Hometown: Tigard, OR
Year in Formation: Novice
High School: Valley Catholic High School (Beaverton, OR), 2019
College: University of Portland (Portland, OR), 2023
College Major: History
Patron Saint: St. Nicholas (my namesake) and St. Pope John Paul II (my confirmation name)
Favorite Movie: Shawshank Redemption, Lord of the Rings, Catch Me if You Can, Airplane
Favorite Books: The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien, A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter M. Miller Jr., Discworld novels by Terry Pratchett
Favorite Music: Owl City, U2, Imagine Dragons, Sabaton, Movie Soundtracks, Matt Maher, Contemporary Christian
Hobbies: Reading, creative writing, backpacking, cooking, baseball, music
Most Memorable Prayer/Liturgy you have Attended: A tie between Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica and the Ordination Mass for Fr. John Sebastian, CSC and Fr. Andrew Fritz, CSC
Place of Pilgrimage you Most Want to Visit and why: Mexico City! I love the story of La Virgen de Guadalupe, and as a student of Spanish it would be a wonderful opportunity to pray in a second language. Plus, with so much of our ministry in the US being focused on Latin American populations, I think it would be a worthwhile cultural immersion that would pay dividends in my ministry as a religious.
Favorite Way to Pray: Lectio divina and Ignatian imaginative prayer
Favorite Devotion: Divine Mercy & Eucharistic Adoration
What Drew you to Holy Cross: The witness of the Holy Cross priests and brothers, especially in their community life, at UP drew me in. As I got to know both them and the order better, I found myself attracted to Bl. Basil Moreau’s spirituality, and discovered a love for the charism of Holy Cross, especially in its focus on educating young people.
Your Vocation Story: I was born and raised in Oregon, the eldest of six children in a practicing Catholic family. I first heard the call of vocation as a young boy in elementary school. I think the first time I can remember thinking about priesthood as an option was when I was around 4-5 years old and playing “Mass” with my sisters. As I grew up in my family and in the Church, I fell in love with the intellectual and sacramental vibrancy of Catholicism, which prompted me to seriously discern my vocation. I had the privilege of being educated in Catholic schools, ending with undergrad studies at UP, where the witness of Holy Cross religious there invited me to take the next step on my discernment journey. I felt ready to follow God’s call after I graduated UP in 2023, so I joined the Postulancy program at Moreau. There I found myself growing deeper in faith and maturity, and falling more in love with the Holy Cross way of life, which led me to the novitiate, and from there to first profession. I continue to heed the Lord’s call as I hear Him say, in varied ways, “Come, follow me.”
Favorite Verse: “But as for me, I will look to the Lord, I will wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me!” Micah 7:7
Favorite Quote: “Non Nisi Te Domine”
How can visitors to this page pray for you? Pray that I may always follow the Holy Spirit and remain close to Christ! Also for patience, openness, and fortitude during the long process of formation.