Traditionally, a newly ordained priest presents his first stole to his father—a gesture that honors the father’s role in forming his son’s moral compass. This sacred act symbolizes the passing on of right judgment, a gift essential for any priest striving to be a wise and faithful spiritual father.
The ability to discern right from wrong, to seek truth, and to administer justice lies at the heart of our Catholic faith. This commitment is vividly reflected in the lives of our alumni serving in legal vocations—both in the Church and in the public sphere.
We are proud to highlight Fr. Michael Johnson, JCL ‘05 and Judge John Sandy ‘07, who recently shared with us their journeys and appointments to serve the cause of justice in both canon and civil law.
Since SJV?
After one year at the University of Minnesota, I attended SJV for three years of undergraduate studies. I graduated from The Saint Paul Seminary and was ordained in 2009 before serving three years at St. John the Baptist in New Brighton and one year at Epiphany in Coon Rapids. Archbishop Nienstedt then assigned me to study canon law at The Catholic University of America. I completed the JCL degree in 2015 and was made judicial vicar on January 1, 2016. In July 2024, I was also named pastor at St. Jude of the Lake in Mahtomedi.
What does your job as judicial vicar entail?
As judicial vicar, I run the Metropolitan Tribunal for the Archdiocese. The Metropolitan Tribunal is part of the Catholic Church’s judicial system. Most of our work regards marriage annulments, but we will occasionally receive other cases as requested by the Archbishop. My staff of three priests, a deacon, and eight lay people handle about 200 trials annually.
How do you live out your priesthood in such a unique role?
I have wrestled with this question more than any other over the past decade because it is not immediately obvious why the Church requires her judicial system to be run by a priest. My job running the tribunal has not seemed particularly “priestly” to me. Additionally perplexing, my staff has much more knowledge and practical experience than I do.
I have come to realize my ministry as judicial vicar is a unique way to participate in the salvation of souls (which all my students should know is the supreme law of the Church) by and through the judicial process. At its heart, the judicial process seeks the truth. And so, I see my ministry as helping people pursue truth. Once the truth has been found, they can come to know God’s Will for them and move toward a place of freedom, acceptance, and healing by encountering the one who is Truth.
I have also found that people coming for marriage annulments often feel outside of the Church or that the Church has rejected them because the marriage they celebrated in the Church is now broken. The fatherhood of the priest is expressed by the Good Shepherd bringing home the lost sheep and reconciling those who feel they are outside the fold.
Advice for brother alumni?
To my brother priests – I encourage you to seek out those carrying the heavy cross of a broken marriage, because they are in your pews. People in this situation often feel as if they need to carry this soul-crushing burden themselves but, truly, they need their priest to walk with them. Make it known that you’re willing to walk with or (as Pope Francis would say) “accompany” them.
To all – Pursue the life of virtue, just as Fr. Baer taught us.
Currently on your bookshelf?
I’m going through the [late] Holy Father’s encyclical Dilexit Nos (“He Loved Us”) on the Sacred Heart, and it’s one of his most beautiful reflections. I would recommend it to anybody.
On a more secular note, I am currently reading Masters of the Air: America’s Bomber Boys Who Fought the Air War Against Nazi Germany by Donald Miller. It follows the same theme as Band of Brothers, which Fr. Baer always had the seminarians watch together. His impetus was for us to be inspired by great men who met outrageous circumstances, rose
to the challenge, and did virtuous and heroic things.