Thomas Pawlak
Home Parish: Our Lady of Peace, Clarence NY
Year you entered the seminary? 2025
What did you do before you entered the seminary? I studied Information Technology at the Rochester Institute of Technology, received my Bachelor's degree, and was planning on pursuing a graduate degree in Data Analysis.
Why did you enter the seminary? I've had the desire to enter the priesthood for many years, but I finally have the opportunity to explore this calling with an open mind and heart to see if this is where I truly belong.
What was one of the major influences leading you to consider priesthood? My experience among other practicing Catholics amidst a secular campus environment was an incredible witness to the faith, and the priests involved in college ministry I've gotten to know have been some of the best role models in my life.
Interests: Outdoors, recreational shooting, computers
Benjamin Woodruff
Home Parish: St. Matthew, Livonia
Year you entered the seminary? 2025
What did you do before you entered the seminary? I studied Information Technology at the Rochester Institute of Technology. I worked in technical support and later as a project manager at a software company, focusing on password management software. Alongside my career, I volunteered for more than a decade with my local fire department and ambulance service.
Why did you enter the seminary? In the years before discerning, I served in several liturgical ministries at my home parish. That experience deepened my faith and awakened in me a desire to serve the Church more fully. I entered the seminary because I felt called to a greater level of service and to share God’s love in a priestly way.
What was one of the major influences leading you to consider priesthood? I’ve spent much of my life serving others, often in secular contexts. Over time, I felt God inviting me to bring that same commitment to service into the life of the Church — the one true Church of Jesus Christ.
Interests: I enjoy technology and information security, radio communications, emergency services, and trading card and board games.
Matthew Smith
Home Parish: Holy Apostles, Rochester NY
Year you entered the seminary? 2025
What did you do before you entered the seminary? Before I entered the seminary, I worked a few years at my parish as a Pastoral Minister visiting the elderly, sick, and homebound. At night, I worked as a restaurant manager for over ten years. At Roberts Wesleyan University, I studied Social Work and Music Education.
What was one of the major influences leading you to consider priesthood? One of the major influences leading me to consider priesthood has been the role of my parish in my life. My parish family has been instrumental in my formation as a Catholic Christian. From a young age, I have always been involved in the life of the parish and I realize the importance of community in our formation. I consider priesthood the ultimate means of serving the community and fostering relationships with Our Lord. Priests have the privilege of serving God by ministering to His people and witnessing to His goodness.
Why did you enter the seminary? I entered the seminary in order to better discern God’s will for my life. I desire to deepen my faith in community with other like-minded people as well as to learn how I can more faithfully serve Our Lord through service to His Church.
Interests: I enjoy being in nature, gardening, reading, socializing with friends, and enjoying good music.
Edward Fantauzzo
Home Parish: St. Louis in Pittsford
Year you entered the seminary? 2024
What did you do before you entered the seminary? Served in the US Navy
What was one of the major influences leading you to consider priesthood? While on deployment with the Navy I worked closely with a Jesuit priest Chaplin. His faith, devotion, and love for his vocation first attracted me to the priesthood.
Why did you enter the seminary? I felt a calling to vocation and a desire to serve the church.
Interests: Board Games, Shooting/Skeet Competitions, Golf/Baseball
Charles Moskov
Home Parish: St. Mary's, Auburn NY
Year you entered the seminary? 2024
What did you do before you entered the seminary?
I served in the Army as a cavalry scout. I entered into seminary because I want to fully give myself over to God in service of his people.
What was one of the major influences leading you to consider priesthood?
After praying on the best way to do this I felt called to the priesthood.
Why did you enter the seminary?
While I was deployed I often had long conversations about the faith with my fellow soldiers. This combined with a pilgrimage to Jasna Gora greatly deepened my love for Christ and the Blessed Mother ultimately culminating in my vocation.
Interests:
I like to read about history. I also really enjoy getting outside to enjoy nature.
Anthony Nicolosi
Home Parish: St. Leo the Great parish, Hilton NY
Year you entered the seminary? 2024
What did you do before you entered the seminary?
I studied biology at St. John Fisher University with the original intention to become a pharmacist or do research, but felt God tug on my heart as early as freshman year.
What was one of the major influences leading you to consider priesthood?
Developing relationships with both priests and particularly Catholics in young adult settings. Talking to several priests about their vocations felt great. The work the priest did was very inspiring to me, especially saying mass and pastoral ministry. In young adult settings, I always felt the desire to minister to those around me. The more I let the Holy Spirit lead, the more God proved to me that I was called to do this work.
Why did you enter the seminary?
I fell in love with the sacraments and liturgy through some classes I took and I found great consolation in reading scripture. I decided to enter seminary right out of college after hearing God's call to make our beautiful Catholic faith more accessible, particularly to those who have fallen away.
Interests:
I enjoy reading, listening to music, and hanging out with friends and family. I also love to listen to podcasts and have conversations around the Catholic faith.
