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Name: Brandon E. Macadaeg
Date of birth: October 24, 1986
Hobbies and interests: reading, playing the piano, watching movies, traveling
Favorite Saints: St. John Vianney, St. Pio of Pietrelcina, St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Therese of Lisieux.
Our Catholic faith was very important in the life of my family. My parents were my first teachers in the faith and generously nourished that faith within me as I grew up. Growing up in a home rooted deeply in our Catholic faith was the greatest influence on me to enter the seminary.
I always thought about the priesthood, but during my high school years I encountered harsh contrary views that discouraged me from considering any priestly or religious vocation. My plan was to attend the Naval Academy after high school, but God had another one. Instead, He brought me to the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC where I spent two years as a regular college student before entering its seminary, Theological College, in 2006. At Catholic, the call from Jesus became clearer as I participated in daily Mass, Eucharistic adoration, the Sacrament of Penance, devotion to Our Blessed Mother, and devotion to the Divine Mercy.
I had the opportunity to meet with Archbishop Allen Vigneron (who was Bishop of Oakland at the time) during his many visits to Washington. Our gentle shepherd took the time to talk with me, to pray with me, and to help me discern God’s will in my life. By his words and his example, this holy priest taught me that I would find true peace by simply surrendering to God’s will and keeping my eyes fixed on Jesus.
Archbishop Vigneron accepted me as a seminarian for the Diocese of Oakland in 2006 and invited me to consider getting a Bachelors and Masters degree in Philosophy through the generosity of the Theodore Basselin Scholarship at Catholic University’s School of Philosophy, while engaging in priestly formation at Catholic University’s Theological College.
Being in seminary has been the most joyful, humbling, and life-giving experiences because I am doing God’ will. While I am not worthy to become a priest, I trust that He will provide me with the strength to be His holy witness to the good people of the East Bay and thus “to make Him better known.”