Autobiography

        I was born and raised in Milwaukee , Wisconsin .  I am the oldest of my siblings. I have four sisters, one brother, and one half-brother. My parents have a genuine faith and we always attended Sunday mass (I was raised Roman Catholic).  I attended Catholic grade school and high school.  I attended Marquette University High School in Milwaukee , Wisconsin .  This was a good, Jesuit college prep     school.

       I was born with a short left arm and leg (cause unknown -- though it was determined not to be genetic).  In spite of this, I attended regular schools, had many friends, and was very active -- even in sports -- while growing up. I was best at table tennis and came in third in the high school tournament. 

        After high school, I went off to a state college.  I attended Eucharist at the Newman Center for a couple months, but then drifted away under the influence of some agnostic or atheist philosophy and psychology professors.  I was also influenced by the typical state college atmosphere.  But in less than two years, I became disillusioned with my life as a proud, young "agnostic" -- which is what I had begun to call myself.  I begin to feel empty and alone.  I called out to God in my distress -- and he was there.  He was there in the form of the Bible and other inspired literature.  He was also there in the people and worship of the Methodist Church I began to attend.  The worship was alive, the music was inspiring -- e.g., the congregation really participated in singing the hymns, the fellowship was warm, and the Bible study was challenging and enlightening.

         Although I attended Eucharist and did believe in God growing up, now my relationship with God was more personal.  I called out to God in the name of Jesus, and experienced the consolation of his presence in a way I never had before.  I discovered that God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, was real!  So both my personal prayer life and my life in church community were reinforcing and deepening my experience of God.  I had found the way (i.e., Jesus, "the way, the truth, and the life.")

          I loved the Methodist Church , but after less than a year I began to miss the Eucharist.  Even though I had left the Catholic Church initially, I went back for the Eucharist.  I transferred the next fall to Cardinal Stritch College , a Franciscan college north of Milwaukee .  The Eucharists I attended at both Cardinal Stritch College and Marquette University had some of the warm fellowship that I had encountered in the Methodist Church .  I continued my major in psychology at Stritch and picked up a minor in religious studies.  A short time later I moved to Ohio and completed an M.A. in theology at another Franciscan school, the University of Steubenville . 

            Between college and graduate school in Ohio , a close friend of mine died, and I became open to the blessings and healing to be had at a charismatic prayer meeting.  I witnessed and experienced the gifts of the Spirit -- and was blessed.  This added another dimension to my Christian spirituality.  My private prayer included daily Bible reading and quiet, contemplative prayer -- and still does.

        After completing my M.A., I went to work as a social worker.  I counseled chronically mentally ill adults, did substance-abuse counseling, and was a children's therapist.  My last job was as an employment specialist where I helped to optimize the success of employees with developmental disabilities.  I did this by working with both the employees and their employers.  I always saw my social work as implicit Christian ministry.

           After studying church history in graduate school, and much prayer I felt a freedom to explore the Episcopal Church.  I realized that the Episcopal Church celebrated the Eucharistic liturgy in a manner similar to the Catholic Church, while including the Protestant tradition -- the best of both worlds.  At its best, it combined the best of my experiences in the Methodist and Roman Catholic traditions.  So I joined the Episcopal Church.  Still, my basic Christian faith is more important than denominational affiliation.

           My church ministry experience has been pastoral work like leading scripture studies and coordinating a home and hospital visitation ministry.  I see the Episcopal Priesthood as a vocation grounded in, and thus growing out of the more fundamental call to be a Christian.  I am very ecumenical.  I see what I do flowing out of who I am -- a person in personal relationship with a loving God who sustains and inspires. I also see ordained ministry as a calling to represent God to people and people to God -- e.g., in the Eucharistic celebration.  I believe that helping to empower all in the parish in their various ministries is also very important.  The priesthood of all believers is a key truth.

        The clearest evidence of my call to the priesthood was experienced in prayer with two other people. For me, prayer is essential for growing closer to God, and is a foundation for the wisdom and strength necessary for active ministries.