What did you do right after graduation? College/career/travel/military?
Right after graduation, I studied Philosophy at Western Kentucky University for two years. After that, I transferred into seminary and finished my undergraduate degree in Philosophy at the Catholic University of America.
Where are you and what are you doing now?
I am currently in seminary for the Archdiocese of Louisville. I am in my last semester studying Philosophy and am finishing a graduate degree at the Catholic University of America in Washington DC. This summer, I will become a Candidate for Holy Orders and, God willing, will continue seminary formation alongside studying Theology for the next four years.
What do you like most about what you are doing?
I have a twofold love of Philosophy and of Pastoral Ministry. As I have come to the conclusion of my Philosophical studies, I have come to realize that the two are unified in seeking to reveal the beauty of God and his creation to his faithful people. What I love most about what I am doing is the opportunity given to bring people into an encounter with the beautiful truths of our reality. Seeing the longing that our world has for this beauty and being able to bring fulfillment to that longing is truly a gift from God.
What is your favorite memory about DeSales?
I think my favorite memory was when I had the opportunity to give the Class of 2021 commencement speech. It was a powerful way for me to reflect upon how I had been impacted by my time at DeSales High School and the memory of it brings to mind many other great memories.
Who influenced you most during your time at DeSales?
Mr. Mike Swearingen and Mrs. Kate Brockman. Sadly, neither of them are still teaching at DeSales, but they both inspired in me a love of the Church and its History that has always remained with me.
What classes and learning experiences did you have at DeSales that are beneficial to the work you do?
Certainly the theology classes influenced me greatly. I currently teach OCIA courses for those being received into the Church and even now I frequently refer to what I was taught at DeSales High School when teaching or answering questions.
What is the most important thing you learned while you were at DeSales?
I learned why God made me. To know, love, and serve him in this life and to be happy with him forever in the next.
What advice do you have for current (or potential) students at DeSales?
Pope Benedict XVI once said that "the world offers you comfort, but you were not made for comfort, you were made for greatness." My advice then is to know that God is calling you to great things. If you seek to know and to follow God's will, in spite of the comfort that is lost, he will bring you to the greatness that you were made for.
What do you like to do in your free time?
I love spending time with friends and socializing whenever I can. Whenever I have free time to myself, I love reading.
What is something people may not know about you?
I am an Eagle Scout and I love the outdoors. This influenced my life a great deal when I was at DeSales.
Do you still stay in touch with any of your DeSales friends?
I have two friends from DeSales who I talk to with some frequency. I have many others who I message or run into occasionally. The beautiful thing about Louisville is that you are never too far away, so it's very easy to run into old friends and catch up.
What’s next for you/where do you see yourself in five years?
I will begin studying Theology this fall, which is a another four years of formation. God willing, I will be ordained a priest at the end of those four years. So by the fifth, I will likely be at my first parish assignment as an associate pastor somewhere in Louisville.