Autobiography

    I am currently (as of November 26, 2007) Associate Pastor with Fr. Eduard Perrone (Pastor) and Fr. John Bustamante (also Associate Pastor) of Assumption Grotto Parish. May God bless me in my ministry as I strive to serve him, by bringing me and my brothers and sisters, who he has entrusted to my pastoral care, to contemplate his Face forever in heaven.

            The greatest thing that has ever happened to me has been my vocation to the priesthood. But many have been the blessings in my life, and for all of them I am grateful to the Lord.

            My first blessing has been my family. I was born to William and Louise Ward on November 12, 1970, two Catholic saints whom I love dearly, and who are both now with the Lord in the Homeland. Among the greatest gifts they gave me, including of course life and the faith, I count two brothers and two sisters, making me the youngest of five.

            I grew up in St. Clair Shores, and the parish of most of my boyhood was St. Claude’s in Roseville. The pastor then, Fr. Wilk, was a man of great devotion to the Eucharist, love for his priesthood, and tender affection to Mary.

            I attended a number of school, due to varying circumstances, the least of which was not family finances, but spent some of my most beloved years of elementary school in St. Mary’s of Mt. Clemens, the parish school of St. Peter’s. There I was confirmed in eighth grade, which was a deeply spiritual experience for me, like none I had before. It was in eighth grade that my desire to become a priest crystallized and I truly grasped God’s call in my life.

            I wanted to be a priest for several reasons: the desire to dedicate my life only to God and helping others know and love him; the joy of offering the Body and Blood of the Son of God, in the Eucharist, to my brothers and sisters; the power and peace of sacramental penance; anointing the sick, baptizing babies, preaching the Gospel, teaching the faith, filling the weak with the power of the spirit, correcting the stray sheep, encouraging all to give themselves unconditionally to the Lord.

            At the age of fifteen I entered a high school seminary; my only regret is that I didn’t enter sooner, it was a wonderful experience. I studied with a  religious order, the Legion of Christ. As a student, then novice, then religious of this order, I pursued my studies and training for the Holy Priesthood. Fifteen years of some of the best professors, spiritual directors and guides led me to live abroad for just as many years: New Hampshire, Connecticut, Spain (Salamanca, three years), Italy (Rome, four years) and Germany (three years), with many excursions to other places on apostolic endeavors.

            I had the opportunity to study new languages, enjoy priceless cultural exchanges, and engage in countless apostolic works, from fund raising, administration, and finances to teaching, publishing, foreign missions and international works at the service of priests, with much more besides.

            I entered the diocesan seminary of the Archdiocese of Detroit in the year 2000, officially a member of Assumption Grotto Parish, where I finished my theology degrees, leaving me with six degrees in total, one in humanities, two in philosophy, and three in theology, and I’m joyfully working on my next degree as we speak. These degrees are:

• Bachelor of Classical Humanities from the Centro de Humanidades y Ciencias in Salamanca, Spain (B.A.)

• Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy (Pontifical Degree from Regina Apostolorum, Rome, Italy) (B.A.)

• Licentiate in Philosophy (Pontifical Degree from Regina Apostolorum, Rome) (Thesis: Metaphysical Accusations: Being Beyond Object) (specialization: Logic and Metaphysics) (S.P.L.)

• Masters of Divinity (Sacred Heart Major Seminary, Detroit, MI) (M.Div.)

• Bachelors of Arts in Theology (Pontifical Degree by Angelicum, Rome)  (S.T.B.)

• Master of Arts in Theology (Sacred Heart Major Seminary) (Thesis: Word of God, Word of Man Modernism’s Revelation in the Works of George Tyrrell) (specialization: historical and dogmatic) (M.A.)

            By the grace of God and the help of Mary and the angels and saints, I was ordained a Catholic priest at the service of the Archdiocese of Detroit on May 29^th, 2004. Shortly thereafter I began my first assignment. My parish assignments have been these, and in this order:

• St. Paul on the Lake, Grosse Pointe, MI: Associate Pastor
• St. Joseph, Detroit, MI: Associate Pastor
• St. Josaphat, Detroit, MI: Associate Pastor
• Sweetest Heart of Mary, Detroit, MI: Associate Pastor
• Sacred Heart, Yale, MI: Associate Pastor
• Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Emmett, MI: Associate Pastor
• Sacred Heart Parish, Brown City, MI: Associate Pastor
• Ss. Cyril and Methodius Parish, Sterling Heights, MI: Associate Pastor
• Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (or Assumption Grotto) Parish, Detroit, MI: Associate Pastor

       I am also the founder and director of a small but marvelously fruitful and important youth apostolate called Trailblazers. A link to this apostolate as well as my current parish assignments can be found on my home page. They may also easily be found by clicking on the link "Apostolates" at the top of this page.

       Praised be God for the gift of my vocation, for understanding early on deep truths regarding time and eternity, for the countless crosses with which he has blessed me, and for having such wonderful friends and faithful Catholics at my side as we fight the good fight of the faith until the Lord comes again.