PRIESTS
A priest (who’s been there) responds to the pain of addiction Joyce Duriga is the editor of Chicago Catholic, the newspaper for the Archdiocese of Chicago. Karen Callaway is the photo editor of Chicago Catholic.
52 | VISION 2023 | VocationNetwork.org
Father M.J. Groark, O.F.M.Cap. knows a thing or two about opioid addiction, having come close to dying on the streets from it. Now he uses his experience to reach out to those broken down by drug use.
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HEN MICHAEL JOSEPH (M.J.) GROARK found the Capuchin Friars, he knew he was home. He felt called to pursue a vocation to the priesthood, but he worried they might not let him enter. Covered in tattoos, he had a “hell of a back-