A 13-year-old New Jersey boy who believes God called him to become a priest says the Virgin Mary appeared to him during a frightening health battle — shortly before doctors determined that surgery for a mass in his brain was no longer necessary.

Dominic Auricchio, a rising eighth-grader at Holy Trinity School in Westfield, says his faith journey began when he was just 4 years old.

“I had a dream, and God came to me,” Dominic told the New York Post. “He told me to be a priest.”

Dominic said he immediately went to his mother’s bedroom to tell her what happened. Nearly a decade later, he still hopes to enter the priesthood, although his career plans have evolved over the years. At one point, he wanted to become a “priest astronaut.” Now, he hopes to follow in the footsteps of his father, Purple Heart recipient Neal Auricchio, by enlisting in the Marines before becoming a priest.

Dominic’s medical ordeal began in December 2022, when he started suffering from headaches. An MRI subsequently revealed a large mass in his brain.

Doctors placed Dominic on medication while his family considered what to do next. His mother, Maria, said they hoped to avoid surgery because of the mass’s location, which would have required doctors to cut into bone.

About five months later, in May 2023, while the family was still dealing with the uncertainty surrounding his condition, Dominic says he had another remarkable spiritual experience.

He said the Virgin Mary appeared in his bedroom, looking “just like we imagine her.”

“She told me that everything would be OK,” Dominic recalled.

Then came a dramatic medical development. In June 2023, roughly a month after Dominic’s reported vision, he underwent a follow-up CAT scan. Maria said the family subsequently received a call informing them there was “no reason to move forward with the surgery.”

Since then, she said, the mass has appeared dramatically smaller on his follow-up imaging.

“Now, when he has an MRI, it appears as just a very small blip,” Maria said.

Throughout the ordeal, Dominic said he was “praying non-stop.” His mother recalled overhearing him talking to God from the backseat of the car after his diagnosis.

“I’m just too young to die,” she heard him say, describing her son’s words as surprisingly calm and matter-of-fact.

Dominic continues to face separate medical challenges. He has suffered multiple seizures, including one in March that left him hospitalized for six days, and their cause remains unknown.

Still, his experiences have strengthened his desire to serve others. Dominic is an altar server at St. Helen’s Church and volunteers as a “buddy” during inclusive Masses, sitting alongside people with disabilities who may have difficulty attending a traditional service.

“I feel closer to God every time I do that,” he said.

His faith recently earned him recognition as the winner of the Archdiocese of Newark’s Cardinal Joseph Tobin Essay and Video Contest, which drew entries from seventh-graders across the archdiocese’s Catholic schools.

In his winning video, Dominic discussed his health struggles, religious experiences and desire to enter the priesthood.

“Priesthood is a life of service, sacrifice and joy, centered on Jesus,” he said. “I trust that God is guiding me step by step. And I hope to answer his call one day.”

For Dominic, even the remaining medical challenges haven’t shaken that trust.

“God is always working in his own ways,” he said. “Even if something bad happens, it’s part of his plan, so you just have to go with it.”