1. I was born and raised in Chicago, IL. I started studying piano at the age of eight. Family life was both strong and demanding in our Sicilian home.
2. I was very involved in Scouting including Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and Explorers Scouts.
3. I completed college majoring in history at Quincy Franciscan College, now known as Quincy University.
4. I began formal Franciscan life as a novice at the age of 22 in Oak Brook, IL., and then went on to complete my ministerial studies at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago which concluded with my priesthood ordination in 1986. One of the highlights was to have an international experience in the Holy Land.
5. Following my ordination, I became a high school teacher. In addition to teaching theology, history, and government, I also worked with campus ministry teams conducting youth retreats in grades 9-12.
6. Teaching has been my first love, but I did have the opportunity to spend some years in pastoral work in New York City and New Jersey. During these years, I pursued an MA degree in theology at Fordham University. It was during this time that I taught a semester course in Liturgy at the Franciscan Seminary in Zimbabwe, Africa and conducted pilgrimages to the Holy Land.
7. Returning to high school education, I became Dean of Students and then Principal at Cristo Rey Newark High School in Newark, New Jersey. These were some of my happiest years working with underserved students and helping them to graduate from high school and college.
8. Furthering my credentials in education, I returned to graduate school at Seton Hall. I earned an Ed.S. (specialist in school administration and instruction) and became a licensed principal.
9. COVID-19 entered my life in a very direct way in 2019. The financial support of the high school just could not sustain the school.
10. I was invited to join the friar and college community at Siena College and the adventure continues. Over the years, I have had wonderful opportunities to travel around the world and to share in people’s lives through the baptism of their children, their weddings, and family funerals.
