I am the... Pastor of St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish
I grew up in... I grew up all over the place because my father was in the Air Force. I was born in Cristobal, Panama.
I went to elementary school at... I went tomany schools in many parts of the country, but finished High School in Florida.
I went to college at... I went to Gulf Coast Community College in Bay County, Florida for two years. Later I went nine years to college at St. Louis University, Kenrick Roman Catholic Seminary in St. Louis, and I did my Masters of Divinity at Aquinas Institute in St. Louis, Missouri.
My favorite Saint is... I have many favorite saints. The Mother of God is Queen of All Saints. Following the Blessed Virgin Mary, I would say St. John the Apostle, St. Peter, St. John of the Cross, and of course St. Anthony. How could I forget St. Joseph and St. Teresa of Jesus? St. Pope John Paul II as well. This is a hard question.
The one thing I want St. Stan's students to know about me is... I wanted to be a pilot and was in the Civil Air Patrol. Other than that, I always wanted to be a priest, from as long as I can remember. As a priest I’ve had no time for hobbies, but I do try to exercise regularly and I love walking and praying. I love traveling to other countries and experiencing other cultures.
Why Catholic education? I was educated in public schools until I went to St. Louis University – a Catholic institution of education. Catholic Education, if true to its identity, molds the entire person without neglecting the soul. We were made by God and for God. It makes no sense to go through life without God as the heart and foundation of life. If God is the foundation we naturally or should I say supernaturally become people of faith, virtue, and valor. These virtues are so needed today and this is the great gift of a Catholic education. This Catholic School is the seed that nurtures life and a light in the darkness. It will assist in the rebuilding of civil society and propel us toward salvation.
My teaching style is... My philosophy of teaching is to keep in mind everything you do today – all you put into your mind today, will determine who you will be and what you will do ten years from now. Never neglect neither the mind, body, soul, or spirit.