I work with Franciscan University of Steubenville which is out of Steubenville, Ohio. I serve as the head chaplain at our study abroad branch campus in Gaming, Austria which is a small town about 2 hours west of Vienna. 

On Saturday, I drove all the way from there, about a nine hour drive, down to Medjugorje.

My initial call to the priesthood came when I came here on a trip in March of 1988 during a Marian year. I’ll never forget being with people from this group taking the walk up Križevac [Cross Mountain] being very moved by the stations. I was on the top of Križevac on the Solemnity of the Annunciation. 

In quiet prayer, I sensed a beautiful woman’s voice deep in my heart invite me, “Would you consider being a priest?” I was pretty overwhelmed at that moment. I thought, “What’s going on?” And I just knew it was real.

I remember seeing the sun do crazy things. I remember seeing the sun change into a shining cross then a shining dove and then back to the sun. I just remember thinking, “Did this really happen? Am I delusional?”

Two years before I had finished a doctorate in chemistry. It was five years after my undergrad. So I was working as a chemist, had my own team and all of that. 

I thought a lot of friends would think I’m crazy finishing a doctorate in chemistry and now being a priest. So it was quite a story.

This this is my fourth trip to Medjugorje. I came in 88; came back in 2009. Actually, one of the highlights was going back to the castle because the castle was just being built at that time. Nancy and Patrick were very gracious. 

Then last year, I brought about 95 students from Gaming—two bus loads. I remember climbing Mount Križevac with our students. 

So this is time four.

It’s amazing seeing other priests from all over the world—Asia, Africa, Europe, the Americas—and to be able to hear confessions from people all over. It’s a blessing. I feel like my priesthood has been renewed by these few days here.