During this Year for Priests, the Diocese of Raleigh is presenting a “Did You Know” feature of Priests serving in the Diocese. As new profiles are added, such as the one below, the previous ones will be available from the Year for Priests page. 

Father Anthony DeCandia
Parochial Vicar, Infant of Prague Church, Jacksonville, NC

Who is your favorite saint?

I have two; St. Anthony of Padua and St. Therese of Lisieux

What was your most memorable spiritual pilgrimage?

My trip to Greece and Turkey in 2006, in which I followed the footsteps of St. Paul and St. John.

Who was the greatest influence on your vocation as a priest and why?

My identity as a father will always be connected with the man who discipled me and still models paternal love; dad. My identity as a priest is modeled after John Paul II. My understanding of pastoral zeal and charity is modeled after Msgr. John Williams and Fr. Ned Shlesinger.

Do you have a hobby or hobbies or leisure activity?

I enjoy golf, tennis, reading Catholic literature and conversation.

What is your favorite food? Do you cook it yourself?

Anything Italian - I am still in training with respect to culinary skills

Favorite sport? Favorite team – College and/or Professional?

Golf. I also cheer for underdogs; NC State, the Chicago Cubs and the Carolina Panthers!

Favorite author and/or book?

Michael O'Brien (Sophia House, Father Elijah); C. S. Lewis (Space Trilogy); Walker Percy (Lost in the Cosmos, Signposts in a Strange Land) & JRR Tolkien (Lord of the Rings)

Favorite movie?

I have several; “Cool Hand Luke”, “Hunt for Red October”, “Rudy”, “The Natural”, and "Band of Brothers"

Music you enjoy/artist?

Classical music, Third Day, early U2, and 80s music.

Any interesting fact that your parishioners would be interested in knowing?

I was a professional tennis instructor for 8 years. I attempted to live in silence (like that is remotely possible) during my 10 months of monastic life. I am also working on how to preach shorter, more concise homilies.