Vocation

It began to change during the summer between my first and second year. I was getting ready to buy some clothes for my fall return to school. Then I heard this little voice, coming from I knew not where, saying to me, "You will not need those clothes very much longer." And I asked myself, "What was that all about?" Of course, as time went on during my second year, I realized that I was being called to a Jesuit vocation. Because I wasn't what you would call a dedicated religious person, something like this had never occurred to me before. It was entirely foreign to me, so I just put it aside. But it just kept coming back to me.

Ministry of the Future

I first wanted to go to Japan, but they didn't need anybody there. Then I turned toward Africa. When I wrote about going there, I never really got a response. Then the provincial at the time, Fr. Coleran, said to me, "I'm afraid that we don't have anywhere in Latin America to send you." Brazil had not opened up at the time. Then he said, "But we do need people in Jamaica. So would you like to go there for regency and see how it goes?" The rest is history.

Aquinas Center

I dealt with the auxiliary bishop, Samuel Carter, because Bishop McEleney was away at the time. He said, "Think about it and I'll call you." He called me the next day. In the meantime, I had decided that this was another example of the surprising requests I had received in my life which had usually worked out. So when he called, I agreed and went to Aquinas. And I really loved it. I was there a total of ten years. I returned there somewhat later, as part of a team, for another six years. So Aquinas had really been my main place of ministry over the years.

God's Providence

Yes, yes, as I said earlier, I didn't ask to be a Jesuit or a priest, but it was given to me. It's been a good life, difficult at times, perhaps, with its ups and downs, but the Lord has provided me with loving support. And when I say the "Lord," I mean the Trinity. I'm very trinitarian. And the Society has been very good to me. I cite, among other things, my three sabbaticals and continued ability to work despite some health problems.