Paul Hanly Furfey’s childhood and young adulthood in the Archdiocese of Boston introduced him in direct and indirect ways to broader developments with in the Roman Catholic Church. He attended parochial school, and attended Jesuit run Boston College High School and Boston College. The Jesuits introduced Furfey to Ignatian spirituality, in particular the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. Fufey’s early years were influenced by broader developments in the church concerning centralization of ecclesiastical operations and a rise in authoritarian governance. Debates surrounding Americanism and Modernism were a factor during this era. As he matured, Furfey wrestled with intellectual and spiritual doubt. He resolved to remain committed to Catholicism. Upon graduation from college, Furfey served as a lay evangelist with the Catholic Truth Guild before departing to Washington, DC to attend graduate school at The Catholic University of America.
