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I am a twenty-two year old San Diego native, born October 1, 1988, to Joan and Leonard Tufford. Though not raised a Roman Catholic, providence provided for my conversion to the Catholic faith during my freshman year at Saint Augustine high school. On December 4, 2004, I received the sacraments of Baptism, First Holy Communion, and Confirmation at the Mission San Diego de Alcalá, my home parish. It was while I was on the Confirmation retreat, preparing to receive these Sacraments, that I first had thoughts of priesthood; which I’ve discerned (not without prayer and direction from the Church) to be God’s call for my life. In May of 2011, I graduated from Franciscan University of Steubenville as a Philosophy and Theology double major. Throughout college I was considering a possible vocation to the religious life with a wonderful community, the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal. After much discernment, and the community’s wise discernment with me, I was able to decide not to join their community and to make application to the Program of Priestly Formation in the Diocese of San Diego. I’m looking forward to a year of continued discernment and growth with the Diocese before beginning major seminary next year.
