Dear Parish Family,

  I began to share a bit about the development of my vocation in last week's bulletin, and I would like to conclude that story in this week's bulletin as I look at my time in seminary formation and early years of priesthood.

  In 2005, towards the end of my senior year of high school, I applied and was accepted to enter Borromeo Seminary, our Cleveland diocesan undergraduate seminary. God provided me with a community of priests and seminarians who were instrumental in the development of my vocational formation. I established some of the best friendships of my life as we pursued our call to serve Christ, and we had a lot of fun together along the way!

  From 2009 to 2014, I went to St. Mary Seminary, our graduate school. My call to diocesan priesthood took shape largely because of the pastoral experiences I had meeting the people of the parishes to which I was assigned. I was excited to be a priest to help others encounter Christ particularly through the Sacraments and preaching.

    The final confirmation of my call to diocesan priesthood came in 2012 on our seminary retreat. There, I remember reading through the Gospel of John and being struck when I got to John 17:24, "Father, they are your gift to me." I was consoled in realizing I am a gift to Christ from the Father. Christ invited me to see my priesthood and the people He was calling me to serve as a gift.

  I was ordained a priest on May 17, 2014. My first parish assignment was to Ss. Robert & William in Euclid where I served with Fr. John Betters for four years. He was instrumental in guiding me through my first few years of priesthood and really showing me how a pastor loves his people. They say you become like your first pastor, and I hope that is the case here! My next assignment was at St. Mary's in Hudson for 3 years. I served there with Fr. Ed Kordas for about a year and a half before his retirement, and then with Fr. Larry Jurcak as he became the next pastor.

  Ministering with these shepherds at these parishes, learning from the people of God, getting involved at Ss. Robert & William School and Seton Catholic School, and even serving as interim administrator for a time, helped me say YES to the call to come to St. Mary Chardon and St. Patrick Thompson. I am beyond blessed to be here with you, and I humbly ask you to remember me in your prayers as we journey together to Christ.

   In other news:
Assumption of Mary: This weekend we celebrate the Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary at both the Vigil Mass and the Sunday Masses. This Solemnity celebrates the infallible teaching decreed by Pope Pius XII in 1950 in Munificentissimus Deus, that "the Immaculate Mother of God, the ever Virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory." I find it fascinating that our only two infallible teachings celebrate the moments where Mary was the first to experience the grace of her Son's resurrection: her Immaculate Conception (the moment she was conceived) and her Assumption (the moment she passed from this world to heaven). She prays that we too will receive the gift she received in the transfiguration of her entire humanity, body and soul, into heavenly glory.

  I hope you enjoy these last few days of summer break. As we enter into a new academic year, I pray that all our children and their families experience the joy of learning and growing deeper in their relationship with Christ and the Church.