I have been a priest since the year 2000. I was blessed to be ordained in June of 2000, the Jubilee year, starting this new millennium In grand fashion.
I was ordained with Father Tim Nelson, who is the pastor of Saint Mary, star of the sea downtown, and also with one of my older brothers. I have two brothers that are priests. One was ordained with me, Father Adam McDonald, who was a missionary with the society of the Divine Word. We've now been plying this trade for a quarter century, and it's especially rewarding to see the kids who are going to graduate this year. I've been here as their pastor since they were in kindergarten, and that's a beautiful thing to help our families grow in faith and to watch their children grow into Catholic young adults who know, love and serve the Lord.
As to how did I decide to become a priest? Well, Father Adam joined the seminary before I did, and at first I resisted that. I had a girlfriend all throughout high school, and, even after I graduated was applying to a seminary. And so I was weighing these two things, and I called to that lady from I called to the priesthood. Every young person has to ask themselves that question. It's not a sacrifice if we're not giving something up.
And yet, I believe, after an influential pastor who was in my life from the time I was a baby until the time I was a teenager, I saw how he loved his flock and served as a good shepherd.
That was very inspirational to me. And then when I broke up with that girlfriend and went into the seminary, I found that it was the shoe that fit. I couldn't get enough of all the activities we were involved in. Prayer, daily mass, and especially helping the poor.
The various programs that we engaged in throughout my eight years in seminary, was just God's blessing on my life and on my priesthood as I learned how to look out for the least among us. So I hope to be a priest for ever. That's what the Scripture tells us. You'll be a priest forever, according to the line of Melchizedek. So let's look at the next 25 years. Thank God for the last 25 years and keep pushing towards heaven and happiness.
ALL ROADS CATHOLIC MEDIA
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