Fr. Roberson, 74, always looked for the good in everyone

By Peter Finney Jr.
Clarion Herald

The “free spirit” in Father Michael Roberson always motivated him in his priestly ministry to reach out to those on the fringes of society, especially those who were imprisoned or who were not native English-speakers, Msgr. John Cisewski, his good friend, said March 28 at Father Roberson’s Funeral Mass at Holy Name of Mary Church in New Orleans.

Whether it was embarking on prison ministry or learning Spanish to serve the Hispanic community, Father Roberson, who died March 20 at Chateau de Notre Dame at the age of 74, was willing to press the boundaries of his priestly service, Msgr. Cisewski said.

“Mike was a bit of a free spirit in that he was going in different directions,” Msgr. Cisewski said. “He wanted to learn Spanish and be bilingual – and this was 50 years ago – to make the church available for those who were Spanish-speaking. A couple of times he left the diocese to be put in a situation where he could learn Spanish.”

Two of those assignments were at a parish in the Diocese of Brownsville, Texas, where he worked on his Spanish, and in the Diocese of Dallas, where he was a chaplain with the Federal Bureau of Prisons in Fort Worth.

On the occasion of his 25th anniversary of ordination in 1999, he said his variety of assignments had enriched him personally.

“I have always found a common denominator, namely, the presence of good people who allowed me to be a part of their lives in very significant ways,” Father Roberson wrote. “I have learned the lesson well that what is really needed in our church today is evangelization. Evangelization is the key that unlocks the door of so many hearts regarding the need for a personal relationship with Jesus and an active involvement in the Catholic Church.”

Msgr. Cisewski said Father Roberson also served as a chaplain at the Hunt Correctional Institute in the Diocese of Baton Rouge.

“He felt successful in prison ministry,” Father Cisewski said. “He felt that those who were incarcerated appreciated his presence and they liked his approach to things. He especially liked those who were younger and he felt he was on a wavelength with them. It was very rewarding for him.”

Father Roberson, a native of Green Bay, Wisconsin, spent two summers in the archdiocese’s Social Apostolate program and later did parochial work at St. Gabriel the Archangel Parish. He was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of New Orleans on May 25, 1974, in Milwaukee.

His pastorates included St. Anthony, Lafitte; Our Lady of Divine Providence, Metairie; co-pastor at St. Raphael the Archangel, New Orleans; St. Brigid, New Orleans; Holy Family, Franklinton; Sts. Peter and Paul, New Orleans; St. John the Baptist, Edgard; St. Maurice, New Orleans; and Holy Name of Mary, New Orleans, until his retirement in July 2019.

pfinney@clarionherald.org