It took me 26 years later to realize that God wanted me as one of His Priests. My uncle never told me to be a priest. He just led by example of what it was "to be a priest." Over those 26 years I thought about being a priest, but I was embarrassed to speak to anyone about this vocation. I was caught up in the peer pressure of the times. I played CYO basketball, had a paper delivery job, played soccer on the weekends, and hung out with the boys in the neighborhood. Nobody would ever speak about being a priest.

I went to Xavier High School and on to Providence College. Dating was fun, but there was always something missing. I eventually worked for 10 years on Wall Street and enjoyed the fast pace excitement and the people I worked with. But the memory of kneeling and watching my uncle at that altar in Canada kept coming back to me. I am a priest 3 years now and I love every moment of the ministry. I am reliving what my uncle did. I pray that more men will have the courage to come forward and stand at the altar of God as one of His priests."

Photo courtesy of Chris Sheridan