Born: Cleveland, OH
Joined the Missionaries:
Entered formation program 1969
Incorporated 1978
Definitively Incorporated 1980
What drew you to the Missionaries of the Precious Blood?
When my family moved to Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish in Cleveland, I met several Missionaries of the Precious Blood who were friendly, down to earth, and encouraged me and others to consider joining them.
What is your current assignment?
Director of Advanced Formation & Director of Precious Blood Parish Missions.
What is the most challenging aspect of your assignment?
As a Formation Director, the challenge is to encourage and at times challenge those in formation as they continue to prepare for their future ministry as Missionaries of the Precious Blood.
In preaching parish missions, it is important to help people recognize the power of God at work in their own lives and to live their faith more deeply. That is not an easy thing to do, especially when I am preaching to a group of people I do not already know.
What is the most rewarding aspect of your assignment?
I live with a group of men who are focused on being Missionaries of the Precious Blood. Our day to day ministry is to reflect more and more on that. When I was a pastor, the day to day ministry often took my attention away from that. It is wonderful to watch how the men in our formation program are growing in their faith and their understanding of what it means to be Missionaries of the Precious Blood.
When I share the spirituality of the Precious Blood with men in formation, as well as with people who participate in a retreat or parish mission at which I am preaching, I am always blest by the experience. Sharing stories of my faith and the spirituality of the Precious Blood with others forces me to reflect more deeply on those very same things.
What did you do before joining the Missionaries?
I was only 15 years old when I entered the formation program of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood. I grew up in the community.
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
I love to cook, listen to the symphony, read and try to solve mysteries before I get to the end of the book.
Aside from St. Gaspar, who are some of your favorite Saints?
Most of my favorite saints have not yet been canonized. They include members of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood, my grandmothers, people I’ve known and ministered with in parishes and other places around the world. I was privileged to have met two of the women from Cleveland who were martyred in El Salvador in 1980. I especially remember having drinks and a conversation with Jean Donovan just before she returned to El Salvador. I also knew two of the Adorers of the Blood of Christ, martyrs of charity in Liberian 1992. Agnes Mueller, ASC was part of a retreat I participated in at the Spiritual Center of Maria Stein. It was the first retreat for men and women from various Precious Blood communities in the United States.
What is your favorite prayer?
I have always loved the Magnificat. Whenever I pray it, I remember that God who is mighty has done great things for me and holy is God’s name.
The Magnificat (the Prayer of Mary)
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm, he has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel for he remembered his promise of mercy, the promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children forever. (Lk 1:46-55)
What is your favorite:
Book: Whatever book I happen to be reading at the time.
Food: Chicken paprika – Its Hungarian, like me.
Holiday: Christmas
How much money would you earn on Jeopardy?
$10,000 – if I could only push the button fast enough.
Would you rather go skydiving or snorkeling?
I’ve never wanted to get out of a plane before it landed, but have enjoyed snorkeling several times over reefs in the Caribbean. Each time I snorkeled, I did so while serving as a cruise chaplain. What a great opportunity to do something I never thought I’d do when I was becoming a priest and a missionary of the Precious Blood!