Church of St. Vincent Ferrer

From the church's website: Pastor’s Letter July 2010Dear friends in Cyberspace: Let me begin this letter with thanks for the warm welcome I have received from so many people. My only hope is that those I have met have perceived how honored and happy I am to be in your midst. It seemed best to introduce myself by letter and conserve precious homily time. I hail from Louisville, Kentucky where I was born in 1962, and where my parents still live. New York City cast its spell on me in the late 1970s when I attended prep school in New Jersey and made my first forays into Manhattan. In 1980 I matriculated at Yale where I concentrated in medieval history. Thus God set me up to meet a medieval order in the same place. At the Dominican Church of St. Mary, I encountered the community life and preaching of the Friars, and felt drawn to both. Three years of law school did not blunt the attraction of the “Holy Preaching,” and so I entered the order in August of 1987. Since my ordination in 1993, I have had three assignments. The first of these was to teach theology at our own Providence College. In 1997 the brothers of our retreat house community outside Boston elected me to be their superior, and so I collaborated with them in a ministry of intense preaching and hospitality. Three years later the Provincial asked me to become Novice Master. In this ministry, I provided a year of initial formation for our newest brothers. It was my privilege to hold this position until this summer, when our provincial chapter asked me to come and serve you. Each of these ministries has challenged and rewarded me greatly, and I come to you as a happy religious and priest. I have been here about two weeks and in that time I have been struck by the tone of welcome and inclusion set by Fr. Jones. As a newcomer, I have already benefitted from it enormously and will make it my highest priority to continue his fine work. It will be my joy to be at your service. Peace!Fr. Walter