Born and raised in Bourbonnais, Fr. Michael is the only child of Todd and Deb Groth. He attended St. Martin of Tours Parish in Kankakee, where he also attended grade school.  He then attended and graduated from Bishop McNamara Catholic High School in 2011 and continued to Kankakee Community College, where he was pursuing a degree in accounting with hopes of transferring to the University of Illinois. The Lord had other plans. Fr. Michael graduated from St. John Vianney College Seminary in 2016 and virtually “graduated” Mundelein Seminary in 2020. Bishop Pates ordained him to the priesthood of Jesus Christ on June 20, 2020. 

HIs first two years of priesthood, he was assigned as a parochial vicar at Ss. Peter and Paul in Naperville and chaplain at Benet Academy in Lisle. In 2022, he was assigned full-time as the parochial vicar of St. Joseph in Downers Grove. He is also the  founding member of the Companions of Christ, a priestly association in the Diocese of Joliet. Established in 2020 Companions of Christ is based on the model that exists in two other dioceses, with the central hallmark being priestly support and fraternity. While at St. Raymond  Fr. Michael will remain a member of this association while taking up residence at the Cathedral rectory. Further information about our association is available on our website: companionsofchristjoliet.org.