Meet Dominic Auricchio: A Story of Faith and Courage

At just 13 years old, Westfield’s Dominic Auricchio has already faced challenges that would test many adults. From overcoming serious medical issues to earning top honors in the Cardinal Joseph Tobin Essay & Video Contest, Dominic’s unwavering faith, commitment to serving others, and thoughtful outlook on life have inspired those around him. In this month’s Q&A, he shares his remarkable journey, the experiences that have shaped him, and why he believes listening to God’s call is the most important path of all.

Congratulations on winning the Cardinal Joseph Tobin Essay & Video Contest. What did receiving this honor mean to you?

Winning the contest meant a lot to me. When I entered, I really didn’t know how many other students had entered or what would happen. I just wanted to be honest about my faith and why I feel called to the priesthood.

When I found out I won, I was really surprised and excited. It was also pretty cool to know that people had read my essay and listened to what I had to say about my faith. It made me feel like maybe God was giving me a little sign to keep listening to where He is calling me.

Tell us a little about yourself and your family. What do you enjoy doing when you’re not in school or at church?

I am 13 years old and going into 8th grade at Holy Trinity School in Westfield. I live with my mom and dad and my two brothers, Vinnie and Maximo. We also have a lot of pets, so our house can get pretty crazy!

When I’m not at school or church, I like playing hockey, hanging out with my friends and family, playing video games, and just relaxing. I also really like science and learning how things work. I also enjoy whittling and I am  currently learning to play the bagpipes.

You have said you first felt called to become a priest when you were just 4 years old. Can you share that experience and explain why it has stayed with you?

When I was about 4 years old, I had a dream that God told me He wanted me to be a priest. I remember waking up in the middle of the night and going into my parents’ room to tell my mom. She had just had my younger brother, so she was really tired and told me to go back to bed.

The next morning, my mom asked me if I had woken her up during the night. I told her, “Yes, I told you God told me He wants me to be a priest.”

I was only 4, so I didn’t understand everything about becoming a priest, but I never forgot that dream. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve learned more about what being a priest means. Being an altar server and being involved at church have also helped me understand it more.

I’m only 13, so I know I have a lot of time to figure out exactly what God wants me to do. But becoming a priest is something I have thought about since I was little, and I still feel like God is calling me to it.

You’ve faced significant medical challenges, including seizures and a brain mass. How did those experiences strengthen your faith and shape the person you are today?

Going through everything with my health has definitely made my faith stronger. When I was younger, doctors found a mass, and more recently I started having seizures. I’ve had a lot of tests, doctor appointments, and hospital visits, and sometimes we didn’t know what was going to happen next.

It can be scary when you don’t know what is going to happen, but I’ve learned that I can’t control everything. I have to trust God and know that He is with me.

I also think going through hard things has helped me understand other people better. You never really know what someone else might be dealing with. I try to remember that and be kind to people.

During your illness, you experienced what you believe was an apparition of the Blessed Mother. What happened that night, and what has that experience meant to you ever since?

Right before my 10th birthday, my family and doctors were getting ready to talk about whether I would need surgery. One night, at around 1:30 in the morning, I woke up and saw a woman in my room.

I went into my parents’ room, woke up my mom, and told her there was a woman in my room. My mom jumped out of bed because she thought someone had gotten into our house. She came back to my room with me, but no one was there.

She asked me what the woman looked like because she wanted to check the house for her. I pointed to the bottom of my bed and told her that she had been standing right there. I could only see her from the waist up. She was dressed in blue and had scarves over her head, like in the old days.

My mom asked me, “Was it the Blessed Mother?”

I told her yes. Then I told her that the Blessed Mother told me to tell her that everything was going to be okay.

My mom told me that if the Blessed Mother said I was going to be okay, then I should go back to bed because no matter what happened, I was going to be okay.

I’ve never forgotten that night. We didn’t know what was going to happen with my health, so hearing that everything would be okay made me feel better. I still think about it when I’m scared or worried about something.

Your essay talks about serving others through your parish, volunteering, and helping people in need. Why is service such an important part of your life?

I think being Catholic is about more than just going to Mass. Jesus tells us to help other people, so I think we should actually try to do that.

I like being an altar server and helping at my parish. I also think helping people doesn’t always have to be something huge. You can include someone who is being left out, help someone who needs it, volunteer, or just be nice to someone who is having a bad day.

If you have the chance to help somebody, I think you should.

You also love hockey and hope to serve as a Marine before becoming a priest. How have sports and your interest in military service helped prepare you for a life of service?

Hockey has taught me a lot about being part of a team. You have to work hard, listen to your coaches, help your teammates, and keep going even when you’re losing or having a bad game. You can’t just think about yourself because the rest of your team is depending on you.

I’ve also thought about becoming a Marine before becoming a priest. My dad is a Marine, so I have grown up seeing what it means to serve and make sacrifices for other people. I really respect that.

I don’t know exactly what I will end up doing yet. Maybe I’ll become a Marine and then a priest, or maybe God has a different plan for me. I just know that I want to do something where I can serve other people.

Looking ahead, what are your hopes for the future, and where do you believe God is leading you?

Right now, I’m looking forward to 8th grade. There are a lot of things I’m excited about this year, like the All Saints Day Parade, May Crowning, our 8th-grade trip to New York, and of course graduation. I’m also looking forward to high school and seeing what comes next.

When I think further into the future, I still think God is leading me toward becoming a priest. I also still have an interest in becoming a Marine first.

But I’m only 13, so I don’t have my whole life figured out yet. Right now, I just want to keep praying, learning more about my faith, helping people, and listening to what God wants me to do.

Your story has inspired many people. What do you hope others—especially young people facing challenges or searching for purpose—will learn from your journey?

I would want other kids to know that you don’t have to have everything figured out. I definitely don’t.

Things are going to happen in your life that you don’t expect, and sometimes they might be scary. I’ve learned that even when I don’t know what is going to happen, I can pray and trust that God is with me.

I also think you shouldn’t be afraid to talk about your faith or what you think God might be calling you to do. Becoming a priest probably isn’t what most 13-year-old boys tell people they want to do when they grow up, but that’s okay.

Whatever God is calling you to do, you have to be willing to listen.