I heard from the weather reports that snow was coming to Boston. I decided to head back to Baltimore a day early for fear of either getting stranded in MA or getting in VERY late Tuesday before classes start on Wednesday. Pleae say a prayer for safe, dry and EMPTY roads (especially around NYC!)
peace and [...]

and all through the house, not a creature was stirring except my nieces and nephews. After the Christmas festivities I arose and attended my home parish for daily mass for the Octave of Christmas and the feast of St. Stephen. I returned home and spent awhile grading midterm exams until I went over to [...]

The Franciscan in me always reminds me that Christmas is my favorite time of the year! I decided to attend the Midnight Mass this year at Holy Cross Cathedral in Boston. The Capuchin Cardinal Archbishop of Boston, Sean O’Malley, presided. The prelude before included selections from Handel’s Messiah and a Letter from Pope St. Leo. [...]

I decided that before I went to visit my family for the Christmas holiday I would make a private day of recollection. I decided to visit the Poor Clare sisters in Chesterfield New Jersey. I got there in time for mass and this was followed with an afternoon to read and pray. What a blessing! [...]

I can’t believe that I have spent the last couple days proctoring midterm exams, including my own! Meaning, my first semester as a teacher is almost over! Crazy! I ran the scantron portions through the marker and so far the results look quite good for my freshman. They all passed (and none by the skin [...]

During the Advent season, one of the most beloved signs of the coming Christmas Season is that of the Christmas crèche. What many people might not be aware of is that the first manger scene was done in a little village in Italy called Greccio almost 800 years ago by St. Francis of Assisi.
Francis loved [...]

Tonight, we had our monthly holy hour. I was asked to give the gospel reflection. I was really nervous because this was my first time preaching in months and my first time at Curley in front of the students and the friars. The gospel was from Matthew where Jesus says that “No one born of [...]

The first semester is quickly coming to an end. I have been working on my midterms. I think the kids should be ok. It is not as difficult and tricky as some of my things have been (inadvertantly, i suppose!)
This was a fun weekend, I was invited to a 1st birthday party of one of [...]

HEHE….after today, I am not sure that school and detention should be this much fun! Life is going well. Thanks be to God!
peace,
friar Matt

So, I had a student volunteer for detention the other day. He asked if I could please let him come to it. Needless to say, I was a wee bit surprised and I obliged. It turns out that the three students who are best friends and were fooling around in class got a detention for [...]