Hometown: Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Year in Formation: Novice
College: University of Notre Dame, 2025
College Major: Philosophy & Theology
Patron Saint: Pope St. John Paul II, St. Joseph, St. Therese, St. Gemma Galgani
Favorite Movie: “Oh Brother, Where Art Thou,” “Peanut Butter Falcon,” “Juno”
Favorite Books: “The Story of a Soul” by St. Therese of Lisieux, “Introduction to Christianity” by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, “The Body Keeps the Score” by Bessel van der Kolk
Favorite Music: The Avett Brothers, Jon Bellion, Caamp, and the Hillbilly Thomists
Hobbies: Guitar, running, cooking, soccer, reading
Most Memorable Prayer/Liturgy you have Attended: I was privileged to serve the Good Friday Liturgy for the Holy Father in St. Peter’s Basilica in the Spring of 2024.
Place of Pilgrimage you Most Want to Visit and why: Our Lady of Guadalupe. Mary really brought me into a deeper relationship with Jesus when I was in High School. I’ve wanted to visit ever since.
Favorite Way to Pray: My favorite way to pray is sitting with my hands open on my lap in front of the Blessed Sacrament. Oftentimes, I like to prayer ‘Amen’ in my heart and think about accepting the past and the present.
Favorite Devotion:The Chaplet of the Seven Sorrows of Mary
What drew you to Holy Cross? By God’s providence I found myself at the 2020 Summer Seminary Immersion Program on Zoom and was struck by the Holy Cross Priests who led the program. Their great personalities, depth, and relatability really drew me in to wanting to know how they lived their lives with such joy. During the program, they introduced us to the Constitutions of Holy Cross which I began to pray with often. I fell in love with the idea of being a Holy Cross religious soon after.
Your Vocation Story: When I was about 9, my oldest brother took me to an adoration chapel and invited me to just “sit in the silence” as we stayed there for an hour. At that time I was feeling very scared, very anxious, and very unknown even to my own family. I remember feeling a deep peace cutting through all of my fears. I knew somewhere deeper than words that (1) God exists, (2) He loves me, (3) His love brings peace. As I went through middle school and the beginning of high school memories of that time before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament from 4th grade would flood back into my memory. Sophomore year of high school I was drawn to pray the Rosary. Once I did, I felt that same peace from God break through my feelings of guilt, anxiety, and being unknown. Feeling that God knew me best and loved me in all of my shortcomings led me to want to share His love with those I encountered. Inspired by this, I looked into joining a seminary. I attended SSIP as a high school junior, and found that Holy Cross could be a family for me that would send me out into the world to share the peace and love of Jesus.
Favorite Verse:Now the word of the Lord came to me saying,“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations. ”Then I said, “Ah, Lord God! Truly I do not know how to speak, for I am only a boy.” But the Lord said to me,“Do not say, ‘I am only a boy,’ for you shall go to all to whom I send you, and you shall speak whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, says the Lord.” Jer 1:4-8
Favorite Spiritual Quote: “I can’t say I’ve made much of a career in the way of the interior life, yet I couldn’t conceive the least regret for having set out on it. No, it is a thousand times more interesting to fail in this area than to succeed in any other.” Jean-Baptiste Porion, O.Cart.
How can visitors to this page pray for you? Pray that I may have the desire to see myself and others through the eyes of God.