Josh LaPorte is a Postulant in Order. Here he answers questions about his childhood and vocation:
1) Tell us about your background? Where are you from? Where did you go to school?
I was born on July 18, 1989 in Suburban Detroit, in Sterling Heights, MI at Mt. Clemens General Hospital. I was adopted at birth. I grew up in the Sterling Heights area for the majority of my childhood until I was six years old when we moved to Rochester Hills, MI. We remained there for the rest of my life. We also have a vacation house in the north of Michigan.
My Father is a Certified Public Accountant working as a managing partner at an international firm called UHY advisors. He has been working there since college. My mother was and is still a homemaker. Prior to her being a homemaker, she was a practicing Psychologist.
I discovered my love for music when I was three and a half years old. It was then that I picked up my first violin and begin studies in music. I would find lots of success in that field of study, and pick up more instruments along the way, like percussion (drums, cymbals, etc.). I would study these privately until the age of 17.
I entered Montessori when I was five in September 1994 at Kensington Academy. I would make my first communion in April of 1998. I left Kensington Academy after completing the third grade in 1999. I would then continue studies at a private fine and liberal arts school in Auburn Hills, Michigan called Oakland Steiner where I would complete the rest of elementary and middle school. After that, I would be homeschooled for my freshman year of high school, and then complete the rest of my high school career at St. Mary’s Preparatory.
St Mary’s Prep School is strong Catholic Institution where I would begin discerning my vocation or exploring the possibilities of a vocation. We attended Mass in high school twice a week, and sometimes three times a week if it was a holy day of obligation. I would graduate there St Mary Preparatory School in May 2008. My crowning achievement was winning the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award.
After high school I started studies in philosophy at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Downtown Detroit. I remained there for 4 years until I finished discerning my call and entered the Mercedarian Friars.
2) When did you first start thinking about religious life and/or priesthood?
I started thinking of a vocation when I was a junior in High School during Mass.
3) How did you come to know about the Order of the BVM of Mercy? What drew you to this community?
I came to know about the Order of the BVM of Mercy and plenty of other orders through Vocation Placement Services on the internet. I was drawn to this community because of the way they live religious life and the Charism of order itself. The Mercedarians redeem those who are in captivity at risk of losing their faith.
4) Now that you are a postulant what is your favorite part of the Religious Life?
I enjoy as a postulant the community prayers, the common meal, and recreation time.