Michael Piersall
Home Parish: Sacred Heart Cathedral Community
Year you entered the seminary? 2024
What did you do before you entered the seminary? Before I entered seminary, I was a student at Christendom College majoring in Classical and Early Christian Studies. I studied at Christendom College for two years before entering seminary, and in my final semester worked as a student supervisor in the Christendom College library.
What was one of the major influences leading you to consider priesthood? When I was completing my junior year in high school, it was announced that the school I had been attending would close following that academic year. In the wake of that unexpected announcement, my parents and I decided that I would finish my high school degree through the home-schooling program, Mother of Divine Grace School. During that year I was able to go to Mass and altar serve daily at the Cathedral with Fr. Van Lieshout—this experience opened me to the priesthood more than anything else could have. Serving and attending Mass daily, I was able to experience the richness of the liturgical year in a way I had never done before. Throughout it all, I became aware of an abiding joy within myself and began to wonder if I might be called to serve at the altar in a deeper way.
Why did you enter the seminary? Following my sophomore year of college, I entered seminary so that I could discern and pursue a vocation to the priesthood while yet in college.
Interests: I have a wide range of interests. For almost ten years now, I have played the bagpipes, and I regularly perform at parades and festivals with the Rochester Scottish Pipes and Drums Band. I also love the outdoors and adventure, which has led me to enjoy camping and scuba diving. In my everyday life, I like to exercise and read. In the past few months I have also been interested in perhaps starting a new hobby which would teach me new skills, such as vintage car restoration or jewelry making.
Daniel Spears
Home Parish: Church of Saint Jerome, East Rochester, NY
Year you entered the seminary? 2023
What did you do before you entered the seminary?
Prior to entering the seminary, I spent two years at Magdalen College of the Liberal Arts, where I studied philosophy and theology. Liturgy and Sacred Music were an important part of the college’s spiritual identity. We read and discussed many documents from the Second Vatican Council, in addition to works by Pope Benedict XVI. One of my favorites was his Spirit of the Liturgy, which reveals the hidden spiritual world that is present at every Mass.
What was one of the major influences leading you to consider priesthood?
I spent the last five summers volunteering as a missionary at the Apostolate for Family Consecration in Ohio. Each summer I lived in community with other missionaries and ministered to families who attended summer retreats there. I served in many different roles: teacher, musician, tech support, french-fryer, and groundskeeper to name a few. I was always amazed at how I was called to use my unique gifts in various ways over the years, and how each summer brought new insights into who God is calling me to be. The summers provided many opportunities for prayer, discernment, and getting to know priests from across the country. We also had many international priests visit. I was inspired by their dedication and joy in the variety of ways that they bring Christ to the families, especially through the Sacraments.
Why did you enter the seminary?
Through many years of personal prayer and the establishment of a relationship with Jesus in the Eucharist, I have discerned that the priesthood is likely the way in which God is calling me to serve Him with my life. Before looking anywhere else, I made God my first choice. The more I placed my trust in Him, the more doors opened leading me to the seminary. It was a difficult decision to transfer colleges, but my welcoming at Our Lady of Providence Seminary has been affirming that I am on the right path. I look forward to the many years of study and formation ahead in which I can continue to discern God’s call and grow in love for Christ and His Church.
Interests:
I am passionate about Sacred Music and enjoy singing, composing, and playing the organ. I also like to design websites and build computer software. My two hobbies combined when I had the opportunity to design and build an electronic pipe organ to play at Mass for the Apostolate for Family Consecration. When I’m not writing code or making music, I like to read books and engage in philosophical and theological discussions with friends.
Joseph Maurer
Home Parish: Saint Kateri Parish, Irondequoit – Saint Thomas the Apostle Church
Year you entered the seminary? 2022
What did you do before you entered the seminary? Why did you enter the seminary?
I studied woodworking and business in college and then I worked for about 5 years for a local custom window and door manufacturer specializing in high quality wood windows and doors. I eventually decided to enter the seminary and pursue the priesthood after growing much deeper in my faith and genuinely feeling called to it. I also continually heard about the priest shortage and the need for more priests and I felt that I could do it and be happy and hopefully be part of the solution.
What was one of the major influences leading you to consider priesthood?
One of the bigger influences for me was simply having the opportunity to spend time and talk to current priests in our diocese. Talking to them and asking them questions and learning more about what the actual role of a priest is helped me hear the call.
Interests:
My biggest interest and hobby is woodworking. I also enjoy spending time with family and watching movies.
David Cataline
Home Parish: Our Lady of Peace Parish, Geneva NY
Year you entered the seminary? 2019
What did you do before you entered the seminary?
I was an educator and school administrator for Baltimore City Schools
Why did you enter the seminary?
I have always been involved in the church in some capacity since I was an altar server. The more I became involved, the more I felt drawn to the priesthood.
What was one of the major influences leading you to consider priesthood? My involvement in the church as well as the priests whom I know personally. They have been a guiding star in my discernment.
Interests:
I enjoy reading and hanging out with friends. I am very involved in my brother’s foundation so I do a lot of work with them for awareness and other events for families.
