Victor Amorose is a native of Clearwater. After graduating from Clearwater High School in 2003, he attended the University of Central Florida in Orlando for two years. In August, 2006 he transferred into St. John Vianney College Seminary. He plays a number of musical instruments, including bass guitar. He has been active in music and campus ministry. His home parish is Light of Christ. He has a younger brother and a younger sister. He graduated from St. John Vianney College Seminary as the valedictorian in May 2007 and is currently enrolled at St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary. Victor is now in III Theology and looking forward to his diaconate ordination in April.
Do your family and friends think it is a good idea that you’re becoming a priest? Yes, both my friends and my family are very supportive of my decision to enter the seminary. When I was applying to the seminary, I was afraid that some of my family and especially many of my friends, since many aren’t Catholic, would not understand my decision, and as a result not support me. However, to my great surprise, this wasn’t the case, and they’ve all been behind me.
Do you ever have any fun? What do you do in your free time? No, the seminary is no place for fun. Just joking…actually to be honest, some people think I might have too much fun. The seminary really is a blast, and despite what most people think there really is a lot to do. Personally I really like to watch movies, jam on guitar, hang with friends, go out for nights on the town, you know…that kinda stuff.
If you were not a priest, what do you think you would be? Well, seeing as how I changed my major too many times while at UCF to count, it’s a little hard to say what exactly I’d be doing. It probably would have either something to do with music or with teaching or with some other kind of ministry for the Church.
How many brothers and sisters do you have? I have 1 brother who is 17 and a junior in high school and a sister who is 12 and in 7th grade.
What is your favorite TV program? My favorite thing on t.v. would be…Smallville (I’m a geek like that) or some good old non booty shaking music videos or something.
Who is your favorite singer or music group? I’ve recently been listening to a lot of The Postal Service and Death Cab for Cutie, so those two bands are probably at the top of my list right now, but I also listen to NoFX, Alkaline Trio, Coheed and Cambria, The Mercury Radio Theater, Blink 182, Franz Ferdinand, Modest Mouse, The Cure, The Pixies, The Mars Volta, Killers, Bravery, Brand New, Boys Night Out, Matt Maher, Relient K, Skillet….I mean, the list goes on and on, but you get a general idea.
Do you ever get bored while studying to be a priest? Between classes, procrastinating, homework, movies, music, food, and everything else, I have a hard time getting bored.
How is a seminary different than a regular school? Having come from another school I have the benefit of being able to compare the two, and honestly there aren’t too many drastic changes. It’s a little bit more strict than, say, UCF or some other major university. There is a uniform, we meet once or twice a day as a community for prayer, and classes are centered on Christian thought and values, so in that way it’s different. On the plus side we get extra breaks that other universities don’t…
How often do you see your family? I get to see my family a lot, whenever we have a break we have the opportunity to come home and see the folks and siblings and aunts and uncles and all that jazz. All in all I’d say that (if you count hurricanes) about 3 or 4 times during the semester you have the chance to go home for at least 5 days, which (if you ask some of my family) is more than enough.
Can you really be happy as a priest since priests don’t make much money? It depends, if money is your only aim and the sole factor deciding if you’ll be happy, then I’d say no. But if you look at how a good priest is able to give himself to his parish and help his flock find what they are looking for, how the priest is able to share in the most intimate moments of people’s lives, and how God will bless those that do His will, then I would say that yes, you could be happy.
Who helped you decide to become a priest? Many priests, including Fr. Jacob, Fr. Kuzmann, Fr. J, Fr. Stephen, and Fr. Len, many friends, including some very close ones at UCF and back home, and of course my family.
What do you think the best thing will be about being a priest? The fact that I will be able to be a significant character in the intimate moments of people’s lives and also knowing that I am hopefully helping people grow closer to God.
