Welcome, one and all!

Greetings, and welcome to my blog!  I wanted to be able to have a way to share the events of my journey towards the Priesthood with all of my friends and family, and since I know not everyone is on Facebook, I figured this would be a good way to do it.  I don't know how much I will update before I leave, but I wanted to get it in place, because as many of you may know, I am going to Cali, Colombia for my Spring Break, to spend some time with the Basilians there, as well as with the other Associates, who are also, God Willing, joining the Basilian order, and will also become Priests.  I wanted to be able to share those experiences with you.

I also wanted to share something that I was thinking about today.  I was thinking back about how I made the decision to become a Priest in the first place, and I realized that this weekend, it will be 1 year since I came to believe that God was calling me to Priesthood.  It's amazing how those experiences stick with us, and although memories of other events over the past year have faded, that one remains clear as day.  I can still see myself kneeling in the chapel on that vocation retreat, feeling a presence I had never felt before, and somehow just knowing that God was calling me.  It was exciting, scary, nerve-racking, and a whole other host of emotions all at the same time!  But over the past year, I have been amazed at how things have seemed to just "fall into place" so to speak, whether it be Fr. Chris Valka offering to take me to Toronto so that I could see more of the Basilians than what I had encountered in Las Cruces, or my being accepted as an Associate, or even my change in my Prayer life, where I started to make Daily Mass a priority over things like watching TV or taking an afternoon nap.

That isn't to say that this past year hasn't been full of challenges... in fact, if anything, the challenges I am facing are increasing as I draw closer and closer to my departure to join the Basilians, and begin my Postulency this summer.  I am constantly reminded of my own sinfulness, and my unworthiness to respond to this call.  But I know that where there is a will, there is a way, and if God's will is for me to become a Priest, He will help me to come to more fully know His grace and mercy, and help me to be the best Priest that I can be.  I know that the road ahead is not going to be easy, but I have confidence that if my trust is in God, I will be able to make the journey a successful one.

And so, I ask for your prayers.  Know that you will be in mine as well.

God Bless!