St. Mary's Provides Inspiration for Theological Studies

By Matt Sherman

The task for which I sit this evening is certainly familiar to me: writing. However, this is a writing opportunity that I am particularly honored to have, as it allows me to reflect on a subject close to my heart, that is, St. Mary's Parish and School, and its impact on my current vocational path.

After exploring many career possibilities, I was inevitably compelled to pursue my greatest passion, that is, religion, theology, and ethics. I am currently earning a masterís degree at Harvard Divinity School and am engaged in the process of applying to doctoral programs, hopeful of eventually teaching at the college level. How did I get here? Well, one of the surest reasons is St. Mary's. To this day, I happily return to St. Mary's, my spiritual home, to worship and to reconnect with what are truly my roots in community, in religion, and most importantly, in faith.

It was in this hallowed parish that my fascination with religion began, both in books and as a rule for living. This fascination never left me and continues to grow with each passing day. In truth, the Catholic teachings that formed me at St. Mary's are the very teachings that continue to form me. Furthermore, they are the same teachings that I utilize in and communicate through my current studies. I have decided to devote my life to asking the questions that St. Mary's posed to me in my most formative years: What does it mean for someone or something to be "good?" Moreover, why should we be "good" anyhow?

Just a few weeks ago, I found myself in conversation affirming one of my most fundamental beliefs, a belief taught to me under the watch of the pastors, role models, and teachers of St. Mary's: God is Love, and He loves every person equally. As simple as this concept may seem, it is still necessary to be reminded of such truths in graduate school, truths that are easily forgotten amid a sea of religious texts, language study, and academic conversation. This is all to say that St. Mary's has been, in Biblical terms, a cornerstone in my life, in my theological understanding, and in my confidence that I am always in Godís care.

Anyone can learn about theological ideas or methods of studying religion; however, such ideas and methods live only in our heads. For me, the challenge of being a graduate student in religion is to remember that religion is about living in the world as it exists, under God, who calls his people to work together to bring about His Kingdom. In other words, my studies are empty if I cannot remember religion in action, the way it looks from the pews of St. Mary's, where I first saw people coming together to seek God's will. Studying religion will never be a fruitful endeavor if it cannot explain why St. Mary's helps people to grow in community, nor will theology be fruitful if it cannot speak to those parishioners who seek to use it to explain and increase their love for God.

I enter graduate study blessed with the confidence that, while I am by necessity often alone with nothing other than a book, I always have a loving home at the corner of Main and Summer Streets in Shrewsbury. Moreover, whenever I question my resolve to continue to study religion, I am inspired to persevere by Godís presence, a presence that I have often felt so powerfully at St. Mary's.

In some way, each of you who are reading this has helped me, and countless others, through your loving support for St. Maryís and through your prayers. I cannot repay the people of St. Maryís for what they have given to me, but I can and do assure them of my eternal gratitude, my loving support, and my prayers. To the students of St. Mary's School, I pray that you might receive the same wonderful academic preparation and spiritual nourishment that it gave to me. Lastly, to all of the young people of St. Mary's, I pray that you too may find your roots and your spiritual home within the holy walls of our parish.

- Matt Sherman is the son of parishioners Richard and Nancy Sherman.