ST MARY - Key Persons
Deacon Mike is a native of Detroit, and has been married to his best-friend, Karin for over 40 years. They relish in threes … three amazing daughters, three great sons-in-law, and three remarkable grandsons. Deacon Mike graduated from Madonna University, Central Michigan University, and Assumption University (Canada). After attending Sacred Heart Major Seminary, he was ordained by Archbishop Vigneron in 2009. He has been abundantly blessed to serve the communities of St. John the Baptist and St. Mary's. He has also served as a theology teacher and chaplain at St. Mary Catholic Central High School, as well as a member of the theology faculty at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit. Deacon Mike is a member of the formation team for Permanent Deacons for the Archdiocese of Detroit.
Fr. David Burgard is the oldest of four sons of David and Marilyn Burgard and grew up in an active Catholic family in Erie, MI. He attended Mason schools through the 8th grade, and graduated from Monroe Catholic Central High School in 1983. Fr. David earned a bachelor's degree from Lourdes College in Sylvania in 1987. That fall, he entered Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, where he completed his studies with a Master of Divinity degree in 1993. He served as a deacon at St. Mary in Wayne, MI for one year up to the time of his ordination as a priest by Archbishop Maida on June 25, 1994 at Blessed Sacrament Cathedral.
Fr. David served as associate pastor at Guardian Angels in Clawson from 1994 to 1997, and as associate at St. Patrick in White Lake from 1997 to 1999. From 1999 to 2008 he was pastor of Immaculate Conception in Anchor Bay, on the northern shore of Lake St. Clair. He returned to St. Mary in Wayne, serving as pastor from 2008 to 2013. Fr. David came to St. Mary, Monroe as pastor on July 1, 2013.
As a priest, Father David's additional responsibilities have included serving as archdiocesan boy scout chaplain since 1995, as a spiritual director at Sacred Heart Major Seminary from 1998 to 2001, and as a formation advisor for seminarians from 2004 to 2016. He served as vicar of the Blue Water vicariate from 2002 to 2008.
Fr. David's home parish is St. Joseph in Erie. From grade school through college he worked on a family greenhouse and produce farm. Early on, he was influenced by the priests at his parish, who invited him to become involved in the parish. Another vocational influence has been having four paternal aunts who are Sisters of Notre Dame in Toledo, Ohio. He also was inspired by the strong faith of his paternal grandparents, who lived two houses away from his family home in Erie.
Fr. David advises anyone considering a call to the priesthood, religious life, or lay leadership in the Church to ask God for the courage and faith to discern God's will, which will bring joy, fulfillment, and peace, even in difficult times. Talk to someone who is already in the service of God's people in the Church. Hear their stories and ask questions how their faith has been a blessing to them. Pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Fr. David makes himself available to talk to anyone considering a call to Church ministry; see him in person or contact him at St. Mary.