Seminary Rector Named to Largest Parish

Msgr. Jeffrey Monforton, Rector-President of Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit since 2006, has been named as the next pastor of St. Andrew Parish, Rochester. He will begin his new assignment May 5, 2012.

"Msgr. Monforton has provided strong leadership, a firm sense of commitment to advancing the mission of the Seminary, and a vibrant personal witness of love for Jesus Christ and the Catholic Church," the archbishop said of Msgr. Monforton’s six-year term as rector of the seminary. He also praised the monsignor for his "excellent service."

St. Andrew Parish, which was established in 1911, has just over 4,900 registered households and is the largest parish in the Archdiocese of Detroit. Ordained in 1994, Msgr. Monforton, 48, has served as pastor of St. Thérèse of Lisieux Parish, Shelby Township; as an associate/weekend assistant pastor at the National Shrine of the Little Flower Parish, Royal Oak; St. Paul on the Lake Parish, Grosse Pointe Farms; and St. Jane Chantal Parish, Sterling Heights. From 1998 through 2005, Msgr. Monforton served as priest-secretary to then-archbishop Cardinal Adam Maida.

Between now and when Msgr. Monforton is installed as pastor, a priest-administrator will oversee the business and sacramental life of the parish. Archbishop Vigneron has told the seminary’s board of trustees that he is "... confident there are several possible candidates" from whom he will be able to choose the next rector. He intends to announce his selection in late winter.

Under Msgr. Monforton’s leadership, the seminarian population at Sacred Heart is the largest it’s been in 38 years. Utilizing the resources of its newly created educational technology office, the seminary now teaches several online courses. And, for students in outlying areas of the Detroit archdiocese, courses are now available at four parish satellite sites.