Who is Fr. Russ?

 

He is best described as a person who has been an outcast of society, and a marginalized individual for over fifty-nine (59) of his sixty-four (64) years on this planet. A troubled youth beaten and abused by individuals since child-hood. Most memorable was in front of his elementary school class mates while in the third grade of St. Jeans Catholic School in Newton, Mass. Wherein his wrist was broken by his third grade Nun as she slammed him against the brick school building for asking to go the bathroom while lining up at recess.

   A Nun that punished him by beatings with bamboo rods nearly every day. Fr. Russ’ issue with St. Jeans was beyond the 50-year mark making it difficult for court action. To say that this was the beginning of his anti-religious feelings and the foundation of his anger against corporal punishment used on children, and his distrust of organized religion would be an understatement.

 

But it was also the foundation of his search for God.  His hope that love exists and that the world can be a better place if one endures and raise above all that seems against them.

 

At 24 a convicted organized crime figure. Sent to Walpole State Prison with many of his gang members. He became a prison leader and worked for change in the prisons during the late 60’s and throughout the 70’s. Attempted to change his life with tremendous odds against him. He fell and returned to minor crime to survive after eleven and a half years attempting to raise his family, no jobs, no way to earn a living, he ventured back into minor crime.  He ended up ending his criminal career in 1982 vowing never to return to preying on society for a living and devoted his life to following the way of Jesus Christ. Depending totally on God to provide in all things he found the Way a bit difficult. But as he states “Following Jesus and totally relying on the Holy Spirit works.” 

 

“I needed a God that is real, that takes care of me in the hard times, that I could know not read about and that I could prove to myself that he cares and loves me. I found my God in Christ Jesus. No Bull.”  Fr. Russ.