Get to know our summer seminarian!

About

Philip was born and raised in Front Royal Virginia. He comes from a family of nine kids, three boys and six girls, and they were all raised in the Catholic Church. He was homeschooled through high school, and he began to be attracted to the priesthood during his junior year of high school. He attended Christendom College and studied Political Science and Philosophy. After graduating from Christendom in 2013, he began working at a local winery outside Front Royal for three years. During his time at the winery, he once again felt the attraction towards becoming a priest, and he began to talk to his local pastor about entering the seminary. He pointed Philip in the right direction, and told him to talk to the Vocations Director, Father Jaffe, about applying for the seminary. Once his application was completed, the Bishop accepted him to be a seminarian and sent him to Mount St. Mary’s Seminary where he just completed his first year of formation. During his free time, he enjoys reading, cooking, hiking, and taking short drives in the Shenandoah Valley. He also enjoys traveling, and has had the opportunity to visit Italy, Scotland and England, Alaska, and New Zealand. His patron Saint is St. Peter, and he also has special devotions to Our Lady of Perpetual Help, and St. Philomena.