Hometown: Brandon
Home Parish: St. Jude, Pearl
Elementary/High School: Brandon High School
Favorite Saints: St. Augustine and St. Therese of Lisieux
Favorite Scripture: Luke 15:11-32 (Parable of the Prodigal Son)

Favorite prayer or devotion and why:
Rosary, for it helps me meditate on the life of Christ through the eyes of his mother.

Who will “vest” you at your ordination and why?
Fr. Patrick Mascarella, because he is my uncle who is a priest from the diocese of Baton Rouge.

Do you have any family attending the ordination? If so, who?
I have my parents, siblings with their spouses, nephews, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and many more in my extended family.  It will be quite a celebration in my family.

What are you most looking forward to as a priest?
I am looking forward to celebrating Mass.  It is the center of our faith and worship, and it will be a humbling experience to be given the opportunity to celebrate Mass.

Favorite Book:
“The Return of the Prodigal Son” by Henri Nouwen.

Hobbies:
Chess, Golf, Building Legos and models, watching or playing football and basketball.

Something about you people may not know:
I never thought about becoming a priest when I was growing up.  It was not until college.  It shows that God can call us at any moment in our lives.

Do you have any advice for those discerning a vocation?
Patience and fortitude.  I learned over the years that a vocation does not reach maturity overnight.  In fact, it takes a great deal of time and patience in prayer for it to be realized.  Also discernment is never easy.  Through the difficult times it took a great deal of strength and trust in God to reach this point in my pilgrimage.