Anthony Willi 
Birth Date
November 28
Parish Location
St. Jude, Peoria
Year entered the Seminary/Class of
Entered in 2023, Class of 2029
Studying at
St. Mary of the Lake
Why did you become a seminarian?
I first felt the call to the priesthood during my senior year at Peoria Notre Dame High School. Like many other who have felt the same call, I was afraid and refused to do anything with the desire that the Lord put on my heart. As a result, throughout college I was torn between my own desires and those of God. Upon graduating, I had accomplished my own goals: succeeding academically, having a good group of friends, and getting a good job. However, I felt something missing; I was not satisfied with life and I knew that I was not living my faith as I should. I started to devote myself to prayer, mass, and spiritual reading and the tug of my soul to the priesthood was stronger than ever. After I started my full-time job, I remember thinking, “If I truly believe what I profess, then why am I trying to run away from this call that God placed on my soul years ago and has never left?” From that moment on, I knew that I needed to respond to the call by entering seminary, and God-willing becoming His priest.
Before you entered the seminary, what were you doing?
I graduated from the University of Illinois and was a design engineer for Large Track-Type Tractors at Caterpillar.
An interesting fact about you:
I can juggle and unicycle at the same time!