Writing
A collection of my writing — reflections, speeches, parish visits, and bulletins.
Universal Prayers
Part of my job is writing the Universal Prayer/Prayers of the Faithful for use in liturgies celebrating Sundays and Solemnities. I’ve decided to share my work on these for others who may want to use them or might find them resourceful.
Fall 2021
This Spring, it became clear to me that God’s immediate plan for me was not priestly formation. This discernment kind of snuck up on me; the Lord certainly sticks to His own timeframe! Yet, He has, of course, proved again and again His immense goodness in the process. And, despite any uncertainty this past summer, He has brought me, in a sense, ‘back to basics’, with the lesson that He is Almighty — NOT me! — and that this a great thing!
Affirmation: Father Michael Becker
Vocation Story
Visita a la Parroquia de San Jose Obrero
Parish Visit: Cathedral of Saint Andrew
Spring 2020
Things are, largely, going well for Peter and me, as well as the rest of the guys here. I think it is safe to say that the current crisis of the Church weighs on us during this time of formation, but it is two-fold: on the one hand, it would be a lie to say that we are not tired of reading headline after headline of scandal, abuse and cover-up (etc.) On the other hand, as I’m sure all of us have experienced in our own way, Christ makes all things new – even evil.
Fall 2019
Things are, largely, going well for Peter and me, as well as the rest of the guys here. I think it is safe to say that the current crisis of the Church weighs on us during this time of formation, but it is two-fold: on the one hand, it would be a lie to say that we are not tired of reading headline after headline of scandal, abuse and cover-up (etc.) On the other hand, as I’m sure all of us have experienced in our own way, Christ makes all things new – even evil.
"Nothing in this world lasts."
"Nothing in this world lasts," said Bishop Walkowiak. How true this is! Thanks be to God, our Redeemer promises us a new life, in a new world to come. I find such hope in this act of His goodness and mercy.
Hope, Life, and Affirmation
I am honored to have had some presence in the grace-filled weekend the Freedom Team led. Personally, I received so many blessings over the course of the 36 short hours we were together. Principal among them were the grace of renewed hope, the gift of life, and a sense of affirmation from our Heavenly Father.
Season of Hope
As we head into Advent and Christmas, hope is the “key word” of the times. These two seasons express most fully the hope Christ continues to bring to the world through His incarnation over two millennia ago. I pray that this year, the grace of this gift will truly flow into the Church. This is a trying time for us, and we could all use a dose of it.
One month in...
When I decided to delete my Facebook prior to this school year, I promised to start posting more updates on here — this is a brief update on the start of the school year.
First become good sons...
“We must first become good sons, and then good brothers, if we ever hope to become good fathers.”These words are taken from what was, for me, the most memorable homily of the over two-hundred I heard in this first year of formation at Saint John Vianney College Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota. In preaching them, Father John Whitlock (Diocese of Lansing) accurately summed up the entire process of formation called for by our seminary’s mission/motto.
"Iron Sharpens Iron"
Unarguably, the biggest influences on any man (that I know) who is discerning priesthood are the priests that have affected his life. For me, this is also true. But perhaps a close second is the support and example of friends and peers, their insight into their own lives and/or their advice to me for my own life, which points me to the path Christ has set for me.
A Thank You
As the past three months have gone by, I have not only learned a lot about the reality of running a parish, but have also been afforded many opportunities to grow in my understanding of who God is and how He reveals Himself to us through His Works and Church. All of this has been very touching for me and will, I know, serve as a powerful tool in the (long) process of discerning priesthood. I am indebted to everyone who has helped make these past few months a time of serious learning and growth for me.