I would like to thank you all for welcoming me into your community at St. Aloysius. I have felt the support through the many interactions I have on a daily basis with parishioners. I have been able to share my story with some of you but my hope is to share a few more details of how I began my journey to seminary and what my experience has been like thus far.

Before entering the seminary, I was a theology teacher at St. Joseph High School in Trumbull. I am an alum of the school, so it was a blessing to return in a new role in which I was able to share my faith with the students. I taught freshmen, sophomores, and seniors, and I truly loved being in the classroom day-to-day. I particularly enjoyed teaching about Scripture and sharing stories from my life experience serving on mission trips and retreat teams in college. When I was at St. Joe’s, my prayer life deepened and I began to feel a call to the priesthood. At first I was afraid and closed off to the idea, but God slowly worked to open my heart. It became more and more clear to me that God had desired this for me and slowly I began to desire the priesthood too. In the summer of 2022, I decided to leave teaching and enter the seminary.

I was sent to study at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia. This first year, known as the ‘Spiritual Year,’ was a time of transition for me. I began a more serious discernment and life of fraternity. I lived a rigorous life of prayer, class, and work in an old convent with 17 other men. We made great friendships and entered deeply into our prayer life. Highlights of my first year were the “Poverty Immersion” mission trip and the 30-day retreat at the end of the spring semester. These two experiences were transformative for me. The ‘Spiritual Year’ helped me grow a lot in self-knowledge and in relationship with God.

My second year at St. Charles was on the main campus with 150 other seminarians from around the country. I began the Pre- Theology (or discipleship) stage of seminary, in which I am pursuing a Masters in Philosophical Studies over two years. At this stage we mostly take courses in philosophy and languages. Last year I learned Latin and this coming fall I will start learning Spanish and ancient Greek (the original language the New Testament was written in). Right now I am in the middle of this two year Pre- Theology stage, having just finished my second year of seminary.

The seminary is filled with young, zealous men who love God and want to serve the Church. We are able to inspire each other, keep each other accountable, and continue to grow together on this journey of the priesthood. I still have another five years before I am ordained a priest, but I am excited to keep learning and growing. My time at St. Aloysius is helping me learn about the life of a vibrant parish and how best to serve the community. I am enjoying my summer at the parish. Please continue to keep my seminarians brothers and me in your daily prayers.

Seminarian John Imbimbo