I began to consider entering seminary as a senior in high school.  You see, before my 1998 graduation year, I was not practicing my faith.  As a senior, I and many of my classmates were inspired by the witness of Frs. Austin Vetter and Tom Richter.  As I began to take more seriously the Catholic Christian life, the Lord also spoke to my heart about being a priest… but I wasn’t yet ready.

Six years of University studies in jazz performance and the western tradition behind me, I finally said “yes” to the Lord’s continued calling in October 2004.  At the end of an hour of prayer with Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament, I recognized in a definitive way His invitation to the priesthood.  By God’s providence and my mother’s intercessory prayers, Fr. Richter, who was by then the Director of Vocations for the Diocese of Bismarck, called me the next day.  I decided then to enter seminary the following year.  The past four years have been a time of great joy, intense deep soul-searching, and growth in Christ.