Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Tampa shared an introduction of the Rev. Mike Jones in their Sept. 13 bulletin. 

Fr. Jones noted that his family arrived in Alleghany (New York) in the late 1800s, when the Franciscan Friars also came to build a university there. 

“My family lived across the street from St. Bonaventure Church and the mother house of the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany," Jones said in the bulletin. "The Franciscan sisters also run the Franciscan Center in Tampa."

He was able to attend St. Bonaventure University and be taught by the Franciscan Friars and the Allegany Sisters.

Throughout his twenties, Jones considered his calling to ministry and began his journey into formal training. 

“In the Summer of 1994 I started as an affiliate in the Bronx, New York," he said. "In 1995 I went to the novitiate in Providence, Rhode Island. My novice master was Fr. Andrew Reitz OFM, who was here in Tampa many years ago. After novitiate I went to Silver Springs, Maryland, where I studied at the Washington Theological Union (WTU). In 2001 I graduated from WTU with my master's in Divinity. The same year I was also ordained in New York City."

Jones has felt blessed to be able to work in church ministry as he provides for the spiritual and physical needs of so many parishioners and members of the community. As he makes the transition to a new life in a new city, he is happy to be serving his new parish. 

“Over many years I have lived in New York, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Maryland, North Carolina and South Carolina," he said. "Each place has offered many new growing experiences and ministries. It also has been wonderful living with various friars and meeting many new people. I look forward to my time in Tampa.”

The Rev. George Corrigan, who has been at Sacred Heart for more than 13 years, is moving on to a new parish.