I grew up in a Catholic family and attended Catholic school K - 12, but the idea of becoming a priest never crossed my mind until my junior year of high school. During adoration, at a retreat, I prayed "Lord what do you want me to do with my life?" Right then, the thought of the priesthood came into my head. My initial response was, "sorry wrong number." I ran from the prospect of a priestly calling for about 9 months. Yet, through the influence of priests in my life, I began to realize that I could not keep running from the Lord. I opened myself up to honestly discerning a potential call to the priesthood. During my senior year, I realized that if God was calling me to be a priest, it was because that is what he made me for, and the priesthood would bring me the greatest amount of joy, peace, and happiness in this life. I recognized that I needed to at least take the next step in discernment and enter the seminary. Since that time the Lord has fulfilled that desire, He has given me more joy, peace, and fulfillment than I could ever have hoped to receive. I enjoy baseball, fishing, splitting wood, reading, drinking coffee, and good conversations. My priest aspiration is to walk with people in the joys and sufferings of their life.