Father Michael Roach receives McCloskey award

Father Michael J. Roach, pastor of St. Bartholomew in Manchester and adjunct faculty member of Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg for more than 30 years, received the National Alumni Association’s 37th annual John Cardinal McCloskey Award.

The award recognizes Cardinal John McCloskey, a Mount St. Mary’s seminary graduate, the first natural-born American cardinal and the second archbishop of New York.

“Since his ordination to the holy priesthood, Father Roach’s passion has been to carry forth with the sacred mission of God’s holy church,” Monsignor Steven P. Rohlfs, seminary rector, said in a statement. “His resolve has been unshakeable and unwavering. He has truly followed the words of St. John … he has not sought his own glory, but the glory of his savior, Jesus Christ.”

Ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Baltimore in 1971, Father Roach has served as assistant pastor of Our Lady of Hope in Dundalk and St. Dominic in Hamilton, pastor of St. Peter the Apostle in Baltimore and secretary of the Priests’ Senate.

 

His dedication to Mount St. Mary’s is much admired.

 

“Truth be told, there is no one on this campus who has the wealth, breadth and knowledge of Mount history than Father Roach,” said Monsignor Rohlfs. “He has become a teacher, spiritual confessor and treasured friend to many Mountaineer priests, seminarians and members of this campus community.”

 

In addition, Father Roach has served as a member of the Lawrence Cardinal Shehan Scholarship Foundation for Urban Education; chaplain of the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians; state chaplain for the Maryland Knights of Columbus; and president of Mount De Sales Academy’s board of trustees for more than 30 years.