My parents actively raised me in the Catholic faith. I was baptized twenty-nine days after my birth. We attended Mass regularly and prayed together. In preschool I started to understand God’s goodness and His infinite love for me. That year I was invited to serve at the altar for Mass along with boys from another family. Even though I was so young that I needed help to tie my cincture in a way that would keep me from tripping over it, being at the altar gave me a deep respect for the Mass and the priesthood. As I learned the liturgical roles and actions, I began to develop a burning desire to continually be close to Jesus in the Eucharist, perhaps without even realizing it.
The next year we moved across the country to Portland along much of the route traveled by the early settlers and frontiersmen. Trying to settle ourselves in the community, we visited nearby parishes each Sunday until we eventually found St. Stephen Catholic Church, which was pastored by Fr. John Boyle with Fr. Eric Anderson serving as parochial vicar. Soon after we registered at the parish, I began serving at the altar again. I enjoyed the traditional setting and the faithful people. I was surrounded by many future seminarians and guided by the two good priests, both of whom were instrumental in my spiritual growth.
Through participating in the activities of the parish, my burning desire and deep respect for the Mass developed into something almost tangible. Along with serving, I took catechism and Latin classes. I particularly enjoyed taking part in a couple parish plays, including one about St.
Tarcisius, the patron saint of altar servers. That experience helped me see altar serving itself not as a chore, but as a great honor rooted in the Church’s tradition.
Shortly before my eleventh birthday, I joined the Boy Scouts. There I learned valuable skills and life lessons, eventually earning the rank of Eagle Scout. More importantly, I experienced living my faith outside the walls of a church or school. Two Dominican priests regularly joined our troop on outings in order to preach, hear confessions, and celebrate Mass, which I also had the privilege of serving.
After parishes largely shut down when COVID struck in 2020, my family, like many others, struggled to attend Mass. By God’s grace, we were invited to join a small group for Mass with Msgr. Gerard O’Connor. Before long, I found that I was restless sitting in the pew, so my brother and I asked to serve once again. We continued to serve with Msgr. O’Connor after he was assigned to the Cathedral.
Throughout my high school years, I considered my own vocation to the priesthood. As I look back, I see how God moved my heart from childlike fascination to a growing conviction to serve Him with my life. Thank you for your prayers and support in my continued discernment of the call to serve at the altar as a priest.