My name is Neven Pesa and I am a first-generation Croatian-American originally hailing

from New York City - I also had the great privilege of living in Croatia during a major portion

of my formative years. This helped me learn my parents’ tongue and helped preserve my

culturally rich spiritual heritage. Growing up on both sides of the Atlantic has also given me a

unique perspective on my American God-given freedom and my own Catholic patrimony.

I take neither for granted! To listen to an interview with Neven on Grapevine program with

Susan Bailey, as well as my music videos from Gloria.tv click here:

Since my early childhood and at every major signpost of my life, the warm covering maternal

presence of the Most Holy Virgin Mary has been constantly felt.  Ultimately, I believe God

has been calling me to live wholly for Himself, and I also believe this calling will culminate in 

my eventually becoming a priest. Specifically, a priest for the Basilian Salvatorian Fathers. 

The Salvatorians are located in Methuen, Massachusetts and are an order whose charisms

include:  Prayer, Ministering the Holy Sacraments, Parish Missions, Evangelization,

Youth Ministry, giving Retreats. They also have a particular charism and role for fostering

Christian unity and reconciliation between the two lungs of the universal Church: 

the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox. Click here for website:  Saint Basil's Seminary

Because this calling, this incessant whisper of God has accompanied me and pulled at my heart-

strings over the years with an increasing intensity, I, on my part, have been trying to reciprocate

God’s call with a greater and greater “yes.”

Me in my mid-teens climbing down Mt. Krizevac (I'm in the middle wearing the

white/purple tie-dye shirt)

This ‘yes’ owes its strength and grace to the loving intercession of Our Lady of Medjugorje,

Queen of Peace, where, whilst still in my early teens, the first small seed was planted in my

soul and has been silently nurtured by her ever since I made a pilgrimage to Medjugorje a

number of years ago - which is not too far from where my parents grew up and where I had

spent a number of my early childhood years.

Me, (center top brown jacket) leading Youth Group on  Mountain Retreat.

I am now set to embark upon the next phase of my vocation, which is to pursue the ministerial

priesthood eventually within the confines of Saint Basil’s Seminary in Methuen, MA. 

I hope to first be able to begin my Novotiate with the Basilian Salvatorians this September.

In order for me to accomplish this goal, I need first to alleviate my student loan debt of

$69,880 , coming from attending an expensive Catholic university for the past 4 years.

The dynamic Catholic orthodoxy of Franciscan University of Steubenville was wonderful,

but it was also very costly. 

Throughout my attendance I was living mostly on student loans and working part time on

the side.  Now, in order for me to proceed toward the ministerial priesthood unhindered,

I must make an all-out effort to become debt-free.    

I am presently working two jobs, and am trusting in Divine Providence to help fill in the

financial gap via the graciousness of holy and generous would-be benefactors that are willing

to support my vocation spiritually and even monetarily.  I must not allow this temporary

financial hurdle to hold me back from fulfilling God’s call on my life.  Mother Teresa 

reportedly once said, “God has a lot of money - you just have to find out whose pocket

it’s in.”And this is why I beseech you, my dear friend(s) and would-be benefactor(s) – to

not only adopt me prayerfully and spiritually, thus becoming my spiritual sponsor(s), but if

you feel God inspiring you to help me monetarily, then it would be a double-blessing for me

and foryou as well, who would be investing in a holy priest that will forever enfold you and

all your needs in his heart, daily masses and prayers. To view some of my recommendation

and acceptance letters click here:

In an attempt to help alleviate my student loans all the sooner, and in addition to my being

professionally employed,  I have, through my God-given talents of singing and songwriting,

recorded an album’s worth of original songs that are sung, played and composed by myself

that I am selling for $20 each. A holy priest friend of mine suggested that this be the

primary means of acquiring the necessary financial assistance towards achieving my goal.

Please take note, I cannot begin my Novitiate until I am completely debt free by this

September of 2008. All $68,880 must be paid off before I set foot into the Novitiate.

Only a few months remain for this to be accomplished. I believe and trust that for God

anything is possible, even the seemingly impossible. 

Click on the My Music link and listen to sound samples of my album. 

At the moment I cannot afford to start a non-for-profit organization. And only non-for-profit

organizations can legally ask for donations. So, since I cannot ask you to send me a donation,

I can ask you to write to me at:

Neven Pesa
34-08 30th Street
Astoria, N.Y., 11106