Decision to Join the Jesuits

I told him that I wanted to be a Jesuit brother, that I was in the Marine Corps just then, but was waiting to return home. I told him I would join the Jesuit brothers when I got out of the service. He was very happy to hear that that was what I was going to do.

Shadowbrook Fire

I think I was dressed warm enough. Then finally I started seeing some people, which was good. I went with them and helped wherever I could. I was there when Fr. Post jumped out of his window and hurt himself. They were trying to break his fall, but they didn't break it enough. All in all, it could have been much worse, figuring that the house had no fire alarm systems, the fire was in the middle of the night, and everybody was asleep.

Going to BC High

Cheverus and Fairfield were looking for a new minister, but I didn't want to jump into that. So, going by what knowledge I had, I thought BC High would be the best for me. I didn't really want to be a minister at one of the houses. I'd rather be working with my hands as a cafeteria manager. So I went back to Fr. Provincial and told him I thought my best bet would be go to BC High. He agreed with me; he said, "OK, if you want to go to BC High, you've got my permission." It turned out very, very well.

God's Providence

The way things developed, I would never have planned it that way. I feel very much that God had decided that. One time after I had taken last vows, I said to myself, "I think I'll go to the provincial and tell him I'm ready to go on the missions. If he wants to send me, I'm quite willing to go on the missions." When I went to talk to him, I mentioned a few things, and then I said, "Father, I'm most willing to go on the missions if you want to send me. Whatever mission you want to send me on, I'm willing to go." He said to me, "Oh, Brother, you're too young. You can't do that." I said to myself, "My goodness, this is the hand of God telling me he doesn't want me to go on the missions at this time. And I was thirty-two at the time!