b'TJ: What inspired you to your vocation?dinal OHara High School which is the school I graduated from.AH: My junior year they took us to seminary in Massachu- There was still one teacher there that was there when I was a setts in a bus rented from the Knights of Columbus and we livedstudent It was nice to be home and my parents were still there. with the Friars for five days. The Friars of St. Francis SeraphicIt only lasted one year, With diminishing enrollment at Cardinal Seminary were very interested in us and they made it real ap- OHara High School, the order decided to concentrate on the pealing.We saw how they lived, worked,school that they owned so I became princi-went to school, and recreated. The seedpal at St. Francis High School in Hamburg, begantogrowandupongraduationinNew York.1969 five from my class at Cardinal OHa-ra high school went to Novitiate in EllicottTJ: Where did you go after your five years City, Maryland and joined a total of 24at St. Francis?novices from other high schools and par- AH: I took 3-month Sabbatical in Menlo ishes to discern religious vocation.WePark, California at St. Patricks Seminary for were there for one year and learned a lotupdating of theology.about what the Franciscan life was about. It was a working farm completely in theTJ: And then?country and we were not allowed to leave.AH: After three 3 months I was assigned It was the greatest year of my life becauseto John Carroll High School Ft. Pierce, Flori-I had no responsibility to do anything butda because they needed a teacher.I taught discern what to do with my life. Freshman Religious studies. While I was at John Carroll they asked me to go to Atlanta. TJ: Please tell us about the FranciscansIn 1995 I went to Jonesboros, St. Philip and why you joined them? Benizi. I was there 15 years as pastor, and AH: Working with the friars outside ofthey were great years I learned a great deal the classroom gave me a different per- about family life and how to care for the fam-spective on the Franciscans. They wereFranciscans arrived in 1573, establishingily. We administer to the whole family as pas-human beings that prayed and ate togeth- a chair of missions among the indigenoustor, the Friars I lived with made me a better er and were happy people.They truly en- peoples, moving up the coast into whatapostle. I was then moved to St. John Vian-joyed being a Franciscan Friar and livingney in Lithia Springs. After 11 months I was in community. is now Georgia. Five of the early friarscalled by Papal Nuncio and told that Pope I took my simple vows and began col- in Georgia were killed in 1597. By 1650,Benedict asked me to become the bishop of lege with two years of liberal arts including70 friars were working in 40 missions,Savannah. July 19, 2011 ordained the 14th math, science, and religion. My last twobishop October 18th, 2011.years I focused on Philosophy and gradu- with about 25,000 Christian natives. The ated with a bachelors in philosophy. missions suffered attacks from the BritishTJ: Did you watch them carve your name IwasassignedtoArchbishopCurleystarting in 1702, forcing the Spanish tointo the cathedral?high school in Baltimore. Archbishop Cur- AH: It had already been carved. They were ley had 1200 boys and I was assignedretreat to the area around St. Augustine.dusting it off when I got there. The Savannah with five other novices to see what realThe last Franciscans fled Florida with theDioceses is 38,000 square miles roughly the life would be like after ordination.I taughtEnglish take-over in 1763. size of Ireland. It is largest Dioceses east of freshmanEnglishwith40studentsperthe Mississippi I spent a lot of time in the class and one class of senior sociology.car traveling and enjoying being bishop and We were treated like any other faculty members and lived withI thought I would stay there the rest of my life.the kids like when I was in High school. I was assigned clubs and was a moderator of the junior class.We lived in a commu- TJ: How does the change to bishop work?nity of 26 friars of all ages.It was a great time toAH: I asked the Nuncio, Did you speak with learn what it would be like to be ordained. my Minister Provincial?, his response was that In1975IwenttoTheologateatSt.Antho- he needed to speak to me first as he spoke for ny-on-Hudson in Rensselaer, New York, study- the Pope.My vow of obedience changed from ing in the masters degree program with studymy provincial to the pope.of sacraments, scriptures, canon law, and all of the things we would need to know as priests.ITJ: And the journey continues:graduated with a Master of Divinity May 5, 1979.AH: Pope Francis called me to become Arch-My first assignment was to return to Archbishopbishop of Atlanta.I was installed the 7th Archbish-Curley High School to teach religious studies andop of Atlanta on May 6, 2020, but no one was there. be a guidance counselor.We had a private ceremony with about 15 people present and not even the Nuncio came. I was given TJ: Why did you want to be a guidance coun- a pallium and had the Nuncio come in to invest me selor? with the pallium and that occurred on October 6, AH: I wanted to be an advocate for the stu- 2020 in the Cathedral of Christ the King. My sib-dents,andIwouldseethestudentsastheylings were able to attend the investiture. As a met-needed to be seen.I wanted to do what the friar that mostropolitan archbishop I am available to support North Carolina, influenced me had done. South Carolina, and Georgia.TJ: How long were you at Archbishop Curley?TJ: Do they call much?AH: I was at Archbishop Curley for 9 years, the last 3 as prin- AH: Sometimes I have to call them. We have a good working cipal, after the 9th year at school I was sent to Buffalo to Car- relationship we support each other.51'