My first semester at college was hard, to say the least. I was a billion miles from home, had two very difficult classes (which I was close to failing), and a brand new boyfriend who I had no idea what to do with. To make matters worse, the chapel on our campus makes me want to shrivel up and die. I was used to my beautiful home parish and my confessor who always gave good advice. At school our chapel is ugly and going to confession takes an hour at which point the priest gives you your penance and absolution, and you leave (if you got in at all that is). So one day I was a little surprised when my RA approached me and said,
"Not to be creepy, but were you waiting for confession the other day? You know it's a lot faster to go to the dominican priory, just ring the door bell, and Fr. Matt will let you in."
So my good friend and I trotted on over to the priory, where we were greeted by the oldest priest I've ever seen. He had a great big smile on his face, and in his quavery voice he asked us if today wasn't a beautiful day. We went into the little white chapel, and as he told us to, we took our time. Then I made the best confession I think I have ever made, and from then on I went to the priory frequently.
Fr. Matt really made me feel the love of Christ when I was very lost. He gave the church 76 years of service as a Dominican and 70 years as a priest. He was 97, and he would still hurry to open the door for me, even as he became more frail. I have never seen anyone so selfless and dedicated. Apparently the hundreds of people who attended his funeral thought so too. He seems to have touched everyone from the wisest professors to the most socially awkward freshmen.
I never really realized what an amazing man Fr. Matt was. He was interested in everything: physics, biology, poetry. He could have been anything he wanted to be, but he chose to be a priest.
I think I will always miss Fr. Matt's big smile and soft voice. I will never be able to say 3 hail Marys without remembering him. I will miss having a friend to go to, but at the same time, Fr. Matt was a "straight to heaven" kind of man.
So my good friend and I trotted on over to the priory, where we were greeted by the oldest priest I've ever seen. He had a great big smile on his face, and in his quavery voice he asked us if today wasn't a beautiful day. We went into the little white chapel, and as he told us to, we took our time. Then I made the best confession I think I have ever made, and from then on I went to the priory frequently.
Fr. Matt really made me feel the love of Christ when I was very lost. He gave the church 76 years of service as a Dominican and 70 years as a priest. He was 97, and he would still hurry to open the door for me, even as he became more frail. I have never seen anyone so selfless and dedicated. Apparently the hundreds of people who attended his funeral thought so too. He seems to have touched everyone from the wisest professors to the most socially awkward freshmen.
I never really realized what an amazing man Fr. Matt was. He was interested in everything: physics, biology, poetry. He could have been anything he wanted to be, but he chose to be a priest.
I think I will always miss Fr. Matt's big smile and soft voice. I will never be able to say 3 hail Marys without remembering him. I will miss having a friend to go to, but at the same time, Fr. Matt was a "straight to heaven" kind of man.
