Reverend Michael Murphy is the pastor of Coronado’s Sacred Heart Catholic Church located at 655 C Ave. Father Murphy’s kind and gentle spirit is very contagious, and he has been making the 100 plus year old house of worship a welcoming place for all those interested in Sacred Heart Church for 16 years. If you’ve been at a service conducted by pastor Murphy, then you probably noticed he is very comfortable speaking in front of hundreds of people, and there’s a good reason for this. To find out more about the broadcaster of the catholic faith at Sacred Heart, Father Murphy graciously took some time from his busy day to answer a few questions so we can all get to know the leader of one of Coronado’s oldest churches a little better.
Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Los Angeles and Orange County.
Did you always want to be a pastor? How did you make this decision?
As a child I thought about becoming a priest then, as I entered my teenage years, I put that idea aside. After graduating from college, I worked as a radio personality for a few years. Eventually, I felt a slight “tug at the heart” and decided to explore the possibility that God was calling me to the priesthood. I eventually decided that I would enter the seminary so I could better understand the life of a priest and then discern if God was truly calling me. I spent one year at our diocesan seminary on the campus of USD. After that year, I did not have a clear answer so I decided to give it another year. Our bishop at the time sent me to Rome to study. I continue to pray, discern and study and, after three years in Rome, was ordained a deacon in St. Peter’s Basilica. After my fourth year in Rome, I was ordained to the priesthood at sacred Heart Church in Coronado (the only priest to be ordained at Sacred Heart). I returned to Rome to finish my graduate work in Spirituality.
Where did you attend college or seminary?
I attended Fullerton Junior College (that is what it was called in the 70’s) and California State College at Fullerton. I majored in Radio and TV broadcasting and Communications. After one year of studying philosophy at USD, I studied at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.
How long have you been a pastor?
I have been a priest for 28 years and pastor of Sacred Heart for 16 years.
If you weren’t working for the church, what other career would you have chosen?
I probably would have worked in radio or television.
Please share your Coronado story. How did you find your way to Coronado and this position with your church? What are your first memories of Coronado?
My first memories of Coronado was coming here as a seminarian and working during the summers under Msgr. John Portman. I was engaged in a variety of pastoral work from teaching to visiting the sick. When I first was appointed as Director of the Office for Priests in the Diocese of San Diego, I lived at our seminary facility. Bishop Brom assigned me to Sacred Heart on a temporary basis when Msgr. Portman retired in 1996. I was to assist Msgr. O’Sullivan until August that year when a new pastor would be named. However, in April, the Bishop called me and asked if I would like to remain at Sacred Heart as pastor. Obviously, I was overjoyed at the assignment since I considered Sacred Heart my “home parish” and already knew many of the people here.
Describe your average work week.
My average work week begins with prayer early in the morning followed by celebrating Mass. I am usually in the office meeting with people who come for spiritual assistance, encouragement or to speak about their faith. I also attend to the temporal needs of the parish and staff as an administrator. I am blessed to have an excellent pastoral staff that collaborates with me in our ministry at Sacred Heart. I will attend meetings, both in the parish and outside. I continue to hold the position of Director of the Office for Priests so I have responsibilities in the Diocese of San Diego that I must attend to. In the evening I attend parish meetings or teach at the parish or in a home. I usually take one day off a week to charge my batteries.
Describe your church and the makeup of your congregation. What programs does your church provide?
We are a multi-cultural parish that encompasses all ages and backgrounds. We have a significant military community that participates in our parish. As far as programs, go to our website: www.sacredheartcor.org and you can see what we offer.
What do you think are some of the spiritual needs of people in Coronado?
They are no different than anyone else. The Lord has called us to holiness and we live our lives striving for the fullness of this gift. We also desire intimacy with the Lord and through faith, hope and love, expressed in the various circumstances of our lives we grow closer to the Lord.
Thank you so much Father Mike Murphy for your motivational words and enlightening message of faith. Meet the other “clergy of Coronado” here.
Bianca Valle
Online Editorial Intern
eCoronado.com
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