Lake Orion-Adorning the walls of Associate Pastor Fr. Bernard Mullen’s office at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Lake Orion, are several pictures ranging from impressionist to photographs of jazz players to a few unknown artists. The various pieces of art, says Mullen, are used to tell a story, spread the word and reach out to the people.
Mullen, 68, will bring his art and his faith to St. Anne Church in Ortonville as the new pastor beginning June 1, 2003. Mullen will replace Fr. Mike Verschave who will become pastor at St. Joseph following the retirement of John Leo Phalen, 72.
Fr. Bernard Mullen was born in Croswell, MI. in 1935, he attended St. James in Ferndale and Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit between 1949 and 1957. He graduated St. John’s Seminary in Plymouth and was ordained on June 3, 1961.
Since then, Mullen has served at Our Lady of Good Council in Detroit, St. Joseph in Monroe, St. Boniface in Detroit.
In 1969, Mullen left the ministry and pursued a career in social work with Big brothers-Big Sisters in both Atlanta and Detroit. He also worked in sales for a short period of time.
Driven by a desire to, ‘preach the word,? says Mullen, in 1994 he returned to the ministry at St. Joseph in Lake Orion.
‘I’m a people person at heart, I truly enjoy the creativity of the homily given to the people,? he said. ‘The homily is piece of work, I strive to apply my words to today.? Mullen says that he hopes to utilize movies and music in addition to art in his ministry at St. Anne.