When Rev. C. Michael Vershaeve started his first paying job cutting the grass at St. Joseph Catholic Church as a 16-year-old, he didn’t realize he would be back many years later and celebrating a milestone in his life, too.
Vershaeve, or Father Mike as he is known at St. Joe’s, celebrated his 30th anniversary of ordination in a celebration on Sunday that marked a full circle in Vershaeve’s ministry. Thirty years ago, his very first mass was celebrated at St. Joseph, a church that he also attended as a child.
Vershaeve has been at St. Joseph since July 2003, after spending time at a church in Ortonville and many years in ministry in the downriver area.
‘Thirty years ago when I celebrated my first mass here (at St. Joseph), the parish was a lot smaller,? Vershaeve said. ‘It was really a resort town then.?
‘When I came about four years ago, I counted three Starbuck’s within three miles and I knew things have changed,? Vershaeve added.
Vershaeve was right about growth, as St. Joseph has grown into having over 10,000 members. The church had to be remodeled years ago as attendance continued to grow.
‘On a typically Sunday, we would have about 3,000 people attending mass,? Vershaeve noted.
And it’s the people here that make St. Joseph such a wonderful place, Vershaeve said.
‘I am inspired by the ways the members of this parish take seriously their involvement in the church community and the larger community,? he said.
Vershaeve also credits the staff and volunteers at the church who help make St. Joseph a great place to be.
‘The duties of a pastor are many,? Vershaeve said. ‘There are so many good staff people here that I share my work with, and dedicated volunteers who assist with every aspect of church and parish life.?
Vershaeve and associate pastor Rev. Ralph Besterwitch share the five weekend masses that are held at St. Joseph, along with others during the week. Vershaeve also celebrates mass with the school children, offers religious counsel, visits deathbeds and celebrates weddings and funerals, among other things.
While Vershaeve is celebrating his 30th anniversary, his call to ministry has been going on longer than that.
It was as a young child that Vershaeve started to first realize what his calling was.
‘My first conscious thought was when I was five or six years old. Little boys want to become a policeman or a fireman, but I thought I wanted to become a priest,? he said.
Vershaeve said that as he get older, the call to ministry continued to grow.
‘Through every stage of my life, I felt called to serve for different reasons,? Vershaeve said. ‘Throughout the years, my calling has been reaffirmed by the faith of the people I serve.?
‘I’m grateful it’s been a good fit for me all these years,? he added.