From altar boy to Chabad rabbi

Originally hailing from south central Pennsylvania, Rabbi Matisyahu Devlin was raised as a devout Catholic. The son of a Catholic father and Jewish mother. He attended Catholic school and mass on Sundays with his 10 brothers and sisters. Judaism at home was scant, so their identity rested firmly on their Catholic heritage and upbringing. Devlin himself was very active in his parish as an altar boy, choir member, and lector.

At the tender age of 18, after getting into trouble at school and with the law, Devlin found himself in New York City attempting a fresh start. A fateful midnight meeting w...