The motto of St Pius X seems to fit well into the responsibility of a priest.  I see my role above all to pray with and for the community as the Spiritual leader.  Everything else has to serve that goal!
 
People like to ask, where are you from, I respond, what year, not being flip, but to shorten the answer.  I was born in New York, just outside the city to parents from Brooklyn and Queens.  I am the oldest of three.  My dad entered the US Air Force shortly after I was born and my sister, two years younger, was born at the Air Force Academy.  After two years there, my dad was given the choice of a year alone in Vietnam or three years with his family in France.  So off to France we went.  My dad was a JAG (Lawyer) and was sent to help “give” the base over to the French as they were withdrawing from NATO.  We lived in a 8’x40’ trailer part of that time.   I start preschool in France and before first grade am in England.  So, you can see the challenge with where I am from.  I have lived numerous places including four countries and on both coasts and many heartland states.  When I decided to enter the Seminary, another long story, I decided to study for the Archdiocese of Denver and when asked if I wanted to go to the seminary in California, just south of San Francisco or Missouri, I chose MO because I had never been there.  Well that was a shock.  Nodaway County is the home of Conception Seminary College.  I learned that the Benedictines are not known for locating near civilization and Conception is a perfect example.  When I asked where the nearest city was, the answer was Maryville, 17 miles away and was a town under 20,000 people at the time, they didn’t understand that I meant a real city.  That was an adventure, but in the long run it was the right place for me to be.
 
I graduated and continued at St. Thomas in Denver which is closed now, but run by the Vincentians.  I graduated in May of 1989.  I was ordained a Deacon on April 23, 1988 and a Priest on July 8, 1989.  So I now have consolidated my moving to Northern Colorado and lived manly on front range but did get some time in the mountains. To make a long story very brief. I took a leave of absence, got a real estate license, and ended up being a sales manager and commercial division leader at a RE/MAX office.  For the next few years our Archbishop has asked me to keep my license to assist the diocese in their real estate needs.  Returning from my leave, I was living outside of San Antonio and Archbishop Gustavo was gracious enough to do the work needed to have me incardinated here.  That was over a three-year process where he had me helping at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Selma, which was an amazing and grace filled experience.  The paperwork finally came in, I now know why Rome is the eternal city, and I was incardinated on Feb 2, 2016.   I spent the next months until I came here at The Church of the Holy Spirit, another amazing experience.
 
I have served in the US Air Force Reserves as a Chaplain Candidate and Chaplain.  During my leave I was a liaison officer for the USAF Academy.  I was on city council and mayor pro tem in Cibolo, a chamber of commerce board chairman and most recently the President of the Randolph Air Power Community Council.   I have volunteered at the Rodeo as an announcer and with the youth connection program.  I love to read, cycle and work in the Church. 
 
My sister and brother are both married and living in Northern Virginia.  My brother-in-law is a permanent Deacon at the parish my family helped form in the 70’s.  We moved from there with my parents to return in the late 80’s.  My sister runs a few home based businesses and my brother is a corporate coach/consultant for a national company in the IT field.  I have one niece and two nephews and they are amazing kids!
 
I have heard that if you love your job you never have to work a day in your life.  I get up excited for each day and the opportunities it brings.