Last week I finished my 9 years of seminary formation. I entered the seminary immediately after high school, spending 4 years at Cathedral Seminary Residence in Douglaston, and 4 years at the major seminary in Huntington. In between my 2nd and 3rd year of formation in Huntington I had the opportunuity to spend my Pastoral Year at the parish of St. Sebastian, in Woodside. As I sat in the Chapel at the seminary in Huntington, a number of emotions went through my mind, the first being joy for the fact that I was finally finished with seminary. Another aspect that kept racing through my mind was that of gratitude.
Over the last nine years, I have had the opportunity to develop lasting relationships with other seminarians that I would not have been able to if I were not in the seminary. I kept thinking of all of my friends who have gone through the halls of Huntington, watching them come to the end of their time, and here it was, finally my turn. I am continually grateful to them, my soon to be brother priests, because its through their friendship and prayers that I was able to endure seminary.
I still have not grasped the fact that I am going to be ordained a priest in less than 4 weeks, but I know that it is with God’s grace that I will be able to approach Ordination with great joy and expectation. During these last few weeks of preparation, please keep me, Deacon Michael, and Deacon Nixon in your prayers, that we may be good and holy priests for this great diocese.
It’s been a while since I have posted. My sincerest apologies, but there is alot to catch everyone up on. As I write this post, I am now just 13 days away from Diaconate Ordination which will take place on December 8. Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio will ordain 5 of us as deacons, 3 Rockville Centre men and 2 of us from Brooklyn.