I was born and raised in Essex County, NJ along with my two older sisters, Rosemary who is an attorney, and Judi who is an elementary school teacher. My mother, a middle school teacher at St. Catherine of Siena parish for more than 30 years, nurtured me with such immense love and compassion. In a similar way, my father, a blue-collar mechanic who still works in the garage from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day, showed me the value of hard work and provided me with deep love and a unique patience and understanding that is a testament to his faith in Christ. My two sisters, who are both married to wonderful husbands, have shared their families with me, their joys, their struggles and their celebrations, and blessed me with two nieces and two nephews. My journey toward the Priesthood really began around age 6, although I didn’t know it at the time. I can remember running around the house with the entire towel closet emptied trying to find a suitable altar cloth and robe to “play priest” – one of the first seeds God placed in my very young heart. As I began to mature into high school, I sensed the richness of my call around the age of 16, although at that point, I was still too afraid to accept it. I continued on to college, studying Biology at Immaculata University in Pennsylvania. I graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and have presented my research work at a variety of venues including the Pennsylvania State Capital and the Pennsylvania Academy of Science. As I was nearing graduation, I felt a strong pull in my heart that it was time to fully embrace the Lord’s call to the Priesthood. I announced my decision to enter the seminary to my family on Holy Saturday of the Easter Vigil. They were overjoyed. It seemed like even though I had delayed in coming to this realization, they had known all along that the Priesthood was meant for me. I then decided to make the phone call to the seminary that started my formation. It was one of the best decisions that I have made in my entire life. I have never felt more secure, more comfortable in who I am, and more filled with joy and expectation for the gifts of each new day. It is truly a blessing and honor for me to be assigned to St. Joe’s and to serve you.