Do your family and friends think it is a good idea that you’re becoming a priest? All have been enormously supportive and encouraging.
Do you ever have any fun? What do you do in your free time? I always have fun. My whole life is fun. There’s nothing about the seminary that changes any of that. I enjoy going out to dinner with classmates. At least once a week, I take the Boston subway, or “T,” into town to enjoy the cultural amenities Boston offers.
If you were not a priest, what do you think you would be? I’m doing this backwards. I’ve been a Naval officer, a lawyer, and a judge. I’ve saved the best for last.
How many brothers and sisters do you have? I’m an only child.
What is your favorite TV program? I enjoy news and public affairs programming. I have a TV in my room so I can catch a little TV each day to keep up with what’s going on. I also enjoy sports, especially baseball and college basketball.
Who is your favorite singer or music group? I’m into Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Tony Bennett, and the new singers performing the tunes in the American Songbook.
Do you ever get bored while studying to be a priest? Our studies are both interesting and exciting. I’ve never experienced boredom.
How is a seminary different than a regular school? I attended college and law school at two mid-sized state universities. Here the numbers are much smaller. The seminary has only about 60. My class has only 15. We live, eat, pray, and go to school under the same roof. As a consequence, the seminary is a much more intimate experience. My schedule is more structured than my prior university experiences. In addition to classes, we have set times for meals, chapel, and pastoral ministry. I am not confined in any way and get off the property every day, but I do have obligations requiring my presence at set times during the day.
How often do you see your family? Because I’m in the Boston area, I can get home to Tampa only for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter and spring breaks, and for the summers. Family and friends can visit me here, however, and they do. In addition, I use Skype each day to keep up with friends by videoconference.
Can you really be happy as a priest since priests don’t make much money? Pay is not an issue. No one becomes a priest to get rich. Nevertheless, priests live comfortably. The Church provides many things, such as housing and food, for which others have to pay.
Who helped you decide to become a priest? Those who helped me decide are too numerous to list. In addition to wonderful parents, I’ve been blessed over my entire life with many priests, deacons, teachers, mentors, and friends in the Church who have guided my spiritual growth. I could not have done this without their encouragement.
When did you decide to study to be a priest? My decision was an evolutionary process. I was actively involved in lay ministry in my parish and the diocese for a long time. I had a yearning to do more in ministry to help people. One day, all of my excuses for not going to the seminary seemed unsatisfactory and shallow. So I decided to give it a try. My only regret is that I did not do it earlier.
What do you think the best thing will be about being a priest? I am looking forward to bringing the sacraments, especially the Eucharist, to the people of God.
