grow closer to our Lord
Follow Cameron’s story:
My first call to the priesthood came in middle school while at Sunday Mass with my family. At the moment of Consecration, during the elevation of the host, the thought struck me: ‘That could be me!’ I shared this experience with my
mom, who began to look for ways to nurture this call. My first opportunity came freshman year of high school, when I made my first of three visits to Sacred Heart Major Seminary (Detroit, Mich.) for a “come and see” weekend. I was particularly struck by the fraternity and sacramental life of the seminarians.
Around the end of sophomore year, I realized that my draw to the priesthood was rooted in a desire for fraternity and a life of common prayer. I then began researching religious orders online, and after talking to several vocations directors, I took up discernment with the Salesians of Don Bosco. The summer after junior year, I served as a counselor at their summer camp in Tampa, Florida, living their charism of youth evangelization. In 2017, thinking I was not meant for religious formation, I began my studies at Benedictine College (Atchison, Kans.) in theology, communications, and philosophy while also dating a girl I met in high school.
Freshman year of college, I ended my relationship with my girlfriend and considered religious life again. That Lent, I began making a daily Holy Hour, praying that God show me His will for my life. Having now worked two summers with the Salesians, I reached out again and attended a “come and see” at their formation house (Orange, N.J.), where I was invited to apply for the novitiate. However, around that same time, I was also invited to serve as a resident assistant at Benedictine College the next academic year. During one particular Holy Hour, I felt peace around the decision to continue my studies and build on the friendships I had made on campus.
Over the next two years, I grew in spiritual and emotional maturity. My friends encouraged me to add daily Mass and Confession to my routine. I learned a lot about myself, fraternity, and common life, especially as a resident assistant. My theological studies deepened my understanding of the faith and passion for evangelization. I served on mission trips, retreats, and at the parish youth group.
Junior year, while at Mass on a retreat in the backcountry of Utah, I felt a familiar tug on my heart to consider the priesthood. I spoke with the retreat chaplain, who encouraged me to contact the Salesians again. However, that very same week, the COVID pandemic locked down the country. After speaking with the Salesian vocations director, we agreed it was not the right time to apply. Regretfully, due to the pandemic, my devotion to daily Mass and frequent Holy Hours diminished. By the time I returned to campus for senior year, I switched gears from nurturing my faith life to focusing on graduation and starting a career. While I maintained some volunteer commitments, I became spiritually complacent and thoughts of religious life faded.
After graduating in 2021, I began working for the Diocese of Gaylord in their communications office. I was later offered my current position as the Director of Worship and Liturgy even though I lacked specific knowledge of the liturgical traditions of our Church. I am deeply grateful to Bishop Walsh, who sponsored my graduate studies at the Liturgical Institute at Mundelein Seminary in Illinois. During this time, my love for the Sacred Liturgy grew much deeper. After graduating in 2024, I began serving as an episcopal master of ceremonies, where I began to appreciate the spiritual and pastoral nature of the Mass.
When a good friend announced his acceptance to seminary in February 2025, I was inspired to participate again in daily Mass and frequent Holy Hours. As I spent time with our Lord in the Eucharist, that tug on my heart towards religious priesthood once again resurfaced. With my newfound love of the Sacred Liturgy, I began a new search for a community that valued both good liturgy and evangelization. I discovered the Norbertine canons of St. Michael Abbey (Silverado, Calif.) and the Dominican Friars (Central Province). In June, I reached out to the respective vocations directors. While neither had visits available until the Fall, the Norbertine vocations director recommended particular spiritual and personal habits that helped further clear the fog from my spiritual sluggishness and deepened my conviction to pursue religious life.
After visiting the Dominicans and the Norbertines, it was clear that God was calling me to pursue the Dominicans, especially their fraternal life and heritage of passing on the Catholic intellectual tradition. Fr. Samuel, the vocations director, invited me to make two more visits to Dominican priories before offering me the application to the novitiate. In January, I attended the Admissions Board and was accepted into Novitiate class beginning July 21, 2026. I look forward to the opportunity to discern what has so long been written on my heart and grow ever-closer to our Eucharistic Lord.
