Our Joy-Filled Fr. Jonathan

The oldest of nine children, and homeschooled until he attended the seventh grade at Seton School in Manassas, Fr. Jonathan grew up under the guidance and inspiration of his devout Catholic parents. “My mom and my dad really took seriously passing on the faith to their kids.” God continued to place people on his life path who lived and exemplified a life of faith. “God had really surrounded me with people who had shown me the heroic, beautiful, happy, blessed life of living the Catholic faith.” Being blessed with knowing so many inspiring seminarians and priests, Fr. Jonathan was shown, firsthand, the pure joy that can comes from giving one’s life to God through the priesthood of Jesus Christ. While there are countless reasons Fr. Jonathan answered the call to priesthood, the ultimate one is because he loves God. “He has given me so many blessings and I want more than anything to help others come to know that love.” Fr. Jonathan shared that you can develop a deep relationship with God by making Jesus the most important person in your life through daily prayer, daily Mass, and the desire -- above all else -- to do God's will.

Fr. Jonathan’s favorite saint is his patron saint, St. John Bosco, and his favorite quote is from St. Paul VI. When he’s not celebrating Mass, attending various school events, conversing with PVI students, staff, and faculty, hanging out with family and friends, or discussing philosophical ideas, you can find Fr. Jonathan doing something sports-related. “Soccer is my favorite sport, but I'll play basketball, baseball, lacrosse, golf – really anything!”

PVI is excited to have Fr. Jonathan be an integral part of our community, and we look forward to getting to know him through his homilies and daily interactions with the students, staff, and faculty at PVI.

To carry one's cross is something great...what is greatness? It means facing up to life courageously, without weakness or bitterness. It means that we turn into moral energy those difficulties which will never be lacking in our existence. It means understanding human sorrow, and finally it means knowing really how to love.

• St. Paul VI