Fr. Michael Groth

First Homily

Greeting’s parishioners of St. Joseph,

Bishop Hicks has appointed me as your new parochial vicar, effective July 1, 2022. It is my joy to briefly introduce myself.

Born and raised in Bourbonnais, I am the only child of Todd and Deb Groth. I attended St. Martin of Tours Parish in Kankakee, where I also attended grade school. I graduated from Bishop McNamara Catholic High School in 2011 and continued to Kankakee Community College, where I was pursuing a degree in accounting with hopes of transferring to the University of Illinois. The Lord had other plans. I graduated St. John Vianney College Seminary in 2016 and “graduated” Mundelein Seminary in 2020. Bishop Pates ordained me to the priesthood of Jesus Christ on June 20, 2020. Yes, all the priestly ministry I have experienced has been with this darn virus!

These past two years, I have been assigned as a parochial vicar at Ss. Peter and Paul in Naperville and chaplain at Benet Academy in Lisle. I have enjoyed my assignments and the many relationships that have been formed. I am a member of the Companions of Christ, a priestly association in the Diocese of Joliet. Our association was established in 2020 off the model that exists in two other dioceses, with the central hallmark being priestly fraternity. We live together, pray together, and hold each other accountable. We minister in our assignments, and we serve the people entrusted to our care. Further information about our association is available on our website www.companionsforchrist.org

Being from Bourbonnais, I have known Fr. Al for some time. I look forward to working closely with him at St. Joseph. I look forward to getting to know each of you, your families, and the parishioners of St. Joseph. I deeply desire to help each of you come to know, love, and adore the Sacred Heart of Jesus, so we can do that eternally in heaven. Be assured of my prayers for you since the day of my appointment, and I humbly ask for your prayers.

In the Sacred Heart,

Fr. Michael Groth