And the overall greatest gift was that I met my husband as a teen in the youth group! We went to different high schools, but we became best friends. Finally, in our Senior Year, he asked me out. This past June in 2020 we celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary! And now we are the parents of a Senior!

During my first profession of vows kneeling before the altar with my right hand on the Bible and my left hand over my heart, I felt the Lord handing my offering back to me along with a promise that we would give these gifts of creativity to the world together in my vocation as a Daughter of St. Paul.

I asked Him, “What can I do for you?” He pulled together all the memories of listening to these people and communicated to me that there was a reason I had those longings to hear those stories. He was asking me to share them. And in what better way than a podcast? The very way I first began to know Him.

My journey has been long and it is by no means over. I’m still growing and learning. If there is one thing I would tell my fellow Catholics, it’s to never be afraid to share your Catholic faith. We are a world that is starving for truth and goodness, as Catholics it is our duty to share that.

I really struggled to believe deep down that God truly loved me. I carried on in my shame and hiding until one day, when sitting down to write a song, I felt the Lord give me the words to say: “And I will let it go. And I won’t care to show. Who I am is who You love. And I am overjoyed.” Upon singing these words, I just began to weep. Not because I was sad, but because I believed it for the first time. I was loved.

During one retreat with the Sisters, I came to the Lord with a prayer that expressed the deepest desires in me: “Lord, I want to know Your love in the depths of my bones.” And He did it. He broke the veil in my heart and I had a new and deep sense of His love and presence that reminded me of the way I had first encountered Him in the confessional a decade before.

Failing my exams taught me to rely on God. And to have faith that things would work out on His time, and not on mine. That it is His will to be done, and not mine. It was a good test of my obedience, faithfulness, and patience. Sometimes, it’s hard to be obedient and to trust God’s will and His plan for us.

My journey since has been the effort to fulfill a promise. I would leave careers. I would let go of everything that the world has said is important and necessary. And with my wife and nine children, I have dedicated my life to doing the Lord’s will. I am going to continue to try harder. For my wife. For my kids. And for all of those who need to be evangelized.

Despite it all, every time I wanted to quit the Lord would remove whatever obstacle was in my way and I was ordained a priest on June 1st, 2019. Even with the trials of seminary I have known more joy and more peace finally living the vocation the Lord wants me to be in. I could not imagine doing anything else that would be as fulfilling.

As I step into the next phase of my journey, transitioning from full-time ministry to real estate, one thing is constant: pursuit of Jesus. That’s all that matters. Seasons come and go. Jobs come and go. Even people do. But in every season, Jesus never changes.

When Bishop Lopes of Our Lady of Walsingham sealed me with the gifts of the Holy Spirit and called me “Augustine,” I knew I was finally home. Since then, I have never looked back, and I have embraced a faith through which I now see the world for what it is.

I know I have a Father who loves and accepts me and is always calling me to a deeper relationship with Him. And no, life is not easy...now it's harder, but it's a battle I'm willing to fight because the reward is great. Who should throw away the reward of living in ultimate peace and happiness for eternity with God?

I thought that this would be my excommunication moment. But instead of a rebuke or a raised, angry voice, the priest looked at me with love. As if it was Jesus speaking, He spoke into every wound that I carried in my heart. At the end of my confession, the priest stopped me before I got up. “Welcome home,” he said softly.

Once I started learning and practicing my faith, especially through regular Confession and daily Mass, with the guidance of my director and other excellent priests throughout the Archdiocese of Toronto, I found it much easier to discern my vocation to be a priest

Reread Luke 1.37 often. Pray over it. Memorize it. And then say or scream “YES!” And let God move.

I resonate deeply with Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI’s words, “Do not be afraid of Christ. He takes nothing away and He gives you everything.” In saying “yes” to Christ, He has truly given me everything, and I couldn't imagine my life without this friendship.

The blessings I have received are incomparable with what I sacrificed. God has been true to His word. I know that no matter what happens in this life I will never leave the Church. My life’s mission now is to help others on their journey in the faith.

I am not alone. I have found life-giving purpose in Campus Ministry, fellowship, and embracing God’s call on my heart to live out my missionary identity and lifestyle. In the words of Pope Benedict XVI, “Do not be afraid of Christ! He takes nothing away and gives you everything”.