It all started a little over two years ago.
I moved to the Buena Park neighborhood in Chicago, next to St. Mary of the Lake Church (SMOL), just south of where I had previously been living. I had only been inside this church once before. (I had only one week to find a place to live, but that’s a story in itself.)
The pastor at SMOL at the time was Fr. Manuel Dorantes, “Fr. Manny.” I really enjoyed his homilies. He was a great priest and pastor—very charismatic and well-liked by the people of the parish.
Only a few months later, I learned that he would be relocating to Rome in December 2024. It is rather unusual for a priest to be sent to Rome, but I didn’t pay much attention to it at the time.
In the meantime, I spoke briefly with Fr. Manny a few times, and I was able to use my skills as a photographer and videographer during the transfer of the Holy Eucharist from Our Lady of Lourdes to SMOL. Hundreds of people joined the event, walking through the streets of Andersonville and Buena Park. What a sight!
A couple of months later, there was a farewell party for Fr. Manny, attended by hundreds of people. It was a very emotional evening for many.
Fr. Manny left, and honestly, I didn’t think about it too much afterward. But I later heard that he had moved to Castel Gandolfo at the request of Pope Francis to lead the Borgo Laudato Si’ organization.
I was very impressed—but that was on the other side of the world.
Fr. Manny left me with the memory of a strong and smiling priest—the kind of priest we need so much in these times.
Time went on, and I focused on running my business, Coffee With Damian, while continuing to sharpen my photography and videography skills.
But what does it have to do with a wedding in Rome? (God’s plans are complicated!).
A few months ago, an old friend from Poland reached out to me. She was getting married, and the wedding was going to be in Rome, even though it had originally been planned for Florence. She asked me if I would photograph the wedding.
Of course, I said yes!
A week in Rome and the opportunity to take photos? That was a no-brainer for me. I knew I had to do it. These are going to be some amazing portfolio shots, I thought to myself.
I flew to Rome on August 26, and right before the trip, I remembered Fr. Manny. I asked my friend Mark, who had recently returned from a trip to Rome, if he had Fr. Manny’s email address. I reached out, but I never heard back—probably because it was an old email address.
I didn’t have much hope of meeting him.
The day after I landed, on Thursday, I decided to visit Castel Gandolfo. I had never been there before, but I secretly hoped I might somehow run into him.
I was being very naive.
I even asked someone at the Apostolic Palace about Fr. Manny. What did I have to lose?
They didn’t know him, but they sent me toward the Gardens of Castel Gandolfo and Borgo Laudato Si’.
I bought a ticket for a tour and, while there, asked a priest I saw about Fr. Manuel Dorantes.
He said, “Yes, he is my boss.”
He was very polite and asked me to leave my name and phone number.
My hopes went up.
I got on the tour, sitting in a golf-cart-type vehicle that was about to leave. Suddenly, I spotted two gentlemen riding horses toward us.
One of them was Fr. Manny.
(In a white shirt on a white horse, he could easily have been mistaken for Gandalf. 😂)
We exchanged a quick hello, and I took off for the tour.
Guess what?
I didn’t take a single photo of Fr. Manny, even though I was holding my camera in my hands!
I regretted it immediately. I had just witnessed such an amazing moment and completely missed the opportunity to capture it.
But don’t worry—God always has a better plan for us.
How little I knew.
About 15 minutes into the tour, while we were deep inside the beautiful Gardens of Castel Gandolfo, where many popes have walked and prayed, I saw Fr. Manny and his companion riding toward our group.
I immediately cheered up.
We even took some photos of “Proton,” the Pope’s horse, which was being trained and had actually been gifted by Poland.
The whole situation made my day. I enjoyed the tour—which I highly recommend—and learned about a special Mass that would be celebrated by the Pope for the Care of Creation. It was an event limited to employees and special guests.
When Fr. Manny and I connected on Instagram, I mentioned the Mass to him. I was supposed to send his team the photos I had taken in the gardens anyway.
I returned to Rome and met up with my friend from Poland, and we explored Rome all day Friday.
Saturday, I photographed a wedding.
Sunday, I experienced Mass in the Catacombs—a very special moment.
And on Monday, August 31, I had another photoshoot with the newlyweds.
I was literally living my dream: taking photographs in one of the most beautiful cities in the world and in the heart of the Catholic Church.
Then, Monday afternoon, after we finished the photoshoot, I was a little tired and finally had some time to check Instagram.
There was a message from Fr. Manny.
His team could send me an invitation to Tuesday’s Mass if I was willing to share the photos I had taken with them.
You can probably guess what happened next.
I didn’t think twice before saying yes!
That night, I received a personalized invitation to the Holy Mass for the Care of Creation, celebrated by Pope Leo XIV.
You bet I was surprised.
I still couldn’t believe it.
Another “coincidence” was that I had rented a car that day because I was supposed to go to Assisi with my friend to visit Carlo Acutis. (I hope he will forgive me!)
Instead, we ended up only making it as far as Orvieto before turning back toward Rome. I wanted to make absolutely sure I wouldn’t be late for what would become the most important event of my life.
At 3:00 p.m., I was back in Castel Gandolfo. I had lunch and then headed toward the gates of Borgo Laudato Si’.
This time, they were closed.
Several people were waiting outside, and one of them was Donatella from Fr. Manny’s team—the same person who had sent me the invitation to the Mass.
She let me in before the others.
We went through security without any problems, and I met Thommaso, the social media coordinator from Laudato Si’.
I had some time to prepare my equipment, set up my cameras, and talk with him about the day.
He would be shooting video, while I would be photographing and filming to help document the entire event, beginning with a tour for donors at 4:30 p.m.
Everything was going smoothly.
I was even able to take a second, extended tour of the Gardens of Castel Gandolfo.
As we got closer and closer to the Garden of the “Little Madonna,” where the Mass was going to take place, Leonardo explained all the rules and procedures to me.
And that’s when it really started to sink in.
This was actually happening.
And yet, I still couldn’t fully believe it.
There was Vatican News, EWTN Vatican, at least ten other photographers, numerous bishops and cardinals, and around 250 people gathered for the Mass.
Finally, at the end of the long road leading to the Garden of the Little Madonna, the Pope’s car arrived.
And for the first time, I saw the “Man in White.”
Pope Leo XIV, Fr. Manny, and several others began walking toward us.
I knew one thing:
I was there to do my job.
Nine years of experience had led me to this moment.
Let’s go.
I took a deep breath.
And suddenly, it was just another day at the office.
The Pope walked right past me, and everything began.
I hope the photographs can showcase the entire event better than I can describe it with words.
Immediately after the Mass, the Pope left, and everything went “back to normal.”
Security could finally relax, and so could I.
During the Mass, however, I was able to be fully present and take it all in—the Holy Sacrifice of Calvary being offered by the Vicar of Christ.
It was overwhelming.
It was the highlight of my career.
Two and a half years had led me exactly to this moment and this place, where I could use the gifts God had given me to reveal the beauty and mystery of the Catholic faith and help bring Christ to others.
Looking back, I realize that what seemed like a series of random events was perhaps something much more.
Moving next to St. Mary of the Lake.
Meeting Fr. Manny.
His move to Rome.
My friend changing her wedding location from Florence to Rome.
My decision to visit Castel Gandolfo.
Running into Fr. Manny on horseback.
The invitation.
The rented car.
And finally, standing there with my cameras as the Holy Father walked toward me.
Maybe these were all just coincidences.
Or maybe God was quietly leading me toward a moment I could never have planned myself.
I dare you:
Go out there and create something beautiful.
And trust God with the rest.
