Seminarians

Dcn. Carlisle Beggerly

Deacon Carlisle Beggerly

Seminarian - transitional deacon
Deacon Beggerly is a fourth year Theologian at Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans. His home parish is Immaculate Conception in West Point.

Rev. Mr. Carlisle Beggerly
Notre Dame Seminary
2901 S. Carrollton Ave
New Orleans, LA 70118
Email: [email protected]
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His story in his own words:
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I converted to Catholicism while I was pursuing my undergraduate degree after reading a copy of St. Augustine’s Confessions that I found in a used bookshop in Florida. I almost immediately began to feel a call to ordination. I discerned with an institute of Apostolic Life for a little over a year but was not yet ready to commit to priesthood, being a new convert at the time. I returned home and completed my masters degree in philosophy before deciding to go to law school. During law school, however, the call to priesthood became stronger. I knew by the time I graduated that I could no longer ignore what God was asking of me. The vocation director at the time asked me to work for awhile to make certain of the call and then I was finally allowed to apply. It took me awhile to say yes to priestly life, but the path I am on now is filled with great joy and spiritual consolation. Please pray for me to persevere in this journey!

My favorite Bible verses are Job 25-26: “For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and in the last day I shall rise out of the earth. And I shall be clothed again with my skin, and in my flesh I will see my God.” A few of my many favorite saints are St. Gabriel of Sorrows, St. Philomena, St. Stanislaus Kostka, St. Thomas Becket, and Bl. Pope Pius IX. My favorite movie is Ben Hur (1959). My favorite spiritual books are St. Augustine’s Confessions and The Imitation of Christ. I think relics are one of the coolest parts of being Catholic. I collect sacred icons and also paint them in my spare time. My favorite place to pray is in front of the Blessed Sacrament. If you are discerning a call, be sure to spend time with the Lord in Adoration. He will show you the right path.

You can send Carlisle a personal note to 2901 S Carrollton Ave. New Orleans, LA 70118.

Ryan Stoer

Ryan Stoer

Seminarian
Ryan is a third year Theologian at Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans. His home parish is St. Richard Catholic Church in Jackson.

Mr. Ryan Stoer
Notre Dame Seminary
2901 S. Carrollton Ave
New Orleans, LA 70118
Email: [email protected]
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His story in his own words:
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I graduated with a mechanical engineering degree from New Mexico Tech. I had a couple job offers after I graduated. I accepted a job as a nuclear engineer, but before I could start working, I needed a security clearance. While I was waiting for that clearance, I went to confession one day, and a priest said that I should be a priest. When the priest said that, I said, “No way! I’ve always wanted a wife and kids.” Then, I left.

What he said stuck with me, and I began my discernment. I had two choices in front of me. The first was a nuclear engineering job that would have paid six figures, and a girlfriend, with the future possibility of a wife and children. It was a normal life. The second option was seminary. It was an option I had never wanted, and I did not want to consider it.

Through many chance events, I decided that I would give discernment a try. I decided that the moment something showed that I should not be a seminarian, or a priest, I would end the discernment and move on with my life. God had other plans. Each step of the way, the call to enter the seminary grew stronger. I visited my first seminary. Then a second seminary. I met with the Bishop. I met seminarians. Nothing told me to end the process.

Ultimately, I learned the decision was not mine to make. God had the final say. During the discernment process my relationship with God deepened. I would spend time in prayer in front of the Blessed Sacrament. I would go to daily Mass and confession regularly. The more my relationship with the Lord grew, the more the seminary seemed like the right thing.

So, I made my decision to go to the seminary, and I entered. After two months, I got a phone call that said my clearance had come through, and I could start my engineering job by the start of the next week. I did not take it. I stayed in the seminary, and I have found great interior peace and joy in that decision. It is a decision I never thought I would have made, and I never would have made on my own.

You can send Ryan a personal note to 2901 S Carrollton Ave. New Orleans, LA 70118.

Tristan Stovall

Tristan Stovall

Seminarian
Tristan is a third year theologian at Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans. His home parish is Holy Rosary in Philadelphia, Mississippi.

Mr. Tristan Stovall
Notre Dame Seminary
2901 S. Carrollton Ave
New Orleans, LA 70118
Email: [email protected]
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His story in his own words:
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I was born and raised in the red clay hills of Neshoba County, Mississippi.

I was raised a Baptist. My first memory of Catholicism is seeing the funeral of St. John Paul II on television. At the time I was awestruck by all the proceedings. I had so many questions about what was happening and who this man was for whom the whole world was coming to a halt. I became more and more interested as I grew up. When I was 15 I went to mass for the first time at St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans, La. I new then that I had to become a Catholic. I came home and a few weeks later started attending mass regularly. At the Easter Vigil in 2014 I was received into full communion with the Church.

