SEMINARIAN JOHN ANTHONY BUONO

PROMOTES PRIESTLY VOCATIONS

AT OUR LADY OF LOURDES

READ MORE HERE:  https://www.arlingtondiocese.org/vocations/meet-our-seminarians-priests-and-religious/meet-our-seminarians/john-anthony-buono/

Theology I
Mount St. Mary's Seminary
The Catholic University of America
St. Agnes Parish

What did you do prior to entering seminary?

I received a B.S.B.A. (bachelor of science in business administration) in Accounting and Sales from the Catholic University of America. Prior to college, I attended St. Agnes for elementary and middle school and then went to The Heights for high school.

What influenced your decision to apply for seminary entrance?

I started discerning my vocation when I was 17, after attending WorkCamp in high school.  I then went off to college and the idea of seminary sort of dwindled away.  The more I tried to disregard the idea of seminary, the more it kept coming back into my head.  I eventually started to gain a strong devotion to the Holy Eucharist after deciding to make a commitment to Daily Mass, and then I started to feel in my heart that Our Lord may be moving me towards the seminary because I constantly felt at peace in my prayer.

Why do you want to be a priest?

I want to be a priest because I simply want to save souls.  Being an instrument of God's grace and mercy to others is something I am extremely attracted to because my goal in life, especially as a priest, is to bring souls to Heaven. 

What are your favorite pastimes?

I grew up playing sports like baseball and basketball, and so I love going to the park with my dad and brothers to get some swings and throws in.  I am a big Washington Nationals fan and going to games has been one of my favorite things to do for fun.  I also really like playing piano and singing, as I was in chorus in high school and joined an a capella group in college. 

What is your favorite quote?

My favorite quote comes from the Book of Revelation.  “Behold, I make all things new” (Rev 21:5).  I love this quote because it is full of hope.  Our Lord turns the darkness of our lives into new life, as he did for us on the cross. 

Who is your favorite Saint and why? 

I have many saints that I certainly call my favorite because there are so many powerful ones.  But to just pick one, Saint John is the one for me.  His deep love and affection not only for Christ, but also for Our Lady is inspiring to me.  I can just imagine him holding Mary's hands as Her Son suffered on the cross.  He never left Our Lord's side, and I think that is such an incredible example of living a spiritual life in Christ. 

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

One thing I would say is to find peace in your life, especially through your prayer.  When you seriously commit to visiting Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament often, you will see how much peace and joy you have in your life.  When you think about your vocation, bring it to Our Lord in prayer because if you ask him to help guide your way, you will surely go in the right direction.   Also, stay close to the Eucharist.  You will not only find peace in your heart through the Eucharist, but you will also find clarity.