CCC 358 God created everything for man, but man in turn was created to serve and love God and to offer all creation back to him.

Fr. Michael Parisi

Where were you born and where did you grow up?

I was born in Chicago, where my father worked for IBM. In 1961 IBM transferred us to Dearborn, Michigan, where I attended Divine Child School. In 1969 my father accepted a position on Wall Street and we moved to Boonton Township. 

I served Mass for Father Joseph Glynn here at St. Catherine of Siena and attended Morris Catholic High School, where I began considering a vocation to the priesthood. Not ready to commit, I accepted an appointment to the Coast Guard Academy but realized in six months or so that I was drawn more to the priesthood than to the Coast Guard, and transferred to Seton Hall University and entered the college seminary.

Upon graduation, Bishop Rodimer appointed me to the Pontifical North American College, our seminary in Rome. In 1981 I completed a general theological degree. Bishop Rodimer ordained me to the priesthood in 1982, and in 1983 I completed the license in biblical theology, a teaching degree. 

From 1983 – 1988 I served St Margaret of Scotland Parish in Morristown and the last couple years taught part-time at Immaculate Conception Seminary in South Orange. 

While I was at St Margaret's I received a letter from a Catholic Navy chaplain working in the Pentagon.  He wrote that in the US at that point there were 1000 Catholics for every priest, that in the military there were 2700 Catholics for every priest, and that if I could give three years of service it would make a big difference.  I figured three years would be doable, so I got the bishop's permission and in I went.  

From 1988 – 2018 I served in the Navy Chaplain Corps, and was assigned to tours with Navy Marine Corps, and Coast Guard units.

My favorite things about being a priest are liturgy and preaching, and those are also the most challenging. 

I'm a priest of the Diocese of Paterson, and so don't belong to a religious order.

As a vicar general I'm one of the principal assistants to our Bishop. I sit on the diocesan Finance Council, the Presbyteral Council, the College of Consultors. I'm also responsible for preparing the Quinquennial Report on diocesan ministries that goes to the Holy See before the bishop's ad limina visits. I'm the episcopal delegate in the cause for canonization of Brother Marinus, and work with priests and parishes in challenging circumstances. 

What advice would you give to young men discerning the vocation to the priesthood?

Young people considering vocations to the priesthood or religious life should find holy and wise spiritual directors and take advantage of every opportunity to learn about the life God may be offering them.