Ryan and Victor

St. Maria Goretti Parish is pleased to have the assistance of two Seminarians at our Sunday Morning Masses: Ryan and Victor, who are studying theology at St. Augustine Seminary......

Ryan Nigli

Hello, there! My name is Ryan Nigli and I am a seminarian from St. Augustine’s Seminary. I joined in September and I am currently studying one year of philosophy through Serra House. In addition to my studies, I am delighted to have been placed here at St. Maria Goretti Parish (most Sundays) as part of our Parish Experience Program this year. 

I was born and raised in a very Catholic family in Etobicoke. My parents moved to Canada from India and have worked tirelessly to support my older brother, myself, and younger sister. My family, including my uncle, Rev. Francis Nigli, who is a diocesan priest in Nebraska, fostered my growth in the faith, and have been my inspiration and rock throughout my life. I attended Michael Power/St. Joseph Catholic High School and later went to King’s University College at the University of Western Ontario where I completed an Honors Specialization in the Catholic Studies for Teachers Program. I went in wanting to be a teacher, and ended up discerning that God had other plans for me. In the past 12 months I have spent time doing missionary work in Palawan, Philippines, I travelled most of Southeast Asia, and, feeling God’s call and trusting His will for my life, I have joyfully entered the seminary.

Please keep me in your prayers as I continue to discern my vocation, and know that I am praying for the community here at St. Maria Goretti. God bless!

Victor Valdes

My name is Victor Manuel Valdes and I am a seminarian studying for the archdiocese of Toronto. I am currently in my second year. I am studying philosophy and will move on to the theology program in a few years. I was born and raised in Toronto, specifically in Scarborough. I have two siblings, an older sister and a younger brother. All my education, current and past, has been in Toronto. My high school was Brebeuf College, an all-boys school, and a few years after graduating from Brebeuf College I went to York University and took several courses there. I became active in my parish after high school, joining the youth choir and youth group. I eventually took charge of the youth group around a year after joining. I was also a member of the young adults group at St. Timothy’s parish in North York and part of another Catholic group called Singles for Christ.

Though I did not know it at the time, it was when I joined the youth choir at my parish that the seeds of my vocation were being planted. I was meeting new people, and when I joined and took charge of my parish’s youth group and joined the St. Timothy young adults group, I was learning more about my faith and I began to grow deeper in it. I studied my faith more and was becoming attracted to it. I went York University and after taking a few courses and volunteering I decided that I wanted to be a social worker. I applied but did not get in and this was when the priesthood popped into my head. I decided that I would act on this thought and I contacted the vocations director for Toronto. I joined a program for men discerning the priesthood and after receiving an application, applied and got in. I am enjoying my time at the seminary and so far feel at peace with what I am doing. God willing and with a lot of prayers I hope to one day be a priest serving you and the people of this archdiocese. God bless.