Vocation Story

My call to the priesthood has been a slow process. Just out of high school, I attended Rockford College for two years.  I took a variety of classes since I was unsure of my major.  I lived on campus even though my home was just across town.  Rockford College was a great experience both socially and emotionally.  After only two years to I left Rockford College since I did not have a major and tuition was expensive.  The next five years I worked in a number of different jobs including: painting, shoe sales, hardware, janitorial, factory work, and a variety of different positions at the local YMCA. Never once did I think about becoming a priest.  I lived at home until I went back to school at Illinois State University.  This was another great experience because I met my second group of friends here.  The education classes did not prepare students very well for teaching, but like I said I met some great people whom I still am in contact with today. I dated a number of women during this time. I must admit, classes were not all that important, but the women and my friends were.

My teaching career started at a Catholic elementary school.  I started mid-year and I taught fifth grade for a year and a half. It was here that I met a great priest who had a positive influence on me.  He asked me to think about the priesthood and I told him he was crazy. I decided to try the public school system and I ended up teaching at five different schools in a variety of positions: second grade teacher, technology person, filled in as assistant principal, and Title I math and reading teacher. I met many dedicated and hard-working men and women and overall it was a good experience, though frustrating at times.  During this time I had several serious girlfriends and nearly married one.  It was a heartbreaking experience but it drove me closer to God.  Soon after I started attending daily mass and increased my time at the Blessed Sacrament Chapel. Starting four years ago I have felt a strong calling to the priesthood.  Last spring I sold my house and entered the seminary. If it is God's will, I will be ordained  in four years.