What is your name?
Rev. Michael Marotta, CRM
Where are you from?
Atlantic City, New Jersey
How old were you when you discovered God’s call to become a priest?
I first felt the call when I was about 14 years old. Of course, over the years it began to mature and along this journey, I also discovered the vocation to the religious life.
Where did you study to become a priest and when were you ordained?
I studied my philosophy at Seton Hall University and my theology at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas in Rome, Italy. I was ordained on July 11, 1987 at St Joseph Parish in Lodi, New Jersey.
Where and what was your first assignment as a priest?
My first assignment as a priest was at the Adorno Fathers House of Formation in Ramsey, New Jersey
How long have you been a novice master?
I have been a Novice Master in the Philippines since 2015. I was also a novice master in Ramsey, New Jersey 2001-2004.
Have you dreamed of becoming a novice master before?
I very much enjoy working in formation and I thought about it at times.
What is it like to be working with novices who desire to become Adornos?
It is a great privilege for me to be involved with novices and to journey with them as they discover their vocation with the Adorno Fathers and the richness of religious life.
What are the programs in the Novitiate that really reflect the life of our founders?
The programs are the Theology of Consecrated life and the History of the Order. We learn how our Founders reflected and lived the spirit of the vows and the spirituality of the Order in their daily lives and in our history classes, we see and appreciate the work of God in their lives. Also, the acts of service we do is meant to be in imitation of Christ, who was the feet of his brothers and sisters.
How do you see yourself as a novice master and as an important part in the life of new religious brothers heading towards simple profession of vows?
Unworthy as I am, I see myself as an instrument in helping our novices who wish to journey and embrace the religious life through the profession of the vows.
One of the Adorno priests mentioned before that the Novitiate is the heart of religious formation, any comments on that statement?
The Church teaches us that the religious life begins with the Novitiate. It is here that we learn about the heart and foundation of what it means to be a religious.
What do you hope for in the next 6 years after the General Chapter in Rome this year?
I hope that the Order will continue to flourish and personally I pray that I will continue with this responsibility if it is God’s will.
Any message to all novices around the world?
Trust in the Lord, persevere in holiness, focus on community and love your charism. Do all for the Greater Glory of the Risen Christ!