I prepared to enter the Society in pursuit of my vocation to be
a priest. I really was not thinking about being a Jesuit. In fact,
when a blood test raised questions about my admission to the Society
(some sort of mistake), I was not upset: I would apply to St.
John's Seminary! I attribute my Jesuit vocation to the Jesuits
I met during the novitiate. When my mother was dying in December
during my second year of novitiate, I stayed at St. Mary's Parish
in the North End. The Jesuits there were so hospital, kind, and
concerned! I think I came to love the Society more than in the
novitiate.
I returned home from studying in Rome in 1953, took my final vows
here at Weston College on August 15, and started teaching natural
theology here at Weston. I also taught an elective on linguistic
analysis. On occasion I did a reading course on Maréchal
or Lonergan, usually at the request of some eager students. Once
or twice I taught logic. And I also taught natural theology for
a few years at the Notre Dame nuns-novices-at Waltham
In 1954 I got involved at our local parish here in Weston. The
pastor, Fr. McGlinchey, had befriended me when I was going to
St. Mary's Boys High School in Lynn. He was a very kind and generous
man, so I thought I'd help out in the parish. Every Saturday I
heard confessions-afternoons and evenings; I also said two Masses
on Sundays. Then, when he got sick, I was appointed acting pastor
without power of attorney. After they appointed Fr. Graf as pastor,
I continued helping at St. Julia's; indeed, I still do.
In my intellectual life and apostolate, I feel blessed to experience
how Germain Grisez has been influencing my life for over thirty
years. I taught his college text, Beyond the New Morality, for
years, incorporating his new work once he turned moral theologian.
Convinced he may come to be recognized as one of the great minds
of this era and aware his voice is not being heard as it should
be, I have written a 300-page book identifying and explaining
his principal insights. The writing has affected my spiritual
life, awakening me to the fact that God has made it possible for
us to be adopted as members of the divine family. I have asked
to have one of his three volumes be placed on my casket.
Without any doubt, God has protected me and guided me in many
ways. I love being a Catholic. I love being a Jesuit. I love being
a priest.
