Bishop Richard J. Malone ordained Rev. Michael K. Brown ’83 at St. Joseph’s Cathedral in Buffalo on May 28.
“A great feeling of humility and docility was present with me that day,” says Father Brown. “I prayed, ‘here I am Lord. I offer myself to serve as one of your priests and submit to what you feel is your will for me.’”
Father Brown says his Canisius experiences prepared him well for the various leadership roles throughout his government career, and now for the priesthood. He also was greatly influenced by many of the Jesuits at the college.
“Rev. Ladislaus Juhasz, SJ, was a humble, holy and brilliant man,” says Father Brown. “Through conversations with him, the late Rev. John Garvey, SJ, the late Rev. James Ruddick, SJ, and the late Rev. James Demske, SJ, former Canisius president, I received enormous encouragement. They also served as great role models.”
Father Brown was elated and honored to have the support of his family and friends at the ordination, including his children, his mother and stepfather.
“I fondly remember my late father whose faith example always included the importance of family,” says Father Brown. “Praying with my family made my ordination an extra special day.”
Father Brown graduated from Canisius with a degree in philosophy. He attended Christ the King Seminary in East Aurora where he received a master of divinity degree. Father Brown’s first assignment is at St. Gabriel Church in Elma.
Canisius is one of 28 Jesuit universities in the nation and the premier private university in Western New York.
Pictured: Rev. Joseph Gatto, president-rector of Christ the King Seminary, receives the priest's first blessing from the newly-ordained Father Michael Brown ’83 on May 28. Photo courtesy of Western New York Catholic.
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