When Johannes Gutenberg invented his printing press in the 15th century, he put all the monks who patiently copied books by hand out of business.
Five hundred years later, Gutenberg’s famed invention gave one local monk a meaningful way to serve his monastery and the community-at-large.
Father Mike Green, founder and proprietor of ‘The Monk Press? at St. Benedict Monastery on E. Drahner Road in Addison Township, is celebrating his 50th anniversary in the printing game.
‘I’ve always enjoyed it so much,? said the self-described ‘priest-printer,? who was recently installed as pastor of St. Scholastica Church in Detroit. ‘It’s very creative work. It really brings a lot of peace of mind to me.?
Green began his printing career in 1957 as a student at Benedictine High School in Detroit.
The late Fr. Theophilus Gregori sparked the young Green’s interest in the field when he invited the lad to work in the small print shop started by the monks at St. Sylvester Monastery.
For four years, a period he considers his apprenticeship, Green helped print programs, cards and Mass sheets for St. Scholastica Parish and its schools.
When Green came to St. Benedict’s in 1961, the print shop there, which contained only a small letter press at the time, seemed like the perfect fit for his skills.
‘I was a natural to run their press,? he said.
Although The Monk Press was officially born in 1961, Green ‘really built it up into a business? after he was ordained as a priest in 1970.
From his shop, Green met the printing needs of churches, schools and local nonprofit organizations such as the Knights of Columbus, Rotary Club, Lions Club, Camp Oakland (now known as Crossroads for Youth) and Oxford’s Problem Pregnancy Center.
Knowing that nonprofits ‘don’t have big budgets,? Green has always kept his prices very affordable whether he’s printing newsletters or envelopes.
‘I really look at it as a ministry to serve the community,? he said. ‘God’s given me the grace to do this.?
As a ministry of his priesthood, Green views printing work as a ‘very valid way of communicating and dealing with people.?
Besides helping the community, The Monk Press was also the monastery’s main source of income at a time when ‘we didn’t have a whole lot.?
‘The printing for many, many years put food on the table,? Green said. ‘The monastery now is supporting itself through youth retreat work and has for several years.?
As the printing business grew so did the equipment.
‘I do have quite an extensive shop,? said Green, noting he now has five offset presses and two letter presses, plus lots of bindery equipment and a darkroom.
Take a tour of the father’s print shop sometime and you’ll see his eyes light up like a little kid as he tells you the history behind each piece of equipment, how he acquired it and what it does.
Listening to him you can tell he’s a man who knows his trade inside and out. He obviously takes great pride in every detail of his work and thoroughly enjoys it all.
Today, The Monk Press is still alive and well, still doing work for churches and nonprofits.
But the shop does a lot less printing than it did in its heyday mainly because Green was assigned to St. Scholastica Parish on a full-time basis in 2004.
‘This is my home parish,? he said. ‘I was brought up right here. I went through the grade school and high school.?
Despite living and working 40 miles away, Green still comes back to his print shop at St. Benedict two days a week when his other duties permit it.
His shop no longer has a staff of ‘ready-made? helpers like the old days, a fact he jokes about.
‘It says Monk Press and I’m the monk,? Green said.
When asked why he continues to be a printer now that he’s the pastor of a church, Green replied: ‘Have you ever had ink under your fingernails? You can’t get rid of it. It’s just a part of my life.?