Rev. Michael Anthony Vogt, OSFS (1958-2024)
With sadness, but with faith in the Resurrection, we announce that our brother, Rev. Michael Anthony Vogt, OSFS, passed away at the age of 66 on Friday, December 27, 2024. He was a professed member of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales for nineteen years and a priest for 13 years. A teacher, religious superior, counselor, chaplain, and associate pastor, Fr. Vogt was a dedicated Oblate and priest.
Born in Philadelphia on June 15, 1958, Michael was the son of Albert Vogt and Mary (Adams) Vogt. He attended Holy Innocents Parish School in the Juniata section of the city. In 1976, Michael graduated from Northeast Catholic High School and entered the Oblate community. He attended Brisson Seminary and studied at Allentown College (now DeSales University). He made his first profession of vows in 1979 and earned a B.A. in English in 1981.
After a period of discernment, Michael left the Oblate community and continued his priestly formation program with the Diocese of Allentown (PA). He studied at Mary Immaculate Seminary in Northampton, PA, and received his Master of Divinity degree in 1985.
As ordination approached in the mid-80s, Michael had second thoughts about his vocation to the priesthood. In 2012 Michael told The Dialogue, the Wilmington diocesan newspaper, “Basically, I got cold feet and left. I had some doubts about myself and my own worthiness. I guess you could say a lot of it was rethinking my life. I needed to take a step away and catch a breath.”
When he left priestly formation, Michael taught high school in Philadelphia for seven years, then moved to California, where he acted in commercials and worked in sales for the CBS network. He also ran two sober living facilities for men. Years later, Michael explained how he used what he had learned in teaching and in Oblate formation while working at the sober living homes. In a way, he felt he was still living his vocation.
In 2003, a priest friend from Philadelphia asked Michael to help him as a pastoral associate at his parish. Back in service to the Church, Michael realized he still felt called to ordained ministry. The pastor encouraged his return to the priesthood. Michael got in touch with the Oblates and, a year later, he was accepted into the community as a pre-postulant. Living at DeSales Hall in Washington, D.C., Michael taught part-time at Bishop Ireton High School in Alexandria, VA.
In 2005, Michael left Virginia to return to Philadelphia for an internship at Father Judge High School. Besides teaching theology, Michael was very involved in the campus ministry program. Respected by students, faculty, and staff, he faithfully attended sporting events, theater productions, and school retreats.
Michael spent the summer of 2006 at the Oblate novitiate in Brooklyn, Michigan. This was an opportunity for Michael to renew his understanding of Oblate life and to deepen his commitment to the religious vows. The following year, Michael professed his religious vows for the first time in almost twenty years.
In 2008, Michael left Father Judge to minister as chaplain at the Caron Foundation for Addiction and Recovery in Wernersville, PA. After a year of working at Caron, Michael was assigned to Salesianum School in Wilmington, DE. He was back in the classroom, teaching religion and working in the innovative Brisson Learning Center. In the summer of 2011, Michael made his perpetual profession as an Oblate of St. Francis de Sales at the Province Convocation at DeSales University.
In January 2012, Michael was ordained a priest by Bishop Francis Malooly in the gym of Salesianum School. The decision to ordain Fr. Vogt in the gymnasium was made to provide an opportunity for students to witness the sacrament of Holy Orders. It was also a way to get them to think about the call to priesthood. Fr. Vogt saw this as another way he was able to teach others about our faith.
The following year, Fr. Vogt was asked to become the religious superior of the Oblate Community at Salesianum. He continued to teach and did more work with the school’s campus ministry program.
In 2016, Fr. Vogt finished his term at Salesianum and was named religious superior of the Oblate community at the DeSales Centre in Childs, MD. At Childs, Fr. Vogt began a new ministry of caring for the elderly and infirm Oblates. He brought his gentleness and Salesian support to the medical team and staff at Annecy Hall. He also continued to work with young people while serving as chaplain at Aviat Academy.
In 2019, Fr. Vogt began a new phase of his priesthood as full-time associate pastor at St. Ann Parish in Naples, FL. Once more, Fr. Vogt adapted to a new assignment and new surroundings. As in all of his previous ministerial placements, Fr. Vogt made a great impact on the people of the parish.
In 2021, the Oblates community asked Fr. Vogt to come back to the Diocese of Wilmington. Leaving Florida, he returned to Childs, MD, and worked with a new leadership team in caring for the Oblates at both Buckley and Annecy Halls.
During this time, Fr. Vogt continued to help parishes in the Diocese of Wilmington and the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. He regularly served at Holy Child Parish in Wilmington, DE, and St. Margaret of Scotland Parish in Newark, DE.
Fr. Vogt was one of many faithful chaplains who served with the Oblate Sisters and the Little Sisters of the Poor.
At the time of his death. Fr. Vogt was back serving in Naples, FL. He spent the month of December assisting at St. Ann’s. He died at the rectory, preparing to go over to the church for morning Mass.
A few years ago, at the annual end of the school year gathering, Fr. Vogt was asked to give a blessing to faculty and staff members who were retiring from Salesianum. Using his creativity and acting experience, Fr. Vogt chose to sing a prayer from the musical play, Fiddler on the Roof. The departing teachers recall being touched by such a meaningful gesture. Our prayer is that the song Fr. Vogt shared with his colleagues and friends will be a touching reminder of how blessed we were by his ministry, friendship, and presence in our lives:
“May the Lord protect and defend you. May He always shield you from shame. May you come to be for all nations a shining name. May God protect and defend you. May the Lord preserve you from pain. May the Lord favor you with happiness and peace all your days.”
May the Lord favor Fr. Michael Vogt with eternal happiness and peace.
Fr. Vogt is preceded in death by his father. He is survived by his mother, his brothers Larry and Greg, his nieces and nephews, and his Oblate confreres.
Arrangements:
The viewing for Fr. Michael Vogt will be held on Tuesday, January 7 from 10 AM to 11 AM at the Chapel of Our Lady of Light at the DeSales Centre in Childs, MD. The Mass of Christian Burial begins at 11:00 AM. Burial will follow at the Oblate Cemetery.
Condolences may be sent to Michael’s brother:
Mr. Larry Vogt
12 Ash Court
Harleysville, PA 19438