I was born in Duluth, Minnesota. My mother is Swede and my father is Polish. My mother is 2nd generation born in America and my father is first generation. My brother and I were raised in a strong Catholic home. Polish grandparents and extended family were very close. We lived in the country north of Duluth and attended St. Joseph’s Church where I was baptized. Many of my family are buried in the church cemetery.
My family moved to Chicago during the 2nd World War and then to a small town in Illinois where I attended grade school and high school. I excelled in basketball and have many fond memories of growing up in small town America in the Midwest. I was drafted into the Army right after high school and experienced a new type of education. After my discharge, I followed my family out to Sacramento. I went to work for Procter and Gamble and retired as a machine adjuster/electrician in 1992 after 32 plus years.
My wife and I had been involved in All Hallows Parish for many years. Our sons attended parochial grammar school and Christian Brothers High School. The Deacon at our parish, Pat McKenna, encouraged me for several years to look into the Diaconate Formation Discernment Process. After I retired, we entered the four years of formation. On June 16, 1996, I was ordained Permanent Deacon for the Diocese of Sacramento and was assigned to All Hallows Parish. I served there until May of 2005 when I was reassigned by Bishop Weigand to serve at St. Mary’s Parish. I am ordained to proclaim and preach the word of God, baptize, officiate at weddings and funerals and assist at mass. I visit the sick and home bound as well and serve the parish community as need be. My wife, Karen and I have five sons and five grandchildren. We feel very much at home at St. Mary’s.