I was baptized Catholic but never practicing until I was in fifth grade where my brother and I received confirmation and first Communion through RCIA at Holy Cross, in Batavia. After this I became a faithful Catholic in the reception of the sacraments and quickly began to grow in the faith. Upon the summer going into freshman year, Fr. Jim Parker was assigned to Holy Cross, and quickly made an impact on my life spiritually, Along with Fr. Dan Deutsch, the Pastor, they both continued to encourage me to grow in faith and pray pray pray. After leaping into this I quickly began to learn some of the true aspects of the faith. I continued this for the remainder of my high school career under the spiritual direction of Fr. Deutsch. After growing closer and closer to our Lord, especially through the sacrament of reconciliation, I began to wonder if I had a call to the religious life. After discussing this with my parish priests, I began to get more active in the church. I was already an altar server, but then I joined the parish's Peer Ministry team, and the Quo Vadis program. The Quo Vadis program in the parish especially helped me in my discernment to learn what I would potentially be getting myself into. After participating in this for several years and growing closer in friendship to Fr. Deutsch I soon felt that God was calling me to give seminary a try right out of high school. Under close spiritual direction with Fr. Deutsch I then decided that I was going to give this a try. I couldn't have done this without the support of my parents who were very open and encouraging to the idea, as well as a very supportive parish at Holy Cross. After deciding this I began to pray the Divine Office, and to increase my prayer life, especially through the sacraments. After continuing this sacramental journey, I began to put myself out there by getting involved in other parish ministry. This included bring holy Communion to the homebound, and to take that approach of increasing my faith. This was a big part in my life for me as well, because I felt like I was doing something so selfless for a change, because I felt that I was caught up in a world where I focused on myself. Through this ministry I was truly reaffirmed in my decision to go into seminary at the end of that summer. Growing up I was always fascinated with the Catholic Church, and when I look back on my life it is the one thing that has always remained unchanging. And I hope to embark on the spiritual journey in life by the grace of the Holy Spirit.