Required to give a one-word assessment of Fr. John, the monks provided multifarious descriptions. Intense. Hard-working. Enthusiastic. Exhausting. Studmuffin. All these words adequately describe the form master of the brand-new batch of first formers. Returning to Dallas after spending four and a half years in Rome, Fr. John recently sat down with me and shared his story and what he plans for the class of 2025.

Before joining the monastery, Fr. John was determined to become a lawyer. First attending the College of the Holy Cross in western Massachusetts, he then transferred to the University of Dallas. Still holding onto the possibility of a legal career, he was on the road to major in Philosophy while simultaneously taking pre-law. By senior year, however, Fr. John realized that he was drawn to the monastic life at Cistercian.Thus, post-graduation, he remained in Dallas to further discern such a life, a discernment that resulted ultimately in Fr. John, O. Cist.

If you don’t remember seeing Fr. John around the hallways, it’s probably because he’s been in Rome while you were in school. He first left for Rome in 2012 and with few exceptions, has spent his semesters there since. He earned his license degree and is currently working toward his doctorate. He is very excited to become a form master. Being a spiritual father to a large group of boys for eight years is extremely exciting for him. When asked how he felt about taking on such a big responsibility, he stated, “Any apprehension I felt was only because of the amount of work I knew it would entail, but I was extremely excited.” This year, he hopes that his first formers can succeed in forming a community that cares for each other, and that they can “kick a lot of butt academically”.