Father Mike

Thank You and Farewell

May you always have work for your hands to do.
May your pockets hold always a coin or two.
May the sun shine bright on your windowpane.
May the rainbow be certain to follow each rain.
May the hand of a friend always be near you.
And may God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.
— Irish Retirement Blessing

FROM FATHER (NOW MONSIGNOR) MIKE:

First Communion

Many of you already know that on February 1st of this year, I completed 18 years as your pastor, and on January 16th of this year, I turned 70 years of age, and on May 27th, I celebrated 44 years of priesthood. (By the way, Father Darek celebrated eleven years on the same date). Normally, priests are only pastor of a parish for two terms of six years. At the end of 12 years, they are moved to another parish. The Bishop chose to keep me here at Saint Margaret Mary for an additional term of six years. I have enjoyed each year I have been here. But the time comes for me to move on.

Father Mike

Since I have turned 70 years of age, one option that is available to priests in the Rockford Diocese is to retire from active ministry. I have asked the Bishop if I might retire and he has granted my request. It is hard for me to move after all that time here in the parish, but I also believe that it is good for a parish to have a new pastor.

With my retirement, comes a new pastor and a new associate priest. Not that it takes two people to replace me. Father Edward is also being transferred from our parish and will become the Pastor of Saint Stanislaus Kostka Parish in Rockford. Our new Pastor is Father Peter Sarnicki, OFM, Conv., who comes from Rockford. The parish will be staffed by the Franciscan Order.

A PERSONAL NOTE FROM MONSIGNOR MIKE (JUNE 11-12):

As I was getting some of my packing done this week, I received a call from the Bishop to come to Rockford. On Thursday, the Bishop presented me with a certificate indicating that His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI has named me a “Chaplain of His Holiness” commonly called a “Monsignor.” It is a title that I never expected to receive. Being a monsignor is an honorary title in the Church, as is Cardinal. It means I am of the household of the Pope. The Bishop said that he asked this for me because the young priests he has sent to this parish over the years are well trained in serving others. I accepted this honor as his “thank you” for my efforts. I want to thank you for the spiritual gifts you have brought to the parish and to me. I have tried to share the gifts of the Spirit through me in these last 18 years.

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Father Mike Highlights

  • Ordained a Priest in the Rockford Diocese on May 27, 1967.

  • First Mass in Spring Grove

  • St James Pro-Cathedral Rockford – May to August 1967

  • St Patrick, McHenry – August 1967 – June 1970 – Taught at Marian Central Catholic and was part time head of the music department.

  • St Thomas Aquinas, Freeport – 1970 – 1973  - Associate Pastor to Saint Thomas Aquinas Church, Assistant Principal at Aquinas High School, in Freeport and Area Coordinator of Religious Education for Jo Davis and Stephenson counties. In the summer, went to University of Detroit to receive a MA in Religious Education.

  • Boylan High School -1973/74 – Full time teacher

  • St Patrick, Heartland, IL – 1974/77  - Administrator (Pastor)

  • Asst. Principal Marian Central High. 1974/80

  • Spring 1980 took a four-month sabbatical study in Rome at the Casa Santa Maria. Returned to the States is May with a ruptured disc and then in 1981, returned to complete sabbatical study.

  • St Thomas More in Elgin - Associate Pastor - 1981/83

    Father Mike
  • St Patrick’s – Rockford, IL - Pastor 1983/93

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  • St Margaret Mary - Algonquin, IL
    Pastor: February 1, 1993 – June 30, 2011
    - Acquired Eastview School property.
    - Moved school to new property.
    - Added Preschool and Kindergarten.
    - Doubled size of school.
    - Brought the Filipino and Polish Communities to St Margaret Mary.
    - Commissioned one of the first Parish web sites in the Diocese.
    - St. Vincent DePaul Society
    - Celebrated 40 Years in the Priesthood in 2007.

  • Named "Chaplain of His Holiness" Monsignor Michael Tierney by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI and Bishop Doran in June of 2011.
    40th Anniversary


    Enhanced parish life through an increased focus and parishioner involvement in councils, committees, ministries and guiding us to become a true Parish Family.

Thank you and God Bless you in your retirement Monsignor Mike!

 

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