7/12/2021
https://dev.lb.marist.edu/archives/prayerAndWork/pages/backHomeAgainForGoodAndForGod.htm
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Back Home Again, for Good and for God
I had wanted so badly to go to the missions that I really enjoyed the opportunity of working in Pleebo, Liberia,
and being of service to the Brothers while working for the Bishop. I really looked forward to the weekends to
help out in the school, enjoy the days at the beaches, run errands, and help the local pastor.
The mission received funds from the SMA Fathers in New Jersey monthly that took care of salaries and other
expenses. It was great to be with the community. I felt needed and useful as we had meetings of all religious
once a month to celebrate birthdays and special holidays.
When malaria hit me, I was laid up three times under the care and treatment of Sister Sponsa, our Diocesan
nurse. She was wonderful and helpful, but when I had the attack for the fourth time, she felt that we should see a
doctor. He was the one who told her that if I had malaria four times there was nothing to do about it but to return
home. It was bitter news to hear but I had done whatever I could, and since the country was not the place for me,
I followed the doctor’s advice and decided to return where I could be treated. Brother Leo agreed that it was
best to leave, for the same thing had happened to Brother Norbert and he had to return home as well.
Since the Lord seemed to be saying no to my staying on, I planned to return home as soon as possible and
applied to help out at Marist College where my heart had been for so many years. I was given my choice of
where to stay on campus in three different places and I chose to settle in the Gatehouse. I was determined that if
I stayed there it would be to honor the memory of Bro. Kieran Thomas who had done so much to care for the
young Brothers, and I would ask if we could name that building in his memory. The request was granted and the
house was called the Kieran Gatehouse, and his two sisters came to attend the dedication.
It was fantastic to be here in this place that had so many wonderful memories for me. It was really home for me
and has been every day for the past ten years. It has been fantastic to see it grow. The continued spirit of
dedication for its growth was evident everywhere and mostly encouraging. The many new buildings and the
increase in our enrollment are all a tribute to the hard work of President Dennis J. Murray, who is himself so
Marist at heart. He and his wife were invited to join the group of affiliated Marists and have been very loyal to
the Marist spirit.
I have enjoyed being a life member of the Board of Trustees and helping the Advancement Committee. So much
of our Marist spirit has remained active here that one feels right at home at all times. I can honestly say that it
has been so during my entire life. Dr. Murray has never neglected to acknowledge the work and dedication of the
Marist Brothers and always praised the Marist spirit, which is so sacred here with so many former Brothers still
serving on the staff along with eight Marist Brothers.
Linus Foy is an active member of the board and dedicated a building in my name while I was still Assistant
General. When this building had to be replaced, care was taken to have the building replacing it also be known
as the Fontaine building. In this new building there will be classes for the various needs of the Humanities
program as well as Advancement and the Marist College Institute for Public Opinion. After having been close to
the roots of the college, it is indeed a privilege and an honor to be present to enjoy the incredible good that is
being done and the recognition of the blessing this college has been for the entire Poughkeepsie area, and in fact
for all of Dutchess County.
I had been hesitating to put all this on paper, but I must say that what made me decide to do so was the constant
pleading of a dedicated member of the Board of Trustees. Mrs. Franny Reese was like my own dear mother, ever
reminding me of what should be done to commit to writing the history and exceptional growth of the our small
college. Thanks, Franny, for keeping after me, and also encouraging me.
Also, Kathy McHugh was persistent in helping with the printing and details to attend to in finalizing my work.
She has also been a helpful “mother†always checking on my needs. Thanks, Kathy.


7/12/2021
https://dev.lb.marist.edu/archives/prayerAndWork/pages/backHomeAgainForGoodAndForGod.htm
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We had the exceptional Board of Trustees to push and guide all this along. We are a legend in the city of
Poughkeepsie, and it is right to credit all this to our dedication to Prayer and Hard Work started here by our first
Marist Brothers who selected this spot and started the work. It is the family spirit left to all the Marist Brothers
of the world by our founder Saint Marcellin Champagnat that has made it possible for us to pass on our spirit of
Prayer and Work to the dedicated members of this entire Marist College family.
My return to the college seemed to be timed by the Lord, for I came back only to find many foreign family
friends that I had sent on to America for their studies who decided to settle here. Thanks be to God these close
friends have remained completely loyal to our Marist spirit of Prayer and Work. They have remained loyal and
dedicated, as have the many foreign students who have kept in touch with me. My beloved mother once told me
how happy she was that I had so many children all over the globe. And all these disciples have remained faithful
and loyal to me in my old age. They have not been mentioned in my biography because they were given to me
not for school, or work, but for my life. My greatest blessing from the Lord was to have had these last eleven
years to live in the peace of this college life, recalling all the blessings of the Lord in the actual living of our
Marist motto: All to Jesus through Mary.