My first month at Williams found me seeking social and emotional stability in the football team and among my entrymates. But a broken collarbone and a fragmented entry caused my hopes for the future to crumble. Where at Williams could I find the solid friendships to begin to fill the void inside? Newman Catholic provided that place. Both the relationships with my peers and my God helped me to set my life on a firm foundation.
At Newman, I began to grow spiritually. There I started to pray frequently, both on my own and with others. I gained a hunger to learn the truths of the faith, picking it up like a hobby. There, too, for the first time, the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist hit me as a reality that demanded my attention and commitment.
With the other student leaders, I started to walk with other Catholics on the journey of faith. Together we created a place where some students could escape from the classroom, the common room, or the locker room. It was especially rewarding to see those students, once healed and strengthened, return to their campus lives all the while continuing to be nourished at Newman. Together, also, we received students who wanted the sacraments. Every year, someone was asking for baptism or confirmation and I’m sure many of our conversations led to good confessions. And of course, we also had a good time. Mardi Gras, snacks after late-night Rosary, and the finals week procrastinators’ film festival stand out as warm memories.
While at Newman Catholic, I also learned a lot about myself. My successes allowed me to refine my strengths. It was a joy to put in a lot of effort to organize events and facilitate encounters among students. All along I felt so thankful that Christ was using me to bring people together. But at the same time as these achievements, I was forced to deal with my weaknesses.
My friends at Newman helped me to see the chinks in my armor, the fissures in my facade, and the log in my eye. They revealed to me my tendency to hurt others and the carelessness of my tongue. Through this process, I learned how much I loved being present to others, seeing their strengths and weaknesses. I was humbled by the privilege to be so close to so many people as we all journeyed together amidst reading packets, papers, and problem sets. Times like these began to form my priestly heart.
Recently, I had a chance to pray again in the Newman Chapel. I prayed in thanksgiving for my vocation as a priest and Franciscan friar. But, I also gave thanks for that place. As I gazed once more at that crucifix, those huge granite slabs helped me realize how my time at Newman Catholic provided me with the solid foundation I had been looking for.
MFS ’03
Quo Vadimus? 