On Saturday, May 19, the Vigil of Pentecost, Fr. Christopher Muer was ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop Allen Vigneron. Along with the entire Church of Detroit, we celebrate his ordination with great joy, as Fr. Christopher will be assigned here at Our Lady of the Lakes as our associate pastor on June 30, 2018. Fr. Christopher grew up in Grosse Pointe at St. Clare de Montefalco Parish. After high school, Fr. Christopher studied and worked in construction. In a recent article about his ordination published in The Michigan Catholic, Fr. Christopher wrote, “It was during a holy hour before the Eucharist in adoration my sophomore year of college that I first felt a strong call to look at the priesthood.” He would later enter Sacred Heart Major Seminary to discern that call to the priesthood.

As a seminarian and deacon, Fr. Christopher was assigned to Guardian Angels parish in Clawson and Bishop Foley High School. He is extremely excited and eager to begin his priestly ministry with us! In the same article, he wrote, “What makes me most excited about becoming a priest is being able to help others grow closer to Christ through the sacraments, especially through the Eucharist and reconciliation.” Fr. Christopher will have plenty of opportunities to bring our school community closer to Jesus through the sacraments, so please be sure to pray for him at the beginning of his priestly ministry and welcome him warmly when he arrives.

With Fr. Christopher’s arrival, we prepare to bid farewell to Fr. Brian, whose three year assignment as our associate pastor will conclude on June 30. Fr. Brian’s next assignment will take him to The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. for graduate studies in Sacred Scripture. Since our Archdiocese is blessed with its own seminary, the Archbishop will always be looking for some among his priests who are willing to go on for further studies and return to teach. This will most likely be Fr. Brian’s path for the next years. After completing four years of studies in Washington, D.C. he will return to the Archdiocese to help form men for the priesthood and diaconate, as well as many of the lay faithful who will be preparing for ministry.

Fr. Brian’s last weekend of Masses will be June 23 and 24. A reception is planned following the 9:30 am Mass on Sunday. Please keep Fr. Brian in your prayers as he prepares for his new assignment. We will look forward to hearing about his progress and seeing him when he is home in the summers to visit!

Photo Credit: Tim Fuller