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”.

As a spouse of Jesus Christ and as a Sister of Life, my heart has found the freedom and adventure it always longed for – an adventure that leads to Heaven and brings Christ to life in the world each day.

When the priest took the monstrance around, I was not ready to experience what was going to happen next. I kept my eyes on the monstrance the whole time and I said to God, “I’m holding on to you in the storm and I give You everything that I am”. In that moment I felt a lot of peace, joy, grace, and love in my heart.

This realization opened my heart to another yes that changed my life once again, and continues to do so everyday - my husband. Through him, God continues to pursue me in every moment, even when I’m frail, distant, and ignorant. We are sure of God’s amazing plans for our marriage and our mission!

My relationship with Him continues to deepen and His love for me continues to be the driving force in all that I do. But, at the end of the day, I am just a normal, flawed man. I am a sinner who is striving to become the saint God is calling me to be.

I still work in policing, serve at a military chapel and volunteer as a police chaplain. We have an adopted son, a daughter, and 3 granddaughters. My ministry centers on a love of Our Lady, as well as seeking to help people find Jesus amidst our crazy lives.

The Lord has shown me over and over again the power of loving through letting other people into my story, and allowing them to share their own.

My journey is a journey of consistently saying yes to the Lord as I have come to realize that saying anything otherwise is really not a choice but my own demise. The more I say yes to Him, the more He reveals Himself to me.

Not only in that first encounter, but over and over again in my life I have come to recognize His providence, faithfulness and grace working to do extraordinary things, through a simple surrender and “yes” to Him.