New priest brings youthful insight to Kingston campus

09/09/08 - Newly - hired Catholic Center Chaplain Rev. Matthew Glover feels like the University of Rhode Island is a "perfect fit."Maybe that's because the new priest - ordained four years ago - is only 30 years old.

Glover acknowledged his age as a positive side of his job and said he is here to be a friend who will help a student find their faith.

"I'm not big into authority, I'm not big into lording over people to say 'I'm here and I know everything, and I'm going to show you what it means to be the perfect Christian," he said. "I'm not here to be one of the kids, but I'm just going to be myself, and that's sometimes going to look like I'm a graduate student or whatever, but that's who God made me."

As an avid golfer, lifelong Rhode Island resident and a fan of Dave Matthews Band, Coldplay and U2, the man who describes himself as "easygoing and approachable" might be just what URI needs to communicate with the younger generation of students.

"My whole thing is, I know I'm very charismatic and passionate about God, and that's the central part of who I am," Glover said.

He compared those who are actively involved with their faith to those who attend church as a chore.

"It's the difference between listening to elevator music or listening to Barry White," he said. "[Barry White has] the type of songs you dance around your room with, or in front of the mirror. I think if you have faith in God, it energizes you, and I hope overall that's what the Catholic Center will do."

Glover is passionate about his career path, though he may not have reached it in the most traditional way. His youthful experience with the church involved his parents dragging him "kicking and screaming" to attend Mass.

Eventually, though, Glover wound up at seminary school, but would take a hiatus to attend Providence College. In college, Glover was an orientation leader and was actively involved in intramural sports. He even had a two-year relationship. But ultimately, he decided his love for his girlfriend was too narrow of a focus.

"I felt a strong call in my heart, not just to love one person, but to give my life for him in service to his people," Glover said.

Glover then traveled to Washington, D.C., to teach middle school history and English at Little Flower Catholic School.

"Through all of that, I realized God was calling me to priesthood all the while," he said.

Glover was then sent to Rome to study in the Vatican for four years, where he met the Pope and learned to speak Italian fluently. He said his "rich education" had prepared him for priesthood.

"I've had a lot of different experiences from relationships to work to travel, and I've seen God's presence in a lot of different places," Glover said. "I think I'm able to relate to a lot of life situations; I haven't been locked away in a monastery for eight years."

Previously, Glover was an associate pastor at St. Luke's Parish in Barrington. He is replacing Rev. John Soares, who was URI's chaplain for the past 12 years. Bishop Thomas Tobin, of Providence, offered him the job after a recommendation from a group of bishops.

Rev. Robert Hawkins, who was URI's chaplain from 1992 to 1996, worked with Glover at St. Luke's Parish. He agreed that Glover is an "ideal fit" for URI.

"He's a wonderful, wonderful, energetic, creative and very intelligent guy," Hawkins said. "He's very magnetic. He's got a great personality. He'll do a great job."

Hawkins said Glover focused on outreach projects, including working with the low-income population in Jamaica, and will continue community service projects at the university.

Glover said he feels college is an important step in the route to God, and hopes to reach students through weekly Masses, counseling and participation in the many groups the Catholic Center offers.

Eventually, Glover said he wants to create groups more tailored to what students tell him they need, but that's not on the plate until next year, at least.

"My own philosophy for the first year is to get to know the students who come into the Catholic Center a little better and build relationships with them and sort of move the Catholic Center in a positive direction," he said.

Diversity, Glover said, is the key to college campuses like URI, and he wants to help the entire campus grow closer to God and participate in community service projects.

"I think there's a great spirit here, a great variety of majors and a lot of opportunities to get involved and a lot of activities," Glover said.

So far, the Catholic Center, where Glover now resides, has proven to be a good home for him. He described the atmosphere as "quiet and peaceful," except for when the URI bands practice in the Fine Arts Center parking lot adjacent to the center.

He said he will use social networks such as Facebook to encourage students to stop by the Catholic Center. He already has an account, and has set up an online group for the Catholic Center's main organization, the Newman Club.

But face-to-face meetings are best in Glover's book, he said. He encouraged students to stop by the center to visit him, and said he's available all day, every day.

"You can't miss me, I'm walking around in my collar, so it's free advertisement," he said with a laugh.