 My mom and Dad used to tell me that my journey to the priesthood started pretty much as a kid. This was reflected in my early year of childhood as I used to imitate the priests saying part of the mass in Latin to my fellow kids like “Dominus vobiscum” even though I didn’t know what it meant. The desire then grew and blossomed as I asked to become an Altar server in my third grade and became one of the youngest Altar boys in the group. I continued throughout my early years to serve on the Altar up to high school when I expressed to my parents and pastor that I wanted to join the seminary and become a priest. My parents without a doubt were very instrumental in nursing and nurturing the seed of my vocation as they provided to me a very conducive atmosphere to see priesthood as a value. The religious atmosphere of praying the rosary and night prayers together everyday, morning prayers and mass, prayers after the meals and periodic visits by the priests to our home got me into affirming my inner desire and call to become a priest. It has been sixteen years since I have been a priest and I can say that it has been a moment of great blessings, joy and happiness as I served the different communities! Saint Charles Borromeo has been for me, “a home far away from home” and everybody has been gracious to me. I hope and pray that the many young faces in our parish community will one day experience the joy of priesthood as I do with the support of their families which have been to me “the nursery”that enable the seed of my vocation to grow and blossom! |  I grew up a few blocks away from my local parish, St. Peter Church in Merchantville. Throughout my entire life, I always felt a very strong connection to my parish and, for my family, it was the center of our lives. I was an altar boy, lector, and active member of the youth group. I was sent to Catholic grade school from Kindergarten through Eighth Grade and the Filippini Sisters instructed me. Then I attended Camden Catholic High School in Cherry Hill. Ultimately, I believe that it was through the good example of my parents, various religious sisters and holy priests that helped to foster the setting for answering God’s call. I entered priestly formation immediately after high school (1999) and the Camden Diocese sent me to study philosophy at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary. In 2007, I graduated from major seminary at the Catholic University of America. Some of my pastoral experiences include both urban and suburban parish internships, campus ministry, service to the poor, and hospital chaplaincy. Over the past ten years of preparation for ministry, I have also participated in various immersion programs to learn languages by living abroad: Spanish (Dominican Republic ‘01 and Mexico ‘07), Italian (Rome ’06) and French (Paris ’08). I was ordained a priest on May 16, 2009 in Cherry Hill and sent back to Washington, D.C., to complete advanced studies before starting here at St. Charles Parish in June 2010. I have been thoroughly enjoying my experience of parish ministry. |
