Fr Robert Fisher Named New Pastor of National Shrine

Detroit Archbishop Allen Vigneron has appointed Father Robert Fisher as the new pastor of National Shrine of the Little Flower Parish in Royal Oak. Father Fisher has been pastor of St. Lawrence Parish in Utica since 2003. His appointment will take effect on March 22. Father Fisher succeeds Msgr. William Easton, who passed away on December 29, 2013, several days after an apparent heart attack.

"I am very grateful that Father Fisher has agreed to being sent to serve as the pastor of the National Shrine of the Little Flower," said Archbishop Vigneron. "He has proven himself to be a zealous and loving priest. I am confident that The Lord Jesus will work powerfully through him in this new and challenging assignment."

National Shrine of the Little Flower Church is one of just five churches in the country given National Shrine designation by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Among the largest parishes in the Archdiocese of Detroit, it has a membership of more than 3,500 families. It also has a grade school and high school.

Father Fisher has been a priest of the Archdiocese of Detroit for 22 years. He also has served as pastor of St. Angela Parish in Roseville (2000-03); director of priestly vocations for the Archdiocese of Detroit (1995-2000); and associate pastor of Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish in Grosse Pointe Woods (1992-1995). Father Fisher’s successor at St. Lawrence Parish has not yet been named.

Father Fisher’s Biographical Timeline

• June 27, 1992 Ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Detroit
• 1992-1995 Associate Pastor at Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish, Grosse Pointe Woods
• 1995-2000 Director of Priestly Vocations for the Archdiocese of Detroit
• 2000-2003 Pastor of St. Angela Parish in Roseville
• 2003-present Pastor of St. Lawrence Parish, Utica
• March 22, 2014 Pastor of National Shrine of the Little Flower Parish, Royal Oak