Father Mike Verschaeve may not be a familiar face yet to the congregation of St. Joseph Catholic Church, but the church itself is familiar to him since he attended it as a teenager.
Verschaeve, who became the new head pastor at St. Joseph on July 26, attended the parish for 11 years when he was a teenager living in Oxford. Prior to becoming pastor at St. Joseph, he was the head pastor at St. Anne Church in Ortonville for three years.
“(St. Joseph) is three times the size or more (of St. Anne’s),” he said. “After being here about a week, so far so good. I’ve met an awful lot of people and everyone’s been warm and gracious to me.”
Verschaeve takes over at St. Joseph for Father John Leo Phalen, who is retiring. Verschaeve was a pastor at St. Alfred in Taylor for 13 years, and attended seminary in Detroit at Sacred Heart and in Plymouth at St. John’s.
“The Bishop called me to come (to Lake Orion),” he said. “I’ve been a priest for 26 years, and all but three (of the years) were spent downriver.”
He attended parochial school in Romeo, and said he always wanted to become a priest.
“It was at a very young age,” he said. “Some kids want to be a fireman or a policeman, I wanted to be a priest.”
Verschaeve said his family was always very encouraging of his choice.
“The seeds of my vocation were well nourished,” he said.
Vershaeve said St. Joseph has changed a lot since he attended as a teenager.
“Lake Orion is a lot different now,” he said. “I’m the oldest of nine children, and my sister Christine Tarr, her husband Jug, and my three nephews live in Oxford.
“I’ve received a warm welcome here,” said Verschaeve. “There’s a wonderful staff here at St. Joe’s, and they’ve been very helpful. I’m amazed with the growth (at the church) and how they’ve harmonized the old and the new.”
Verschaeve isn’t the only new face at St. Joseph, as associate pastor Father Stanley Obloj came on staff just a week before him.
“There’s a wonderful blend of respect for our roots and for our young members here,” said Vershaeve. “There are always butterflies when you start something new, but I’m confident with the good leadership here that things will go well.
“There are a lot of dedicated lay people involved,” he said.
In his free time, Father Verschaeve said he enjoys playing racquet ball and is an occasional golfer.
“I also like traveling up north to Traverse City to visit my parents, Charles and Evelyn,” he said.