In the Providence Catholic school year of 2025, we have been blessed by many numerous new faces—including Brother David Marshall. In the following article, we—Isabella Arellano and Moira Geiss—interviewed our newest brother to introduce him to Proviscope’s viewers.
We asked: “What made you want to become a brother?” He answered:
“In High School I had a conversion from finding what I wanted to searching for what God wanted for me. In college, this line of questioning led me to see how much religious life might resonate with who I am and where I’ll grow into who I’m meant to become. Over the course of about five years, I grew in relationship with the Augustinians in Chicago, and I felt a growing sense of belonging with them: to live in a house of prayer ordered toward mutual harmony, and to serve the Body of Christ enfleshed in others.”
We asked: “What was your time in high school like? How different was it compared to now?” He answered:
“I had a blast at my high school: Chaminade-Julienne, in Dayton Ohio. Like Providence, it also has a history of being run by orders, namely, the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur and the Marianist brothers. I was mostly involved in performing arts: band, liturgical choir, pop acapella, musicals; but I also did some sports for fun. A difference from Providence is that my dad was my principal, my mom was my English teacher, and all my cousins and siblings went there too (luckily, I thought this was kinda fun). Many of the aspects of community, spirit, and overall culture are similar between the two, so in many ways I feel very comfortable here at Providence.”
We asked: “What are your plans for the future?” He answered:
“I’m a strong believer in the phrase “when we make plans, God laughs”. I thank God for my life as an Augustinian friar each day, and I hope to continue on this journey to taking solemn vows next year or in whatever timing the Holy Spirit wills. Depending on the needs of our Augustinian family and the Church, I could see myself being very happy becoming a teacher or school administrator (maybe at Providence?), pastoral minister, music director, or even a missionary. I also believe God has prepared me to bring music into any ministry I am placed in, whether it is front and center or ancillary.”
We asked: “What is your vision for the future of the music and theater department?” He answered:
“I’ve enjoyed supporting our fantastic faculty with break out sectional work and offering musical talent for theater productions and liturgies. It is still too early in the year to be looking at what my particular vision is for the music and theatre department, especially because there isn’t even certainty about whether I will be at Providence next year. I’m happy to be learning a great deal from Michael Rocha, Stacey Eckert, and Ann Waldron.”
We asked: “Could you describe your history in Formation?” He answered:
“I completed my application to Formation in the Order of Saint Augustine in 2021 and entered the first year (Pre-novitiate) in the Fall. This was the first year the Augustinians had the pre-novitiate year in Gage Park, Chicago, so I was excited to get the opportunity to help out with the backyard rehabilitation and program development. During pre-novitiate, I helped at St. Rita High School and Parish and met every friar and friary in the province. It was a great year for envisioning what I could be doing, who I might be living with, and the diversity of lifestyles in the various communities of the province.
I then went to Novitiate which was like a yearlong retreat separated from previous everyday life. I lived and grew alongside six other novices at our novitiate house near Villanova University. During this time, my relationship with God became very active, and I learned about myself to such depth that I’ll be parsing out the spiritual fruits of that year for years to come. After this very blessed and very challenging year I was absolutely overjoyed to take vows for the first time.
All my family and many friends from high school and college came to my vows ceremony, and I was so joy filled to be formally consecrated to God as an Augustinian.
I then moved to our Theologate formation community where I received a Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies at Catholic Theological Union. After those two years, I then moved out here to begin Pastoral year.”
We asked: “What was your background in music and theater like?” He answered:
“Mrs. Gilley in 3rd grade music class taught me to sing by having us sing hymns at class. I performed in lead roles throughout grade and high school. I joined band playing Euphonium in fifth grade, I blossomed in High School as I was part of our nationally-placing Pop-Acapella group, Drum major of the Marching Band, and composed for liturgies.
When I was first applying to colleges, I thought I was going for musical theatre. I was taking dancing and singing lessons to become competitive on the Broadway stage. I then had a change of heart on retreat to pursue more sacred oriented music.
I received a BA in Music at University of Rochester where I took many of the sacred music courses at Eastman School of Music. I did research projects on topics ranging from Carillon bell acoustics to ancient chant manuscript translation.
I was so grateful to be one of three conductors accepted to the Masters in Sacred Music at University of Notre Dame. I directed children’s choir, bell choir, and a professional choir for my graduation recital. The community also offered me the opportunity to study Nigerian liturgical music and Georgian chant over the summer.”
