Father Thomas Salazar, LC

Fr. Thomas Salazar LC was born in December 1968 in San Francisco, CA. He is the oldest of 5 children. At an early age, Fr. Thomas moved to Portland, Oregon where he spent the rest of his childhood. In 1987, Fr. Thomas graduated from high school and four years later received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology from the University of Portland. Upon graduating from college, Fr. Thomas spent a year volunteering at a family homeless shelter in Southern California, and that is where he felt the call to the priesthood. Once his volunteer work was up in California, Fr. Thomas returned home to Portland for further discernment. After visiting a few religious orders, he decided to join the Legionaries of Christ – sensing that was God’s plan for him. Fr. Thomas entered the Candidacy Program on June 6, 1993 at the Legionary Seminary in Cheshire, Connecticut. After his initial time in Cheshire, he spent time in Monterrey (Mexico), Rome (Italy), Atlanta (GA, and Dublin (Ireland) in preparation for the priesthood. Fr. Thomas was ordained a priest on December 24, 2003 in the Chapel of the Legionary Seminary in Rome, Italy (Fun fact: He and Fr. John Bartunek LC were ordained together). His first assignment as a priest was in Northwest Mexico helping young people with vocation discernment and accompaniment. In 2006, Fr. Thomas was sent to Houston to take on a number of assignments. In 2010, Fr. Thomas arrived in Michigan; he is currently Chaplain for Everest Collegiate High School and Academy (a job he truly loves and would consider his favorite assignment as a priest so far). Some of his interests include watching football (BIG Lions fan!), going on nature walks (when he is able to find the time), cooking (especially gourmet junk food), and visiting beautiful churches and religious shrines. He also enjoys cooler weather (life would be great if it were always in the 60s), anything with peanut butter in it, quiet time for prayer, helping young people navigate through life, and being a spiritual father to those who are in need. We are grateful for his vocation, devotion to Our Lord, and his role as a spiritual father and Chaplain at Everest.