THE HARVEST CONTINUES...
NAME: Alexander (A.J.) Houston DIOCESE: Knoxville, TN ARMED FORCES BRANCH: Army RANK: 1LT EDUCATION/DEGREES: University of Cincinnati, CollegeConservatory of Music: Bachelor of Music in Music Education and Clarinet Performance. Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology: Master of Arts in Catholic Philosophical Studies. HIGH SCHOOL: Farragut High School, Knoxville, TN HOBBIES: Running, Weightlifting, Hiking, Camping, Reading, Playing Music, and Chess
WHEN WAS THE FIRST TIME YOU THOUGHT YOU MIGHT HAVE A VOCATION TO THE PRIESTHOOD? I first felt called to the priesthood after reading a book about the lives of the saints while I was stationed at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas. WHO OR WHAT EVENTS INFLUENCED YOUR DISCERNMENT JOURNEY? Although I first considered missionary work in the religious life, the experience of being far from home on a deployment to Iraq convinced me that I wanted to serve as a diocesan priest in my home diocese of Knoxville, Tennessee. However, I believe that my service as an Army chaplain will fulfill my earlier desire for adventure and ministry all over the world. I would be remiss not to also mention Father David Ivey, a former Air Force chaplain, but later became an Army chaplain, whose preaching inspired me while I was a parishioner at the St. Michael Catholic Community at Fort Bliss.
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