I have always had a deep desire to dedicate my life entirely to God. This desire was present for as long as I can remember. Entering into the sacramental life of the Church changed my life. I began attending daily mass and frequenting the sacrament of penance. The example of the saints was very influential in my pursuing a vocation to the priesthood. St. Catherine of Siena has always exercised an influence over me. Seeing her example of total dedication has constantly inspired me to give myself entirely to the service of Jesus Christ and His Bride, the Church. I hope one day to receive the call to Holy Orders and to be entirely dedicated to the service of the Church.

You can send Tristan a personal note to 2901 S Carrollton Ave. New Orleans, LA 70118.

John Le

John Le

Seminarian
John is a second year theologian at Sacred Heart Seminary in Hales Corners, Wisconsin. His home parish is St. Francis in Brookhaven, Mississippi.

Mr. John Le
Sacred Heart Seminary
7335 S Hwy 100
PO Box 429
Hales Corners, Wisconsin 53130
Email: [email protected]
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His story in his own words:
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I was born and raised Catholic. From the time I was an infant until my beginning teenage years, my family had lived in predominantly Catholic areas. The first thing I heard each day when it was still dark outside would be the church bell ringing, reminding people that Mass was about to begin in 30, 15 or 5 minutes. As children, all my siblings, friends from church and I were all in the Eucharistic Youth Movement (EYM). Besides daily Mass, we were on church grounds several times a week for all kinds of EYM activities and gatherings, from catechism and Bible studies to group visits in front of the Blessed Sacrament, from setting up tents for camps to helping those in need. My mother was incredibly patient and effective in helping us kids stay close to church and God through her daily gentle words and magnanimously self-sacrificing actions. She was indeed my first theologian.

My relationship with an unconditionally loving and infinitely merciful God has grown and matured over the years, both in times of joy and at times of profound sadness and grief-stricken. In grade school, I vaguely remember there were times at 3 p.m. Eucharistic Adoration and Benediction, sitting in silence yet feeling awash in the tingling warm, and loving presence of Jesus. Most of the time growing up, I moved along with the church crowds but did not have that personal, intimate relationship with God. Miraculously surviving the nine-day escape by sea out of communist Vietnam by boat at fourteen certainly brought me closer to God. Years later, reflecting on this, I felt that God was by my side even when I was wandering or not paying attention to God. The St. Mary's Catholic Center at Texas A&M University and the Aggies Catholics energized my love for Christ.

After working for many years, I often felt something was missing. I was very active in my local parish, acting as a lector, going to retreats and engaging in lots of parish related activities and events. Then, I joing the CLC (Christian Life Community) group, going on retreats. It was then that I started discerning religious life with the Jesuits.

Then, I served in Minneapolis on the hospital chaplaincy team at Hennepin County Hospital; then on to Montreal and Toronto helping those with developmental disabilities and refugee families.My ministry then brought me to Belize for a time.

On Aug. 8, 2008, a chartered bus from Houston carrying a group of parishioners on the way to a "Marian Days" week-long event in Carthage, Missouri, crashed on the freeway near Sherman, Texas. Seventeen people died, including both my parents. My relationship with an infinitely loving and compassionate God has continually grown and matured over the years, both in times of joy and profound sadness and grief-stricken. The desire and call to love and serve God and God's people remain strong, just a little closer to families in the states.

After months of praying and meeting regularly each month with a spiritual director, and after being referred by him to the vocation director, I started discerning the possibility of diocesan priestly formation again. In communication with Father Nick Adam, we started meeting by phone and discussing Cardinal Dolan's book "Priests for the Third Millennium." Through those weeks of discussions, I felt called and invited by Father Nick to fill out the application for seminary.

William Foggo

William Foggo

Seminarian
Will is a 1st year theologian at Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans. His home parish is St. Paul in Flowood and he was also very active with Catholic Campus Ministry at Mississippi State University. He is also an alumnus of St. Richard Elementary School in Jackson and St. Joseph Catholic School in Madison.

Mr. William Foggo
Notre Dame Seminary
2901 S Carrollton Ave
New Orleans, LA 70118
Email: [email protected]
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His story in his own words:
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I was raised Catholic and went to Catholic school all the way through high school. I had never thought about becoming a priest. I first felt a desire for priesthood when I was a senior in high school. When I was in college, that desire grew. I began to notice signs that God may be calling me to priesthood. The feeling of a call to priesthood became so great that I couldn't ignore it, so I decided to enter into seminary.

