Neven Pesa is a young man who wants to follow in the footsteps of St. Peter and St. Paul. He simply wants to become a priest. He wrote in his email to me:
I recently got accepted to the Byzantine Catholic Order of Basilian Salvatorian Fathers in Massachussets - a semi-contemplative order of Catholics of the Eastern Rite. I belong to the Melkite Catholic Church of the Virgin Mary in Brooklyn.
I am supposed to start my Novitiate this September 2008, but I first need to pay off the large college student-loan debt I've incurred from attending Franciscan University of Steubenville for 4 years.
To remedy this - I just finished recording an original Catholic album to help raise money so that I become debt free in order that I may freely pursue my vocation, financially unhindered towards the priesthood.
He introduces us to his life via an article he published in The Catholic Exchange, where he wrote:
I'm a son of Croatian immigrants who first emigrated to Italy and subsequently to America in the 70's. Within two years of their marriage, my brother and I were both born.
My mother lovingly tells me that God willed very much that I come into this world because I came as a "happy surprise" to both my parents, having been conceived only 4 months after my older brother had been born.
My parents gave me the name of "Neven," which is a Christian name of some very early obscure saint, "Neven: meaning "everlasting" in Croatian. I was raised in a typical Catholic household and am happy to say that I enjoyed a particularly joyful childhood.
My Dad, whom I admire very much, had a noticeable handicap which was the result of an accident he had at the age of five. This left him with only one usable arm. His injured arm was permanently atrophied and was rendered almost useless. But this did not deter my father nor did he allow anyone to pity him. Although limited in his job options, he always seemed to find work. My mother was employed evenings as a cleaning lady at a Manhattan office building. This arrangement allowed for at least one of my parents to always be home with my brother and me.
The first peek into God's call on my life was when I was about 2 or 3 years old. My mother had walked in on me once in prayer, and saw me standing in front of a high table that had a number of Holy cards neatly arranged and splayed out. My mother took note of this occurrence and brings up the memory of it since it had obviously left a significant impression on her.
I promised Neven to publish his story and promote his music CD, which you can hear and buy by clicking on this link.
Please, spread the word to help Neven become a priest.
