Fr. Michael Montoya

We are excited to announce that Rev. Michael Montoya has begun his assignment as our new Administrator (Pastor) effective July 1. He was an Associate Pastor at St Columbkille Church and Nativity Church in Los Angeles. Prior to that he was also an Associate at Precious Blood Church and St Kevin Church in Los Angeles.

A brief history of Fr. Montoya: Fr. Mike was the founding Pastor of a newly established parish of Saint Anne in Peñitas, Texas, Diocese of Brownsville located along the border of Texas and Mexico. The parish is comprised of four churches. According to Bishop Flores, the parish is located in the poorest section of the Diocese. While Pastor, he built a church, a parish hall, two parish offices, a rectory for the priest, renovated another church, established the parish staffing and established the parish programs from the ground up. He saw through the growth of the four churches entrusted to him and in 2016, Pope Francis sent a message to his parish to address the youth gathered at an Encuentro Juvenil.

Fr. Mike is a global leader in Catholic mission. He served as the Executive Director of the United States Catholic Mission Association (USCMA) in Washington DC for more than 6 years. USCMA is the official network of all US Catholic missionaries serving here and abroad. While Executive Director of USCMA he was a consultant to the USCCB Committee on World Mission and has served and collaborated in various capacities in the different departments of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). He led the US church in mission discussions through the annual mission conference, the Mission Congress held every 5 years, and as lead delegate to international meetings on missions.

He is a co-founder of the Missionaries of Jesus (MJ). As an MJ, he has served in various leadership capacities. He served as a General Councilor and as the MJ District Superior for the Americas. He was also the Mission Promotions Director. Fr Mike started the Missionaries of Jesus foundation in the USA.

Fr. Mike has worked for more than 25 years in multi-cultural and cross-cultural settings. He has been a Pastor along the borders of Texas and Mexico, Los Angeles, and an Associate Pastor in Chicago. He also served as school director, vocation director, and internship director. He was ordained a priest on July 16, 1994.