In his tenth year of priesthood, Fr. Stephen Pullis joins the faculty as the Director of Graduate Pastoral Formation this year. He comes to Sacred Heart after eight years working for Archdiocesan Curia, first as the Priest Secretary to Archbishop Vigneron, and most recently as the Director of the Department of Evangelization and Missionary Discipleship.
An alumnus of Sacred Heart, Fr. Pullis looks forward to providing current seminarians the same great formation he received and helping them become good, holy, and joyful priests.
“I remember the excellent example I received from the priests at the seminary during my time in seminary,” he says, “and hope I can continue the tremendous legacy of priestly formation at Sacred Heart.”
Fr. Pullis also feels a strong connection to Sacred Heart’s dedication to the formation and education of the laity, an initiative he encouraged during his time as the Director of Evangelization and Missionary Discipleship, and a cause to which he still contributes through the Encounter Grow Witness podcast for ministry professionals. He is very excited to work with the lay coworkers across the Archdiocese of Detroit to help build the local Church.
His coursework, Fr. Steve hopes, will have a particular focus on bringing students to more fully know Christ and to know the Church as both the Bride of Christ and the Body of Christ.
“Courses at the seminary are meant to increase our intellectual understanding of the Catholic faith so that upon that knowledge, the supernatural grace of Christ can flourish more fruitfully. Ignorance of the Church’s wisdom impoverishes us in our evangelical witness. Therefore, the more our students commit themselves to their studies, the better they will be able to live out their calling to unleash the Gospel in their own lives.”
Moving into his new role at the seminary, Fr. Steve examines the intersection of faith and the “real world”, and brings with him the inspiration of St. John Paul the Great’s radical witness for the Gospel in everyday circumstances.
He is also inspired by his nieces, nephews, and the young people from his parishes over the years; he says, “I want them to have the best priests possible to help them grow in holiness and fall more deeply in love with Jesus Christ.”
Join us in prayerfully welcoming Fr. Steve to the Sacred Heart faculty this year!