MEET Father Gary

My vocation has had many twists and turns. I felt called to be a priest in High School, and after attending Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, where I was very active in the Charismatic Renewal and worked for the City of Los Angeles Libraries as a clerk, I felt called to try the Benedictines at St Andrew's Priory (now Abbey) at Valyermo. After this the Lord led me to a career with American Airlines, where I was blessed to work for over 10 years as an agent in various capacities. In addition to being blessed with many opportunities to travel, my favorite job there was dealing with people in lost luggage ("lost luggage ministry"), where many insights about life and people in general were obtained! After many signs and much discernment I took the risk of leaving my first career and entered Mount Angel Seminary in 1991, being ordained for the Archdiocese of Portland in 1997. I am grateful to the Lord for the grace of being a priest for the people of God.