Deacon Peter St. George recalls wanting to be a priest at 4 years old. The fourth of seven children in a devout Catholic family, one of his earliest memories is of a traveling Mary statue, “and being very excited that it was my family’s turn” to host her in their home, he said.
The idea of being a priest “was strong in my mind and heart, and never went away,” during his years at St. Theresa School in Ashburn (grades 4-8) and Bishop O’Connell High School in Arlington. But in high school, he also became interested in biology and medicine, and thought about becoming a Navy doctor. His father is a retired U.S. Marine Corps fighter pilot, and Deacon St. George, 28, said he has “always wanted to serve.”
He studied biology at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana, where his faith deepened. It was there that “the idea of the priesthood came back — not as the fleeting idea of a 4-year-old, but as the beginning of a vocation,” he said. He joined Navy ROTC, but “it also became clear that the Lord was calling me to be his priest,” and Mary was encouraging him to say yes.
In his prayer, “Mary really showed me that handing myself over to the Lord completely was the way to happiness, fruitfulness and a joyful life,” he said.
After his ordination, Deacon St. George will spend three years in pastoral service in the Arlington diocese, then fulfill his five-year commitment to the U.S. Navy.
“As a chaplain, I will care for not just Catholics, but all the people in my unit who are serving their country. I anticipate being able to hopefully serve these young men and women well, and help them experience the love of God,” he said.
His parents, Jodi and Chris St. George, have been married 38 years and still live in Ashburn, where he said their “holy, healthy Catholic home is the garden where my vocation grew up.” He can see their influence in the lives of his siblings as well.
Deacon St. George said he loves soccer, rock climbing and “being out in nature with other people, to enjoy being together and get to know one another.” He added that he’s found sports to be “a wonderful way to build relationships with my brother seminarians.”
As a priest, he wants to “let the word of God deeply reshape my ideas about the world and myself,” he said.
“The truth of the Eucharist, that Jesus is present, has always been obvious to me. I learned it as a young boy and lived according to that. My family always went to Mass and spoke about wanting to be at Mass. I want to share that with people as a priest.”
He will be assigned as parochial vicar of Blessed Sacrament Parish in Alexandria.
