Deacon Mark DeSio

Growing up in a large Catholic family as one of six children, Deacon Mark DeSio never imagined his path would lead to the priesthood. A St. Petersburg native, Deacon Mark attended Blessed Sacrament Catholic School in Seminole and later St. Petersburg Catholic High School. As a child, he dreamed of becoming a professional skateboarder, and before entering the seminary, he was studying to become a firefighter.

Everything changed during his second year of college when he recognized God's invitation to the priesthood. Inspired by the witness of his uncle, Father Gregg Tottle, as well as the priests of his home parish and the faithful example of family and friends, Deacon Mark discovered a deep desire to serve Christ and His Church.

The aspect of priesthood that excites him most is celebrating the sacraments, especially serving as an instrument of God's mercy in the Sacrament of Reconciliation and helping lead souls closer to heaven.

Deacon Mark DeSio will be ordained to the priesthood May 15, 2027.

Tyler Gates

Tyler was born in Albany, New York, but his family moved to Pinellas County when he was just a year old. He attended Florida State University, earning a degree in biological science, but it was his involvement with the Catholic Student Union that became the turning point in his life. Through the friendships, prayer, and formation he encountered there, Tyler began to recognize God's call to the priesthood.

After graduation, he spent a year working in the operating room at Mease Countryside Hospital before continuing his formation. He earned a master's degree in philosophical studies and recently began his fourth year at St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary. He most recently served his pastoral year at Our Lady of the Rosary Parish in Land O' Lakes.

His vocation has also become a family journey with his younger brother, Dakota, discerning the priesthood as a seminarian for the Diocese of Saint Petersburg.

Vincent Washburn

Vincent is a Hudson native. He graduated from Fivay High School in 2016 before attending Pasco-Hernando State College for two years. He later transferred to the University of South Florida (USF), where he earned a bachelor's degree in psychology in 2020 with plans to become a forensic psychologist.

Although he envisioned a career in psychology, the possibility of the priesthood first entered his heart during his senior year of high school and remained with him throughout college. While studying at USF, Vincent began serving as a part-time youth minister at St. Michael the Archangel Parish. He later became the parish's full-time Youth Minister, Director of Liturgy, and Coordinator of Ministry to the Sick and Homebound. Through serving parishioners of all ages and accompanying people in a variety of life circumstances, Vincent came to recognize through prayer that God was calling him to serve the Church as a priest.

Vincent attended St. Joseph Seminary College in St. Benedict, Louisiana, graduating in 2023. He then began theological studies at St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in Boynton Beach, Florida. He recently completed his pastoral year at the Catholic Student Center at the University of South Florida in Tampa.

Reinaldo Jara

Reinaldo was born in Queens, New York, and attended Mary's Nativity Catholic School in Flushing. In the summer of 2000, his family relocated to Tampa, Florida, where he later graduated from Land O' Lakes High School. He enrolled at the University of South Florida as a pre-nursing major but left during his sophomore year to work full-time at a bank.

During that time, Reinaldo was introduced to a religious association that sparked his first discernment of a vocation to the priesthood. He spent two years living with the community in Spain, deepening his faith and vocational journey. Upon returning to the United States, he served for a year as Associate Youth Minister at his home parish, Our Lady of the Rosary in Land O' Lakes.

While serving in parish ministry, Reinaldo felt called to continue pursuing the priesthood and applied to the Diocese of Saint Petersburg. He was accepted as a seminarian and entered formation in August 2013.