Meet Our Seminarians

I was born and raised in Texas City, the third child of six. I began thinking about the priesthood from a very young age, but it was one “career” among many others at the time. I grew up going to Catholic school, but went to a Lutheran school in south Houston for high school and it was there that I began to take on my Catholic faith personally and really consider the priesthood as a vocation to give glory to God and to be an instrument in the salvation of souls. I entered the seminary immediately after high school for the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, and towards the end of my philosophy education I began to consider the possibility of transferring to a more rural diocese where I could get to know the people and the priests more. I left the seminary for several months and then spent several months discerning with the Diocese of Victoria, living and working at Our Lady of the Gulf in Port Lavaca, since I had family roots through my mom’s side of the family in Wharton and Louise. After several months in Port Lavaca, I was accepted as a seminarian for the diocese. I look forward to serving as a priest in our diocese in a few years.

“Growing up I never really wanted to be a priest. I always wanted to be something exciting like a firefighter or a policeman. But things changed on the night of my eighteenth birthday when I had a special nudge from the Holy Spirit inviting me to further explore this vocation. At that time I found the prospect of the priesthood intriguing and I decided to give the Lord a chance. I’m sure glad I did! I quickly realized that the life of a priest is more adventurous than a firefighter and a policeman. God saw my childhood desires for action and adventure and gave me the opportunity to fulfill them by serving him as a priest.”

Growing in Hallettsville, attending Sacred Heart Catholic School, I was immensely blessed with a strong and supportive Sacred Heart Parish Family. Throughout much of my youth, I had desired to be an ordinary person, to get married, have children and live a regular life, but something deep within me knew that God had desired for me to do something different concerning my life. During my time attending Texas A&M University I became quite involved with a Christian men’s organization that held weekly Bible studies and weekend hunting/fishing trips. I also was privileged to serve in Saint Mary’s Catholic Center’s Home Group Ministry. As I grew in my faith, the tug of my heart by God to seminary became evident and undeniable. After much prayer, and the Holy Spirit’s fruit of peace I am thankful to be in priestly formation at Holy Trinity Seminary with my brothers. Know of our prayers for you.

“He who gives his will to God, gives Him everything.”
– St. Alphonsus Ligouri

I have always told people that I wanted to be a priest since I could talk. My parents are devout Catholics and were open to my desire. They taught me to pray the Rosary and go to Eucharistic Adoration regularly. It was through these devotions and their encouragement that I was able to discern God’s call. I spent 2 years working at a homeless shelter as a missionary in New York, but really missed my home state of Texas. After this time of service, I found the Lord calling me to diocesan life.