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I was brought up in a faithful Catholic family. Sacred Heart Church in Groton, Mass., was an important part in the life of my family. I was in the choir, served as an alter boy and occasionally would help my mother clean the church. I do not recall giving much thought to the priesthood at that time. We were blessed with wonderful priests for pastors, and they were very good role models, but I never pictured myself as being a priest. It was not until much later in life that I gave serious consideration to the priesthood.

After completing some studies in electronics I worked for an electronics company for fifteen years. I had been teaching skiing in Vermont and New Hampshire on weekends and holidays for ten years and enjoyed this much more than my “real” job. Something did not seem right, and I had a strong feeling to make a serious change in my life. I mailed out resumes to several ski areas out west, and accepted a full-time job at Heavenly Resort at Lake Tahoe.

Life at Lake Tahoe was great! When spring came I could ski in the morning, then go kayaking on the lake in the afternoon. The mountain biking was also fantastic. But, there was still a feeling that I should be doing something else…or something more. Soon, Sunday Mass led to daily Mass, bible studies, Legion of Mary, outreach, etc, etc. At one point, someone asked me if I had ever considered the priesthood. I basically laughed it off. Before long, however, I could not think of anything but the priesthood. I could be one of hundreds of people at Mass, but if the word priest, or vocation was used in the homily…it was as though I was the only person in the church. God was speaking to me, and I could tell that He knew I was aware of it.

After two years of discernment with a local priest, I applied to a pre-theology program at Franciscan University. While studying there, I lived at Sacred Heart of Mary Parish in Weirton, W.Va., with nine other men who were also studying for the priesthood.

So this is how a country boy from a small town in northern Massachusetts landed as a priest in Pocahontas County, W.Va. My story may be unique in some respects, but it is also very much the same as most vocation stories when focusing on what is really important. God is able to speak to us when we give Him the opportunity. If he places a task in our hearts, he will always come through with the grace necessary to bring this task about. For me, this meant the priesthood. Sure, the priesthood has its challenges. After all...we are human, and we serve those who are human. This will always bring surprises, but we know we can trust in God’s grace to see us through.