I began thinking about the priesthood when I was an altar boy in grade

school. I remember wondering to myself if I could ever do the duties of

priesthood. I loved serving in the early morning when the church was so

peaceful and quiet and relished the time of helping in the Mass. I

would occasionally think about the priesthood throughout grade school

until I became a teenager and entered high school.

High school started and the thoughts of the priesthood were replaced by

the usual thoughts and desires of teenagers. I never once thought about

the priesthood throughout high school and college. Even after I

graduated from college and entered the workforce, those earlier thoughts of priesthood did not return. Not until about 7 years after graduating from college did I again think about a vocation. It all came back to me with just one simple question.

I was working in a doctor's office when our Parish priest came in for a

check-up. We were short-handed that day, so in addition to my normal

duties I had to do all the pre-examination duties for the patients.

While doing the pre-exam, Father John and I were talking and he asked me if I was married yet. I told him that I wasn't and then he asked me a

simple question, "Have you ever thought about the priesthood?" I think

at the time I laughed it off but the question kept coming back to me

again and again in the next year. After about a year or so of wondering

I decided to act on my questions.

The question of a vocation was persistent and I was feeling pretty

confused. I was wondering what to do with my life when I came across a

poster for the vocation office in Rockford and a postcard to send away

for more information. I took one and let it sit on my desk for awhile.

I really began to open up my eyes and ears and began to see and hear

things that could have been coincidences, but I think otherwise.

Sermons about vocations seemed to be directed at me, family members

talking to me about vocations, reading material that I just "happened"

to pick seemed to be pointing me in that direction. All these little

things began to add up to push me to pursue the question of vocations.

I finally sent away for information from the vocation office.

When I sent away for the information I think that my mind was already

made up. Through my prayer and reflection I came to the conclusion that

God is calling me to enter into the seminary. I began the process of

applying to the Diocese and applying to Mundelein Seminary. I was

accepted by both and have been a seminarian for 6 years now. I know that God is calling me to be one of His priests, to offer up the Holy

Sacrifice of the Mass for the sanctification of the world. I will put

all my trust and faith in our Blessed Lord's hands and I will humbly do

his will with the help of the prayers of the Church Militant, the Church

Suffering and the Church Triumphant.