Rev. Mr. Michael Sampson

Theology III
Mount St. Mary's Seminary
University of California, San Diego
St. Charles Borromeo Parish

What did you do prior to entering seminary?

I practiced law for one year at a law firm and for seven years at the Social Security Administration.

What influenced your decision to apply for seminary entrance?

When I started to discern entrance into seminary, I began to pray and meditate on the Litany of Trust. This helped me to be open to what God had planned for me and to have faith in His will and not my own.

Why do you want to be a priest?

I want to do what God is asking of me, and I believe He called me to seminary and possibly to the priesthood because it is His plan for my holiness. I am looking forward to the opportunity to bring the sacraments to the people, but especially to encounter them in their times of greatest need.

What are your favorite pastimes?

I enjoy hiking, playing soccer, and traveling.

What is your favorite quote?

“Thou hast made us for thyself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in thee.”-St. Augustine

Who is your favorite Saint and why?

Since reading Confessions by Saint Augustine, I've developed a great love for him because of his honest assessment of his past, his great conversion, and his ability to reach sainthood despite his odds. I also appreciate the role his mother's faith and prayers played in his conversion and sainthood.

What advice would you give to a young man thinking about the seminary?

If you think that you may be called to seminary and the priesthood, take a risk and pursue it. It may initially seem difficult or scary, but you will be surprised by the amount of support you get from your priests and the people of the diocese. It is worth the risk.

Are there any other facts about yourself you would like to share?

I am originally from California, and I converted to Catholicism at St. Charles Borromeo Church in 2013.