. I heard stories of how people had been rescued and lost everything. I worked 24-hour on-call shifts and dealt with many trauma cases that came through our Emergency Room, which by the way was the busiest in Houston. This experience allowed me to love and appreciate the importance of the Chaplain, or priests, role in hospitals. After completing this year in Houston, I returned home to Connecticut and to Holy Apostles College and Seminary to finish my Third Year of Theology and was ordained a Transitional Deacon on, May 22, 2007 for service in the Diocese of Norwich.
Most recently, after finishing my Fourth Year of Theology at Holy Apostles, on May 2 of this month, I walked down the aisle, received my diploma, and became an alumnus of Holy Apostles College and Seminary.
As you can see, my vocational journey is filled with trials, obstacles and many joys. Just like the disciples, there have been times of confusion, trials and joy, but through this all, I have come to realize that when you answer the Master and accept his call, “To follow me,” you never know where He will take you.
On, Saturday, May 31, 2008, His Excellency, The Most Reverend Michael R. Cote, D.D., will ordain me a Priest of Jesus Christ in the Cathedral of Saint Patrick, Norwich, CT. As I look forward and celebrate my Ordination to the Priesthood, I am filled with joy and thanksgiving that the Lord never abandoned me, but that he helped me, even more, to answer the call to “Follow Him!”