Written ‘Nods

A ‘Nod to your devotion to the priesthood and your work connected to the Holy Land are such a powerful witness to the beauty and depth of the Catholic faith. It is incredibly inspiring to see a priest so rooted in reverence for the Eucharist and so committed to preserving and honoring the places most sacred to Christianity. In a world where faith can so often be overlooked or watered down, your example reminds people how holy and meaningful these traditions truly are. The care and seriousness with which you approach your vocation encourage others to grow deeper in their own relationship with God and to recognize the profound importance of the Eucharist at the center of Catholic life. Priests like you are such important role models for both young people and lifelong Catholics alike, because you show through your actions that devotion, sacrifice, and love for the Church still matter deeply. Thank you for the quiet but powerful way you continue to serve the faithful and help keep the spiritual significance of the Holy Land alive for so many people.

I just want to say thank you for all the work you do for our parish and for the New Haven Catholic community. It really hasn’t gone unnoticed how much you’ve taken on with the parish merger and keeping everything running across so many churches—it’s a lot, and you handle it with a steady, grounded presence. I also appreciate how present you are pastorally, whether it’s celebrating Mass, being there for families in tough moments, or just helping keep a sense of unity in such a big and changing parish. It’s clear you care deeply about the people here, and that means a lot. Thank you for your leadership and for all the ways you serve the Church so faithfully.

I wanted to extend a ‘Nod and a moment to thank you for the impact your ministry and teaching have had on me. As someone who has been discerning a possible call to the priesthood, I often think about the kind of formation it takes to serve the Church well—not just in parish life, but in guiding others who themselves carry responsibility for teaching and leadership.  Learning that you spent so much of your work forming bishops, clergy, and leaders in the Church has been incredibly meaningful to me. It’s one thing to speak about faith, but another entirely to help shape those entrusted with shepherding the wider Church. That level of service has given me a deeper understanding of what faithful formation really looks like: steady, thoughtful, and rooted in truth and prayer.  Your example has helped me see priesthood not just as something done at the altar on Sundays, but as a life of building up others so they can, in turn, lead with integrity and faith. That vision has been encouraging and clarifying for me in my own discernment.  Thank you for your witness, your teaching, and your dedication to forming others in the heart of the Church.