See, my father owns a roofing company and planned since my birth that I was to take it over. Furthermore, he also had my future family planned, that I will have a wife and many children (mostly boys) to carry on the family name. To their surprise, God had a different plan I feel.

When I first told them of my call when I entered high school, they did not encourage me at all. While at the High School of Commerce, I joined Army JROTC and earned my way up through the ranks, and I saw my parents proud and happy for me. In order to please my parents I joined the US Army Reserves and went to a military college, Norwich University. This pleased them, but hurt me. I went along this path my parents set up for me when I knew God was calling me in a different direction.

After a lot of praying and convincing my parents, I left Norwich and transferred to Our Lady of the Elms College to study Religion. I figured if I study religion I am still open to God's call and can please my parents because I am not formally in seminary. I found out I can convince myself a lot of things, and more easily my parents, but God was not convinced.

I contacted the Diocese of Springfield and after several meetings with the Vocation Director, Father Gary Dailey, I made a decision to apply to the Diocese. After the application process was completed I met with Bishop McDonnell who accepted me as a college seminarian and assigned me to the Seminary of Our Lady of Providence in Providence, Rhode Island. For my college study I was transferred to Providence College, which is a Catholic college run by the Dominican Friars.

So here I am, studying for the Diocese, a junior at PC. These past couple years have been the best years of my life. Each day I feel a sense of fulfilling, I feel like God is tugging my heart closer and closer to Him. My parents have finally accepted that I am carrying out what I feel my vocation is. They now understand that God has given them me, and now they have to give me back to God. What is there for me to do now? All I can do is pray, study, and do the work I am assigned. I feel as if I am right where God wants me, I put my total trust and my life in His hands; and through Mary whatever His will is I pray will be accomplished.

My advice for you who actually read my entire autobiography: If you are questioning a call in your life to be a priest, give seminary a try! What more could you ask for, but to live in community with men your age who are contemplating the same call as you? To live in a house where our Eucharistic Lord is, to attend daily Mass, frequent confession, adore our Lord in Holy Hours, pray the breviary, pray the rosary, attend spiritual direction, formation nights, etc. There is nothing to lose attending seminary, just gain! Gain knowledge in your faith, gain spiritual brothers, gain prayer, gain memories! The best place to discern a call is within the walls of a seminary. Is God calling you? Will you answer His call?