I have fond memories of going to Church with my father at the Paulist Center Boston. Afterward, we came to enjoy a donut at a coffee shop, where my father invited me to express my experience of God in the scripture. I do appreciate his patience with my efforts as well as his driving lessons to and from church.
While at BC High, I became interested in how public transportation affects economic development. I studied this material at UMass Amherst, where I became involved in campus ministry at the invitation of classmates and the preaching of Fr. Joe Quigley, Fr. Michael Twardzik and Fr. Merle Lavoie. Instead of continuing studies in graduate school at Chapel Hill, I obtained at STB in theology at the Dominican Fathers' Angelicum University in Rome and a STL in dogmatic theology at the Jesuit Gregorian University in Rome.
After ordination, I served in Springfield area parishes and vocation work. I obtained a JCL degree canon law at St. Paul's University Ottawa and worked a number of years in the Springfield Marriage Tribunal as an advocate for people seeking annulments. I obtained an MBA at Western New England College and served as Rector of St. Michael's Cathedral, Spring-field.
I began working in Campus Ministry first at UMass and Amherst College and later at Duke University, Springfield College, American International College and Smith College. Along the way, I also taught at Seton Hall University and AIC. Most recently I also served as a temporary administrator of St. Mary's Parish, Hampden, and as a Visiting Priest at Williams College.
I understand my mission statement to be "enabling people to trip over the presence of God". Contemporary artists, as well as playwrights, explore themes cultures seek to understand. I see both as offering pointers for effective preaching. I look forward to appreciating their insights available in the area.
I look forward to meeting parishioners, those active and those not so active. I feel honored to build upon the hard work of previous pastors, among them Fr. Michael Lillpopp, as well as the parishioners. I feel I have a lot to learn. I look forward to nourishing the parish family as well as being nourished by it. I also look forward to serving as a Visiting Priest at Williams another semester as well as coordinating Campus Ministry Outreach for the Diocese.
I have come to believe that the Spirit is active in times of our transitions. So, let us pray for each other.