The upcoming election is a monumental one for one Florida priest, as it marks his first time voting in a presidential election as a new United States citizen.

The November general election will be the first time that the Rev. Andy Blaszkowski, pastor of Saint Luke Catholic Church in Middleburg, is able to cast his ballot for someone who could potentially lead the country. Blaszkowski, who has served as the church's pastor for more than a decade, addressed the importance of the upcoming election in his weekly column published in the parish bulletin. He noted that his address was not meant to tell parishioners who they should vote for, but how their vote lines up with their faith. 

"As I hope you know, there are certain realities about the candidates and their political parties that directly impact our Catholic faith," Blaszkowski said in the Oct. 25 parish bulletin. "So we must be aware of these realities before we cast our vote."

He said it's not about sticking by one candidate or any political party, but being loyal to God and his teachings. He referenced one issue highlighted by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops: abortion. 

"Our nation is dangerously divided today, and I believe that the division line runs through the heart of respect and dignity of the unborn human person," Blaszkowski said in his column. "It is about killing innocent people and the promise of prosperity, or to defend the dignity of innocent human life and mockery that protection of life leads to the destruction and progress of society."

He encouraged his parishioners to seek the truth and not be fooled by empty promises of better healthcare, tax cuts, free schooling or anything else we may hope to have. 

"If a human person does not matter now, it will not mater later," Fr. Blaszkowski said.