Hometown: San Diego, CA
Year in Formation: Novice
College: University of Notre Dame (Notre Dame, IN), 2023
College Degree: B.S., Civil Engineering & Theology minor
Graduate School: Trinity College (Dublin, Ireland), 2024
Graduate Degree: M.S. in Structural Engineering
Patron Saint: St. Peter
Favorite Movie: My Cousin Vinny, Rain Man
Favorite Books: East of Eden by John Steinbeck, Les Misérables by Victor Hugo, Babel by R.F. Kuang
Favorite Music: John Mayer
Hobbies: Painting, reading, hiking, running, baking bread, cooking
Most Memorable Prayer/Liturgy you have Attended: Easter Vigil at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, 2022.
Place of Pilgrimage you Most Want to Visit and why: I would love to walk the Camino de Santiago because of the role that spending time in nature takes part in the pilgrimage. The swinging thurible at the Santiago de Compostela Cathedral also looks cool.
Favorite Way to Pray: Examen
Favorite Devotion: The Rosary
What drew you to Holy Cross? The joyful witness of Holy Cross religious in my life! Throughout my time as an undergraduate student at Notre Dame, I had the opportunity to get to know several Holy Cross religious that modeled Christ-centered discipleship. Our spirituality rooted in the cross, hope, and Our Lady of Sorrows has also become important in my spiritual life and how God is calling me to serve others.
Your Vocation Story: At the end of college, I felt unfulfilled by the “work hard, play hard” mentality I had been living and questioned my plans after graduation. With the guidance of Fr. Kevin Grove, C.S.C., I discerned that my heart is set on fire when I accompany others in their faith journeys and that I value communal life. “Dan, that sounds a lot like my life as a Holy Cross religious!” Fr. Kevin said. Over the course of the next year, Jesus transformed my fear of a religious vocation into excitement (still with plenty of nervousness), and I decided to apply to Moreau. During my time in formation, Jesus has continued to confirm my call in new and often unexpected ways.
Favorite Scripture passage: The Lord guides the steps of a man and makes safe the path of one he loves. Though he stumble he shall never fall for the Lord holds him by the hand.” Psalm 37:23-24
Favorite spiritual or saint quote: “It is not by sidestepping or fleeing from suffering that we are healed, but rather by our capacity for accepting it, maturing through it and finding meaning through union with Christ, who suffered with infinite love.” – Pope Benedict XVI, Spe Salvi
How can visitors to this page pray for you? For humility!