Xaverian Brother David Eddy (left) serves as master of ceremonies at many liturgies at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More in Arlington. Brother Eddy has served as secretary to Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde for 23 years. (GRETCHEN R. CROWE | CATHOLIC HERALD)
Bring it on.
That might as well be the motto of Xaverian Brother David Eddy, secretary, master
of ceremonies and all-around right-hand man to Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde.
No challenge is too big for the Chancery guru, who in the course of his 60 years
has proven to be adaptable to any circumstance.
A natural comfort surrounds Brother Eddy, who is quick to smile at a joke, and
even quicker to tell one — a quality probably stemming from years of living
in community with his fellow brothers in the Order of St. Francis Xavier. For
a man constantly dealing with the stress of helping to run a diocese, this comfort
is invaluable — especially as he continues to dedicate himself to a life
of service that he never expected to have.
The early years
Brother Eddy was born and raised in Westboro, Mass., where he attended public
school until his parents switched him to Catholic school in his sophomore year
of high school. This change ultimately altered the course of the rest of their
son’s life.
“My parents decided that I needed probably some more discipline and a stronger
education,” Brother Eddy said, sitting in his ninth-floor office, just
adjacent to Bishop Loverde’s, in the diocesan Chancery building in Arlington.
Commuting to Catholic school meant sacrificing his extracurricular activities
to accommodate his carpooling schedule, and, in his own words, Brother Eddy was “not
a happy camper.”
But after six months of being immersed in a curriculum that was led by six different
Xaverian brothers — members of an order devoted to education — the
young man had a 180-degree change of heart. He attributed the change to the brothers
who taught him
“I was very influenced by their life and their dedication and the influence
that they had on students,” Brother Eddy said. “Within six months
I had decided I wanted to be one.”
A month after his June 1966 graduation from high school, Brother Eddy’s
decision became a reality and he entered the order. Speaking with just a hint
of an accent, the Massachusetts native said he was drawn to the brothers’ lifestyle
of prayer and community, and their shared love of education.
But though he was enthusiastic, entering was “quite an adjustment,” with
two novitiate years spent in silence. Times were approved for recreation and
conversation, but quiet had to be maintained in the main building where the brothers
lived, slept and ate.
“Part of that is the training in obedience, that you’re not doing
what you want all the time,” he said. Instead, you’re obeying not
only your superior, but ultimately God.
These were big lessons for the new brother to learn and ones that would stick
with him throughout his life.
First steps
Brother Eddy was educated at the University of Massachusetts and Catholic University
in Washington. Before professing his final vows in 1977, he moved back to Massachusetts
and began teaching math at Malden Catholic High School. Math, however, wasn’t
the only thing on his plate. Along with these duties, Brother Eddy became certified
to drive a school bus for the simple reason that students needed to be transported.
To him, this was simply fulfilling a need. The school needed a driver and to
do that he needed a license. He took care of it.
“Whatever you need to do, you just stand up and do,” he said. His
mantra: “You do what needs to be done.”
Brother Eddy’s next assignment was teaching at Xavier High School in Middletown,
Conn., in 1976, where he remained until 1985. During this time, in addition to
teaching five classes, Brother Eddy ran the school’s bookstore — ordering
and selling books, paying bills and keeping inventory.
He also led retreats for sophomores and was in charge of planning meals for the
22 brothers in the house. With no prior experience in bookstore management, retreat
leading or meal planning, Brother Eddy found himself in charge of it all — again
just doing what had to be done.
“You can say, ‘Yeah, I can try that. It can’t be that difficult,’” he
said. “You just learn by doing.”
It was while at Middletown in 1980 when Brother Eddy met then-Father Loverde,
who was leading a retreat for the brothers. The two formed a connection and met
periodically over the next five years “to encourage each other in our faith
journey and to remain friends,” Brother Eddy said.
When Father Loverde was announced as the bishop’s delegate for clergy for
the Diocese of Norwich, Conn., Brother Eddy went to assist him — agreeing
only to one year of service so he could return to the “marvelous profession” of
teaching that he loved and never expected to leave.
Life in a Chancery
However, one year turned into two, turned into three, until Father Loverde became
auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Hartford. Brother Eddy received permission
from his order to go to Waterbury, Conn., where he spent the next five years
working as the new bishop’s secretary.
His days included a one-hour (each way) commute to and from the Chancery in order
to continue to live within a community of brothers. While in Waterbury, Brother
Eddy was the bishop’s only staff member.
Again: “If it had to be done, I had to do it,” he said.
When Bishop Loverde was assigned to the Diocese of Ogdensburg, N.Y., in 1994,
Brother Eddy thought that his days of secretarial work had come to an end, and
that it was finally time for him to return to the classroom.
God, however, had other plans, and Brother Eddy learned to let go of his desires
and listen.
“When you pay attention to what the Lord wants you to do, you have to let
go of a lot,” he said. Rather than a sacrifice, trusting in God was “terribly
freeing,” he said.
“The only way that you can truly be happy is to be doing what the Lord
wants,” he said. “Sometimes that means we’ve got to let go
of what we want.”
Life in Ogdensburg was different for Brother Eddy than it had been in Waterbury.
For one thing, the staff of one — himself — was increased to 40.
Again Brother Eddy recognized need and rose to the occasion. He took on projects
such as the renovation of both the bishop’s house and parts of the Chancery
building, finding himself making decisions on electrical work and windows.
In 1999 — Brother Eddy’s 14th year of service to the bishop — Bishop
Loverde was assigned to the Arlington Diocese. The staff of 40 suddenly turned
into a staff of 150, and Brother Eddy took on the role of working with then-chancellor
Father Robert Rippy to reorganize and redevelop the Arlington Chancery building.
“I did none of that when I was in Ogdensburg,” he said.
A leap of faith
When Brother Eddy started out as a teacher all those years ago, ending up as
a bishop’s secretary “wasn’t even a thought in my mind,” he
said.
His life, he said, has been a leap of faith, one of trusting in God.
“I’ve allowed God into my life and therefore what’s happening
is not something I’ve plotted or planned,” he said. “I’m
just sitting here being of service.”
Though his job descriptions have changed over the years, the reasons behind his
service have not. Through prayer and remaining connected with the Xaverian community,
Brother Eddy said he always tries to keep in mind why he does what he does.
“You’ve got to know why you’re doing what you’re doing,
and you’ve got to put it in context of the vocation,” he said.
So why, then, did Brother Eddy continue to embark on his long journey of service,
changing roles and continuously adapting to new environments when he could instead
have been fulfilling his passion for teaching in Massachusetts?
“It’s for the love of the Lord,” he said. “It’s
to increase the kingdom and to bring people closer to God.”
This knowledge, he said, is essential.
“It’s important,” he said. “It changes everything.”
Gretchen R. Crowe can be reached at gcrowe@catholicherald.com.