- 21 September, 2026
Newark, New Jersey, September 21, 2026: When Dominic Auricchio was four years old, he says he heard God’s voice in a dream telling him to become a priest. Now 13, the Catholic teenager may not remember every detail of that dream, but he says its message has stayed with him.
That sense of vocation, strengthened by his faith and shaped by difficult health experiences, inspired Dominic to write about why priests matter in his winning entry for the Archdiocese of Newark’s 2026 Cardinal Joseph Tobin Essay and Video Contest.
The competition invited seventh-grade students to explain the importance of priests. Dominic’s 642-word essay stood out among 49 submissions, earning him first place, a plaque and $1,500.
For Dominic, the answer was rooted in three things: priests share God’s Word, celebrate the sacraments and love others as Jesus did.
His understanding of priestly ministry was also influenced by his own struggles. Dominic began experiencing seizures in December and remains under medical care. When he first learnt about the essay contest, he was in hospital.
Rather than allowing his difficulties to stop him, he incorporated them into his reflection on the priesthood.
He wrote that his medical problems helped him understand how people feel when they are frightened or facing something difficult. He believes this experience has strengthened his desire to comfort people who are hurting.
For Dominic, a priest is someone who accompanies people through sickness, grief and fear — bringing comfort and hope when they need it most.
Dominic also shared his story through a four-minute video produced with the help of his mother, Maria, and his brother Vincenzo.
He recalled that at nine, he was diagnosed with a mass on his brain. While doctors and his parents considered treatment options, Dominic says he experienced what he believes was an apparition of the Virgin Mary.
He described seeing a woman wearing blue and a head covering who reassured him that he should not be afraid. He later learnt that a CAT scan showed the mass had begun to shrink.
Today, he says the mass has reduced considerably. His recovery cannot be established as miraculous, particularly because medication may also have contributed to the improvement. Nevertheless, Dominic and his mother see the experience as a source of faith and hope.
“I like telling other people because it reminds them that God is always there,” Dominic said.
Dominic’s understanding of vocation has also grown through his life as an altar server at St. Helen’s Parish in Westfield.
Serving at Mass has helped him appreciate the priest’s role and brought him closer to the Eucharist.
Experiences such as giving alms during Lent and serving as a buddy to a young girl with autism during inclusive Masses have also taught him patience and kindness.
His pastor, Msgr Thomas Nydegger, said Dominic’s sensitivity could become an important gift in priestly ministry.
Dominic’s mother said she would be honoured if her son eventually became a priest, but stressed that the decision belongs to him.
She wants him to discover where God is calling him, whatever that vocation may be.
Dominic remains confident that the priesthood may be his path. As he wrote in his essay, he does not know exactly where God will lead him, but trusts that God is guiding him “step by step”.
For a 13-year-old who first heard that call in a dream, the journey may only just be beginning.
Courtesy : OSV News
Photo Courtesy : OSV News photo/courtesy Archdiocese of Newark
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