I was born in Newtown, PA (just outside of Philadelphia) to Barry and Regina Pine. My father works as an accountant and my mother owns a small Catholic bookstore. I have two older sisters, Rebecca, who teaches theology in a Catholic school and Christen, who works as a tax accountant. I have one younger brother Matthew just entering high school.

I am a cradle Catholic, though at times, I was so begrudgingly. I recall asking my father at a young age why we didn't get summer vacation from Church. By middle school, through the influence of retreats and pilgrimages, I began to fall in love with the faith. My relationship with the Lord really began to blossom while in college at Franciscan University of Steubenville, from which I graduated with a degree in Humanities & Catholic Culture and Mathematics.
I was first introduced to the order through a book about St. Thomas Aquinas. Afterwards, I testified to the power of this encounter, and perhaps to my own silliness, by immediately telling my friends and family that I wanted to become a Dominican priest (before ever even meeting one). This initial burst of zeal and romantic fancy became more genuine and rooted as I began to visit the community and experience the brothers and priests, the life, and the charism. Over the course of a few years, the desire swelled and I grew in certainty of Christ's call.

I am excited for life as a Dominican. There is such a need for study and teaching in a world craving vital, vibrant, and reasonable witnesses. The Lord has made it clear that this is the path by which he is leading me into His Life and Truth, and I am eager to follow.

 See the list of the twenty-one novices here.