My priestly journey began during my childhood in St. Mary's Parish in Des Plaines, Illinois with the happy example of the parish priests and the encouragement of my family and teachers. With an open mind, I attended high school in Chicago at Quigley Preparatory Seminary North. My years at Quigley North fostered my vocation through the priestly example of the archdiocesan priests who served on the faculty. Upon graduation from high school in 1984, I was confident that God was calling me toward the priesthood so I entered the college seminary of the Archdiocese of Chicago.

Providence would then guide me to the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., for an education in the study of philosophy. I graduated from there in 1988 with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and again in 1989 with a master’s degree in philosophy. At this point in my life, my family had been relocated to North Richland Hills, Texas; thus, on the basis of this fact and in light of the critical need for priests in North Texas, I discerned to move to Texas and to study for the Fort Worth diocese. I attended St. Mary’s Seminary in Houston and was ordained a priest at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Fort Worth on June 3, 1994.

My priestly ministry has involved various and diverse assignment: parochial vicar, graduate studies, teaching, seminary formation, pastor, and vicar general. The constant unifying factor throughout these different assignments has been the love of God offered through the celebration of the Eucharist with the People of God. I thank God daily for His call to serve His people as a priest. I am grateful and privileged to serve as rector of Holy Trinity Seminary to help other men to persevere in discernment of their own vocations.