We also prayed a lot as a family which initiated me into, from an early age, good relationship with God and an active prayer life. My mother has been always for me a person of great faith. She is the one who encouraged us - my two sisters and brother - to pray together before we went to school in the morning.

I attended public grammar school and then Catholic high school. I was active in my parish's youth group. I served as an altar boy from my early childhood through my graduation from high school. Yet never did it cross my mind that perhaps the priesthood really was for me.

My vocation story begins in my third year of high school. I was seventeen at that time (our school system is a little bit different). While attending my Catholic high school I had a chance to participate in a six-month - long education program abroad a two - masted schooner that took me and 40 others students to Cape Horn and several South American and Caribbean ports, and across the Atlantic Ocean to the Azores and finally back home to Poland. So I can say that I am not a stranger to the sea.

It may sound strange a bit but during that long voyage I heard God calling me to the priesthood. Along this journey I have found a deeper inner calling of Christ. It is a calling that can not be spelled out. I didn't pick up an ad and call a number. I only answered my heart and the voice inside and knew that when I was completely with Christ I was the happiest. I remember during my sailing experience sitting long hours on the deck and just think how much God loves me and how I could not respond to His love for me. I felt at that time and still fill it today that great love that needs to be shared, love that impels to love. I realize that priesthood is the best chance for me to express that.

So, God took me there - to the ocean, to the deep - to show me what he wanted me to do. But still I was asking myself if I really should do it, am I good enough, am I worthy. And then the words of Jesus that were stressed many times by our late beloved John Paul II were coming to my mind. The words "Do Not Be Afraid" that gave courage to Peter to walk on the water, those words gave me courage to push my doubts away, to trust more, maybe to take a risk but answer with - YES. So, I did, I took that chance God was giving me to be his servant to be His "Fisher of Men". I confess that it took me a number of weeks to pry my hand off of "my plan" for life but having finally said yes, I have found a great peace and joy which convince me that the path I have chosen was in fact not chosen by me. It was chosen for me by the One who loves me beyond all telling.

I am so happy I answered YES.

So how did I end up in Providence? This too can be a long story but briefly - My Yes found fulfillment in entering Diocesan Seminary in Plock, Poland where I studied for 3 years. Then following the advice of my friend form seminary and listening to the missionary spirit within me I came to United Stated in 2004. I came to SS. Cyril and Methodius Seminary in Orchard Lake, Michigan. I completed my English as a Second Language program and entered my second year of theology in 2005.

In Orchard Lake I met fellow Jacek Ploch, also native of Poland who invited me to check out Providence choosing my future diocese. When I got there to Rhode Island in September 2005 I knew that it is part of God's plan for me. I fell in love with Rhode Island right away. After visiting couple of places and meeting few people in Diocese of Providence I was sure that I wanted to be there. From the first day I came to diocese, I felt at home and welcomed. I have met many great priests who have given me a feeling that I would be helpful in the church here. I met Father Marcel L. Taillon, diocesan Vocation director, who visited our seminary and talked about Diocese of Providence. Then in January 2006 I was officially invited by Bishop Thomas J. Tobin to study for the priesthood for the Diocese of Providence.

I pray that you, who read my vocation story, may have the courage to go "into the deep" and ask God for His plan for you.