Friar Matt Foley's Priestly Ordination

Friar Matt Foley                                                                         Bishop Timothy A McDonnell

At 11.00 am on October 10, 2009 in the St. Stanislaus Basilica in Chicopee, Massachusetts, Friar Matt Foley’s life changed forever. On that day joined by his family, friends, and fellow friars, Matt was ordained a priest by Bishop Timothy A McDonnell.

Friar Matt’s vocation-journey to religious life began during his undergraduate years at Catholic University of America (CUA) in Washington, D.C. One of seven children from an Irish-Catholic family out of Quincy, Massachusetts, Matt had always had a strong faith-life, attending weekly Mass as well as Catholic high school. At Catholic University of America, however, he really began to feel God’s presence. At this point, Matt also encountered the Conventual Franciscan Friars. The chaplain at CUA – who belonged to the OFM Conv. as well – counseled Matt to pray intensely so that he would discover what God was calling him to do in life. By 2001, Matt understood that God was calling him to be a Franciscan; he entered that year the Conventual Franciscan Postulancy Program and has ever since then has felt deeply satisfied with his life.

If you are interested in taking a glance at what it’s like to live as a Conventual Franciscan Friar, please take a look at Friar Matt’s blog.