new parochial vicar, St. Clement of Rome Parish
effective July 1, 2009
Father Nile Gross |
Text and photo are from the May 30, 2009, edition of the Clarion Herald newspaper, page 3 Age: 31 Home Parish: St. Patrick, New Orleans Parents: Nile A. Gross and Vicki D. Horn Education: St. Ann School, Metairie; Jesuit High School, co-valedictorian in 1995; bachelor's degree in English literature from Tulane University in 1999. |
Why did you pursue the priesthood? Deacon Gross was working as vice president of a construction company in September 2001 and had grown distant from his faith when he went to New York for a Yankees-Red Sox series. The day after returning to New Orleans, terrorists flew planes into the World Trade Center. Deacon Gross said he "recognized an emptiness in my soul." One of his construction jobs was renovating some buildings at St. Patrick Church on Camp Street. He walked into the dark church one morning and "realized I was home and that I was Catholic."
Who will be the priest who vests you at your ordination Mass? Msgr. Charles Duke of St. Ann and Father Stanley Klores of St. Patrick. "Msgr. Duke was my pastor growing up, and from what he has told me, I will be the first person ever to be ordained from St. Ann School. I also will have Father Klores assist Msgr. Duke. Msgr. Duke was very traditional. I know he loved Mary very much. My fondest childhood memories would be when he used to make us do the May crowning. If you missed the May crowning, you'd better be dead, because that was the most important thing for him. You'd have to come for three straight Saturdays and pray the rosary with him if you missed it. He had a very reverent Mass. Msgr. Duke and Father Klores are the only two pastors I've had in my life. It is a true blessing."
Where did you serve during your years of seminary formation? St. Rita, Harahan; Our Lady of Divine Providence, Metairie; and Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Belle Chasse. He also completed his clinical pastoral education at Emory Hospital in Atlanta.
Masses of Thanksgiving: June 7, 11 a.m., St. Patrick Church, New Orleans; June 13, 5 p.m., and June 14, 10:30 a.m., Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, Belle Chasse; June 20, 4 p.m., St. Ann Church, Metairie; June 21, 10:30 a.m., Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Kenner.