My uncle, Fr. Dan Linehan, S.J., would come to our house fairly
often. He was a very nice man. People were fascinated by his geological
discoveries around the world. Once he asked me, "What are
you going to do when you get out of high school?" And I said,
"Oh, I'm going to become a priest." And he replied,
"Oh, what kind of priest are you talking about?" I replied,
"I want to join Maryknoll, because I want to be a missionary."
My uncle Dan said, "Oh, but Jesuits are missionaries too."
And I said, "Oh, I didn't know that. I thought all they did
was study." I knew I didn't want to study the rest of my
life! But it was that conversation with my uncle that motivated
me to sign up for Shadowbrook.
I had planned to spend the next eighty years of my life in Baghdad.
However, I can say, strangely enough, "Thank God we were
tossed out, because it led to other great experiences." After
Baghdad I went to Alexandria, Egypt, and I stayed there for four
years. I first helped at and then directed a center for university
students in Alexandria. The French Jesuits in Alexandria are great
men, and it was a wonderful experience to work with them, even
though at the time I didn't know much French. But I could talk
to the people in Arabic.
Quite unexpectedly I got a call from a woman in California. Right
off she asked, "Would you be willing to go to China?"
I responded, "Excuse me! Did you say China?" Without
much hesitation, I said, "Sure. What do you want me to do?"
She said, "We're trying to help the Chinese, especially those
in southern China. Would you be interested in going there to supervise
our setting up some private schools?" I said, "Sure,
if you think I can really help you." And that's what I did.
I went to China for almost two years. I supervised the development
of the English programs and made suggestions about improvements.
I very much enjoyed it all. I especially enjoyed seeing myself
as a teacher.
I would say yes without hesitation that I have had an experience
of God's personal help and support. I know that's a rather routine
answer, but I really believe it. I really do. Somebody recently
asked why I smiled so much. I said, "Because I'm happy."
The person asked, "And why are you happy?" I replied,
"Because when I see people, I love to talk to them."
I'm not some kind of movie actor. I just like to converse with
people as friends. I just say, "Hi, how are you?" That
gets a conversation quickly started, and a whole world opens up.
I have been trying to figure out who I am since I was a little
boy in Beverly Farms. I know now that God and many people in my
life are the reason why I am able to breathe God all around me.
