Greetings,

I have fond memories of going to Church with my fat her at the Paulist Center Boston. Afterward, we came to en joy a donut at a coffee shop, where my father invited me to express my experience of God in the scripture. I do appreci ate his pa tience with my efforts as well as his driving lesso ns to and from church.

While at BC High, I became interested in how public transportation affects economic development. I stu died this material at UMass Amherst, where I became involved in campus ministry at the invitation of classmates and the p reaching of Fr. Joe Quigley, Fr. Michael Twardzik and Fr. Merle Lav oie. Instead of continuing studies in graduate scho ol at Chapel Hill, I obtained at STB in theology at the Dominican Father s' Angelicum University in Rome and a STL in dogmat ic theology at the Jesuit Gregorian University in Rome.

After ordination, I served in Springfield area pari shes and vocation work. I obtained a JCL degree can on law at St. Paul's University Ottawa and worked a number of years in t he Springfield Marriage Tribunal as an advocate for people seeking annulments. I obtained an MBA at Western New Englan d College and served as Rector of St. Michael's Cat hedral, Spring- field.

I began working in Campus Ministry first at UMass a nd Amherst College and later at Duke University, Sp ringfield College, American International College and Smith College. A long the way, I also taught at Seton Hall Universit y and AIC. Most re cently I also served as a temporary administrator o f St. Mary's Parish, Hampden, and as a Visiting Pri est at Williams Col lege.

I understand my mission statement to be "enabling p eople to trip over the presence of God". Contempor ary artists, as well as playwrights, explore themes cultures seek to und erstand. I see both as offering pointers for effect ive preaching. I look forward to appreciating their insights available in the area.

I look forward to meeting parishioners, tho se active and those not so active. I feel honored to build upon the har d work of previous pastors, among them Fr. Michael Lillpopp, as well as the parishioners. I feel I have a lot to learn. I l ook forward to nourishing the parish family as well as being nourished by it. I also look forward to serving as a Visiting Priest a t Williams another semester as well as coordinating Campus Ministry Out reach 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.

God bless you,
Fr. John