Biographies

When I graduated from High School, the caption that was written by my grad photo read, "On a mission from God, Santo will travel the world, feeding the hungry and homeless, and still make it home in time for dinner." In a lot of ways, I feel that I have accomplished that, and I am still invited through God's grace in my ministry to do so.

I was born and raised in Toronto, Canada. During my school years, I worked for Mr. Grocer in all sorts of jobs, was involved in musical theatre, peer ministry, working with the homeless in Toronto, and active in my parish community. It was during these years, and into the time I was in University, that I felt God was shaping me and calling me to a life-long vocation of ministry and service in the Church.

I was a participant on S.E.R.V.E. (Summer Endeavor in a Redemptorist Volunteer Experience) in 1991. This was my first formal opportunity to get to know the Redemptorists. I was in my 2nd year of undergraduate studies in Religious Studies and Geography (Environment and Resource Management).

As I neared the end of my Bachelor's degree at the University of Toronto, I felt I was unable to commit to discerning religious life with the Redemptorists at that time, though since S.E.R.V.E. a few years prior, I had been in regular contact with the Vocation Director. So I moved to Houston, Texas to work with Covenant House Texas, a 24 hour shelter working with run-away teenagers. I was with their Faith Community Program for 13 months. During which time, I applied and was accepted to the Redemptorist Formation Program back in Toronto.

In the Fall of 1994, I began my Formation with the Community, and went back to school to begin my Master of Divinity studies at St. Michael's College, Faculty of Theology. During the next 5 years, I was involved in activities such as volunteering at our Out of the Cold program at St. Patrick's Church as the Volunteer Coordinator, Cooking at Out of the Cold, volunteering at Providence Centre in Scarborough, singing in the Choir at St. Patrick's Church, and in student leadership at the Faculty of Theology. After completing my theological training, I did a unit of Clinical Pastoral Education at St. Paul's Hospital in Saskatoon, and moved to St. Paul, Alberta where I worked for a year on the Redemptorist Youth Mission Team: Training and preparing parish groups within a diocese to develop and foster Youth Ministry programs in their areas. After the Team finished in St. Paul, I took final vows, and was ordained a Deacon at Holy Redeemer Parish in Sudbury, where I worked for a year as a deacon, and as the Coordinator of Youth Ministry, applying the principles of Comprehensive Youth Ministry to the Parish in Sudbury. After one year in Sudbury, I moved back to north west! The summer following my Ordination to Priesthood on May 5, 2001, I moved to Grande Prairie, Alberta (about 5 hours north west of Edmonton), where I was Associate Pastor at St. Joseph's Church. While in Grande Prairie, some of my ministries included: Chaplain to Holy Cross School, and St. Joseph's High School, developing and fostering Youth Ministry, and training our new Youth Ministry Coordinator, Children and Family Ministry, Board of Directors for the Youth Emergency Shelter, developing a response team and ministry through the parish to meet the needs among the city's poor, and homeless. St. Joseph's is a busy busy place!

In the summer of 2003, I had the opportunity to attend a Redemptorist Spirituality Course in Rome and Naples. After the course, I ventured to Sicily to recover my Sicilian roots. I was lucky to meet many relatives, even as close as 1st cousin-once removed! What an adventure. When I returned from that trip, I was offered another adventure: I was being called to work in Vocation Ministry for the Redemptorists of the Edmonton-Toronto Province. In September 2003, I drove all my belongings, and the Office supplies from Edmonton across the country and set up shop in Toronto.

During this past year, I have had the privilege of journeying with several young men in the Redemptorist Parishes across the country, in different Campus Ministries, and Young Adult Programs who are interested in the Redemptorist Way of Life and Mission. Through casual contact, Liguori Circles, discernment retreats, university programs, and Come and See Opportunities, I am able to meet a number of young men and women who desire to come to know more about what God is calling of them in their life. As a vocation director, I help foster all vocations: Marriage, Religious Life, Priesthood, and Single Life. Of course, I pay special attention to those young men interested in our community, but we all help the role of the Spirit in calling all to Christ.

It's difficult to believe that I've only been ordained since 2001, but I feel that my grad comment has already come true, and will continue to be a hallmark in my ministry in the years to come; of course, with God's help!