When the Mass took Fr. Mike's Breath Away

In this episode, Olivier and Emily interview our pastor, Fr. Mike. Fr. Mike begins with an outline of his assignments throughout his 35 years as a priest and explains how teaching in a classroom setting helped him become a more creative person and a better preacher. He shares his vocation story and touches on how a weekly holy hour in the middle of the night helped shaped his call to the priesthood. Recounting a couple of highlight "God moments" of his priesthood," Fr. Mike shares about experience of the presence of Jesus at a time when he was feeling exhausted in his ministry and vocation. Finally, we wrap up the episode with a few stories from Fr. Mike's times as a pilgrim in the Holy Land.

Fr. Mike's Pastoral Assignments

• 1991: Priestly Ordination
• 1991-1993: Associate Pastor, St. Mary's, West Point; Teacher, West Point Central Catholic
• 1993-1994: Associate Pastor, St. Bernadette, Bellevue, NE
• 1994-1997: Associate Pastor, St. Patrick, Fremont; Teacher, Fremont Bergan High School
• 1997-2002: Pastor, St. Patrick, Battle Creek; Pastor, St. Francis de Sales, Schoolcraft; Teacher, Norfolk Catholic High School
• 2002-2004: Director, Rural Diaconate Program
• 2002-2007: Pastor, St. Rose of Lima, Hooper; Pastor, St. Lawrence, Scribner
• 2007-2011: Pastor, St. Joseph, Walt Hill; St. Augustine, Winnebago; Our Lady of Fatima, Macy; St. Cornelius, Homer; Associate Director of the St. Augustine Indian Mission
• 2011-2018: Pastor, St. Pius X, Omaha, NE
• 2018-2022: Servant Minister, Archdiocese of Omaha
• 2020-2022: Executive Director, Catholic Charities Omaha
• 2022-Present: Pastor, St. Wenceslaus, Omaha