St. Patrick Parish at 711 Rickett Rd, Brighton, MI 48116 US - Our Pastor, Rev. Karl Pung

I was born and raised at another St. Patrick’s parish in Portland, Michigan and attended Catholic school for grades 1-12.  I have three brothers and one sister, three nieces and one nephew.  My parents are both alive.  Mom teaches high school math, and Dad is retired. 

After high school I attended the University of Michigan and graduated with a degree in history.  A side effect of my choice of colleges was a healthy rivalry with my parents and siblings who all attended Michigan State.  I must confess however, that part of me has a heart for the green and white, just not the weeks they play the maize and blue.

After graduating from college I went straight into seminary.  For five years I studied philosophy and theology at University of St. Mary’s of the Lake, Mundelein Seminary.  We just called it ‘Mundelein’ after the late Cardinal Mundelein who as the archbishop of Chicago who founded the seminary.  The seminary is about 45 minutes north of downtown Chicago. 

On June 14, 1997 I was ordained to the priesthood and assigned to St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in East Lansing.  I remained there for three years.  Since then I have served as pastor of St. Agnes in Fowlerville, Vocation Director, and Chairperson of the Department of Formation for the Diocese of Lansing.  In between years, I was also fortunate enough to spend two years in Rome studying Spiritual Theology which as providence would have it, coincided with the death of Pope John Paul II and the election of Pope Benedict XVI.  The stories of the funeral and the conclave I will save for another day. 

In addition to being pastor of St. Patrick’s I am also the Director of Priestly Life and Ministry for the diocese.  Practically speaking it means that I have a few more meetings to attend a couple of events to plan.  It is an opportunity to serve my brother priests.

I look forward to discovering what God has planned for all of us here at St. Patrick’s Parish. 

God bless.