I like the idea of serving those who helped me to grow in my own faith. I want to bring Christ to people in a real way and minister to my friends and family [in the Diocese of Jackson].

I have many favorite saints, but I have always felt close to St. Joseph. He was a quiet, humble and compassionate man. He is my confirmation saint and I have always been inspired by his quiet humility. He is a great example of a good, Catholic man.

I really enjoy praying the rosary, and meditating on the mysteries of Christ's life while asking our Lady for her intercession. It is a very powerful prayer and spiritual weapon. I also love spending time with our Lord in Eucharistic adoration. I enjoy getting to pray face to face with our Lord.

I enjoy playing guitar and listening to music. I also enjoy camping, hiking and being outdoors, and I also enjoy cooking, though I am not very good!

You can send Will a personal note to 75376 River Rd. St. Benedict, LA 70118

Grayson Foley

Grayson Foley

Seminarian
Grayson is in his third year of college seminary at St. Joseph Seminary College in St. Benedict, Louisiana. His home parish is St. Richard in Jackson. He is an alumnus of St. Joseph Catholic School Madison.

Mr. Grayson Foley
St. Joseph Seminary College
75376 River Rd.
St. Benedict, LA 70457
Email: [email protected]
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HIS STORY IN HIS OWN WORDS:
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I was born in Cincinnati, Ohio and my family moved to Jackson, MS when I was in third grade. I’ve lived here ever since.

In the summer of 2018 I went to a Catholic youth conference called Steubenville On the Bayou with my youth group at St. Richard. It was a faith filled experience and was the first time I considered the priesthood. I had an amazing encounter with our Lord during the exposition of the Eucharist. After returning home I started to receive spiritual direction from Father Nick Adam. This helped me to pre-discern my vocation.

I am inspired by the selfless example of other diocesan priests and want to serve just as they do. Through prayer I feel like I am being called to serve the people of God in my home diocese.

I enjoy playing basketball, reading, biking, and fishing. St. Lawrence is my favorite saint and the one I chose for confirmation. He had a fervor and zeal for the Lord that was radiant even until his death. I pray that I can be as strong in spirit as he was.

Before my I started discerning my vocation I was convinced that I would play college basketball. They say “If you want to make God laugh, tell him about YOUR plans.”

You can send Grayson a personal note to 75376 River Rd. St. Benedict. LA 70457

EJ Martin

EJ Martin

Seminarian
EJ is in his first year of Pre-Theology at Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans. His home parish is St. Richard in Jackson. He is an alumnus of St. Joseph Catholic School Madison.

Mr. EJ Martin
Notre Dame Seminary
2901 S. Carrollton Ave
New Orleans, LA 70118
Email: [email protected]
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HIS STORY IN HIS OWN WORDS:
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I was born in Jackson and attended St. Richard’s and St. Joseph’s Madison. From there, I continued a Catholic education at Spring Hill College. After graduating from Spring Hill in 2015 with a degree in Financial Economics, I moved to Austin, TX where I worked in sales for a Financial Services company.

I have always considered the priesthood, but it wasn't until 2021 that God's voice became too loud to ignore. I was praying more regularly and in that prayer God was clearly encouraging me to consider the priesthood.

On Good Friday of 2021, when I was home for Easter, I paid a visit to Fr. Nick, and we began the journey of discerning if God was calling me to join the seminary. As I began to pray more with scripture and conformed my life towards holiness, I was finding more peace in this calling.

In seminary, God will give me the opportunity to continue to double down on this discernment. I look forward to continuing to establish a strong prayer life, and to fall in love with His will for me. My greatest desire at seminary is the discovery of God's vocation for me and the peace and strength to accept that calling.

You can send EJ a personal note to 2901 S Carrollton Ave. New Orleans, LA 70118.

Straton Garrard

Straton Garrard

Seminarian
Straton is in his first year of Pre-Theology at Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans. His home parish is St. Richard Catholic Church in Jackson.

Mr. Straton Garrard
Notre Dame Seminary
2901 S. Carrollton Ave
New Orleans, LA 70118
Email: [email protected]
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HIS STORY IN HIS OWN WORDS:
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I fully received "the Call" in June 2022, though it had been a year-long process of discernment for religious life in general.

I used to altar serve as a small child and when I was in college at the University of Dallas, I attended Mass and was a part of the Men's Society. God willing, I hope to become a priest in 2028.

All of us seminarians are reliant upon the generosity of the people of the diocese in order to pursue this path to the priesthood. I am so thankful for all of the gifts and prayers to allow men to follow God in this way!