Fr. Greg Gallagher, O.M.I.
National Shrine of Our Lady
of the Snows

This July, Fr. Greg Gallagher became the new Director at the Shrine. “I had an office
at the Shrine while I was Vocation Director in 1997 and I am really excited to be returning,” says Fr. Greg.

Born March 12, 1965, in Saint Paul, Minnesota, Fr. Greg is the tenth of eleven children of Neil and Phyllis Gallagher. Father Greg began considering the Priesthood when
he was in high school. “The Missionary Oblates have served my home parish,
St. Casimir’s, for many years. I was able to witness their service and knew I wanted
to become a part of their community,” remembers Fr. Greg.

Father Greg entered the Oblate pre-novitiate formation program in Omaha in 1985. He graduated from Creighton University in May of 1987, and began his Oblate Novitiate in Godfrey, Illinois, in August of that year. On August 8, 1992, Fr. Greg
was ordained.

Soon after his ordination, Fr. Greg ministered with the Catholic community in Sisseton, South Dakota. His primary work was among the Native Americans of St. Catherine’s parish. “I learned so much from the Native American community - about getting along with others and about helping others,” he remembers.

Five years later, Fr. Greg was appointed Vocation Director. He moved his office to the Shrine and began encouraging young men to pursue their interest in religious life. In June 2001, he returned to St. Casimir’s, and served as Pastor for six years. “There is a lot going on at St. Casimir’s. It is an inner-city parish. The parish works a lot with the youth and with schools, in collaboration with other parishes. The parish also runs a food pantry and a women’s shelter,” says Fr. Greg.

In July, Fr. Greg left St. Casimir’s to take up his new ministry at the Shrine. He says it was difficult to leave his parish but he is excited about his new assignment. He explains, “Good-byes are the worst, but I am looking forward to the new experiences and friends that await me at the Shrine.”

Fr. John Madigan, O.M.I.
Missionary Association
of Mary Immaculate

In August, Fr. John Madigan will be serving at the Missionary Association. “I am truly looking forward to my new assignment providing spiritual support and helping to promote the causes of my fellow missionaries,” says Fr. John.

Born in Buffalo, New York, in 1950, Fr. John attended the Oblates’ Holy Angels Church and Grammar School. Holy Angels boys were always mission minded. The Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart always kept in mind the mission needs of the Church through the Holy Childhood Association. In addition, Oblates, who had served in Brazil, often spoke to the boys about their foreign ministries.

At the age of 17, Fr. John attended Our Lady of Hope Seminary in the outskirts of Newburgh, New York. Later, he entered the Oblate Novitiate in Godfrey, Illinois, and then completed his formation in Washington D.C. After his ordination in 1977, he served as an Associate Pastor in an Oblate parish in Miramar, Florida.

From 1980 to 1983, Fr. John served as Vocation Director. He then returned to parish ministry at the Oblates’ Sacred Heart Church in Lowell, Massachusetts, until 1993, when he was assigned to the Oblates’ St. Philip’s parish near Miami, Florida.

Father John ministered in Miami for more than 17 years. In addition to his regular pastoral work, Fr. John served as the Spiritual Director at a school for the mentally and physically challenged. “There are more than 120 students and they all have very different needs. My primary goal was to teach them that God loves them,” he explains. Father John was also Vicar Religious for the Diocese of Miami and was a member of the Presbyterial Council.

Most recently, he served as Supervising Principal of St. Francis Xavier School.
St. Francis Xavier Church was the first African American parish in Miami. “It is difficult to leave my parish, because I am so close to the people, but I have loved every ministry the Lord has called me to, which is why I look to my new ministry with great anticipation,” says Fr. John.