The Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X (FSSPX) announced this week the names of the four priests chosen to receive episcopal consecration on July 1 in Écône. The decision was officially communicated by the General House of the FSSPX, which presents the upcoming consecrations as a measure intended to ensure the continuity of its ministries and the administration of the sacraments according to the traditional rite for the salvation of souls. All of this amid warnings from the Holy See regarding the possible canonical consequences of proceeding with new episcopal consecrations without an explicit pontifical mandate.
Among the four priests chosen is Michael Goldade, current rector of Saint Thomas Aquinas Seminary in Virginia, one of the FSSPX’s main centers for priestly formation in the United States.
A priest formed in the heart of the Fraternity in the United States
Born in North Dakota 45 years ago and raised in St. Marys, Kansas—considered one of the FSSPX’s principal centers in North America—Michael Goldade comes from a large family deeply connected to the Fraternity.
At the age of 18 he entered the seminary in Winona, Minnesota, where he received his priestly formation within the Fraternity before being ordained a priest in 2004.
His first years of ministry were spent in Armada, Michigan, until he was later assigned to Ridgefield to direct the house of spiritual retreats.
In 2014 he was appointed prior in Kansas City, where he assumed leadership of a priory that included a parish, a school, and a religious community. In 2021, he also took on the role of assistant to the district superior of the United States.
Two years later, in 2023, he was named rector of Saint Thomas Aquinas Seminary in Virginia, where he currently oversees the formation of nearly one hundred seminarians.
Preaching centered on prayer and perseverance
Goldade’s public homilies reveal a spirituality marked by an emphasis on daily prayer, perseverance, and the interior life.
In a homily delivered in May 2024 at Saint Thomas Aquinas Seminary, the priest quoted Saint Alphonsus Liguori to affirm: “He who prays is certainly saved; he who does not pray is certainly condemned.”
Throughout that homily, Goldade stressed that prayer is “a duty” for every Catholic and not merely a recommendation for more fervent souls.
He also warned about the impact of technological distraction and the loss of attention in contemporary spiritual life. Referring to the constant use of screens, he noted that modern man lives in “a crisis of ever-diminished attention,” making recollection and contemplation more difficult.
In the same homily, he also underscored the importance of perseverance in the faith, recalling the case of Japanese Christians who maintained Catholicism for centuries without priests, sustained by prayer, the catechism, and Marian devotion.
A profile shaped by parish life and the liturgy
For seven years he led Saint Vincent de Paul Parish in Kansas City. His parishioners especially highlighted his attention to sacramental life, the strengthening of parish unity, and the promotion of the traditional liturgy.
Under his leadership, confession hours were expanded, spiritual retreats, catechetical conferences, and parish missions were promoted, along with initiatives aimed at strengthening the communal life of families.
Those who worked with him in Kansas City also noted his interest in sacred music, choral formation, and the care of liturgical life, as well as his organizational ability during major parish and educational renovation projects.
During the health restrictions of 2020, Goldade maintained the spiritual activity of the community through conferences and homilies broadcast remotely, seeking to preserve the pastoral continuity of the parish amid the difficulties of that period.
The priest speaks English, studied French, and has a basic knowledge of Spanish.
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