Q: When did you feel the calling to become a ministry?
A: I felt called to ministry at the young age of about seven. I got to know the pastor of the parish. And I would imitate him with my siblings after returning from Sunday Masses.
Q: What helped lead you to that path in life?
A:I decided to prepare for ministry by attending Salvatorian Seminary in St Nazianz, Wisconsin as a high school student. Back in 1960 when I started preparation there were many young men entering the seminary. It was a natural thing for me to do.
I was gifted by God in my studies especially languages so I enjoyed learning Latin and French in high school. During my college years I learned Greek, Hebrew and Spanish. I had opportunities to offer Mass in Spanish and to bless newborns in Spanish. This was especially important during my years as a chaplain. The challenge for me early in my career was knowing how to offer supportive ministry to dying people and their families. As I spent more time in the ministry and did some additional reading I began to find a comfort in providing supportive visits. After nine years in parish work I was asked to prepare for ministry in a hospital. I was sent for additional clinical pastoral education that provided further insight into ministry to the dying and their families and friends. I truly think God had a plan for me so that I ministered as a hospital chaplain for twenty-six years and that continues to be a real help in my ministry as a pastor and will continue to be helpful for the rest of my life.
Q: What sort of challenges did you encounter early in your career?
A: I felt that I needed more help supporting the dying and their families and friends.
Q: How has that experience shaped your current and future aspirations?
A: The Holy Spirit had a plan for me. I was asked to become a hospital chaplain and so I was sent to receive more clinical pastoral education which had a positive effect for the 26 years of chaplaincy ministry in a hospital.
Q: What sort of personal and professional challenges do you face as a teacher of the word of God?
A: Challenges as a professional as a teacher of the Word of God is being able to encourage, persuade and help others to know the importance of the Word of God. I am now reminded people that God be received into a person’s life as a friend. Friends share in dialogue and God has a lot to share with us in the written Word that is recorded in the Sacred Scriptures.
Q: What are some problems facing the church today?
A: Problems facing the Church today include an individualism that has taken over in many lives. This is seen with the immersion into today’s technology in which people isolate themselves on their smart phones, lap tops, computers. There is a feeling of independence that fails to develop healthy relationships. This has an impact on the practice of the faith and in particular the celebration of the Mass and a decision to read and listen to the Word of God. If one does give time to God, then God’s teaching to love others will become more evident in their lives.
Q: What are some issues that threaten unity in the church today?
A: Issues that threaten unity in the Church today are grounded in all its members. It is based on different opinions that are evident in our culture today. Not all differences are bad, but many times the opinions are so strongly rooted in a person that it is difficult to achieve the unity that one would like to achieve. Differences become more evident due to a lack of faith in God and a true desire to follow the will of God.