Fr. Michael-Joseph Paris of St. Thérèse, OCD
Fr. Michael-Joseph Paris of St. Thérèse, OCD is a Discalced Carmelite of the Province of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, a contemplative order of friars with a charism of “Seeking union with God through friendship with Jesus Christ in the spirit of Mary.” Fr. Michael-Joseph is the Subprior and Director of Postulants in the Community of Holy Hill in Hubertus, Wisconsin.
After studying philosophy at St. John’s University in NY and theology at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg MD, Fr. Michael-Joseph was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Washington DC in 2011. He served for 4 years as a Parochial Vicar in Rockville, MD and one year as an Assistant University Chaplain.
In 2016 Fr. Michael-Joseph entered initial formation with the Discalced Carmelites and made his first profession of vows in 2018. He studied Carmelite spirituality in both Ávila and Madrid, obtaining a License in Spiritual Theology from the Pontifical University of Comillas in 2022. He professed his final vows with the Carmelites in February of 2023.
In addition to co-hosting season 3 of Ascension’s podcast, Catholic Classics, reading Story of a Soul, Fr. Michael-Joseph is a member of the Institute of Carmelite Studies (ICS) and also a host of the ICS Publications podcast, Carmelcast. In his leisure time, he likes reading the Spanish mystics and hiking.
As a Carmelite friar, or a member of the Carmelite order to which St. Thérèse of Lisieux belonged, many times over the last several years a young person has said to me: “St Thérèse is stalking me.” I have to admit, I appreciate their candor, but I want to also say,...