Fr. Roy Persich Reflects on a life in education
This article first appeared in the spring 2025 issue of The Vincentian, the quarterly newsletter of the Congregation of the Mission Western Province.
Fr. Roy Persich, C.M., speaks directly and frankly with a sharpness and energy that belie his 90 years. He lives at Amat House at St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Los Angeles and serves as an auxiliary priest at St. Mary Magdalen Church in Camarillo.
The New Orleans native grew up in and attended school at St. Joseph Parish, which was and still is run by Vincentians. The youngest of four brothers, he followed them all into the seminary and was ordained in 1960 at St. Mary’s of the Barrens in Perryville. He went directly to work at St. Vincent de Paul Seminary in Lemont, IL.
“We were running 17 seminaries in those days,” he said. “That was our great contribution.”
He later worked with the National Organization of Continuing Education of Ongoing Formation Directors for 25 dioceses, for renewal of priestly identity.
The most meaningful part of his ministry, he said, started when a couple he knew approached him about serving in Marriage Encounter, a Catholic marriage enrichment program. He said the experiences that he had influenced his work in the seminary.
“The intention of the program was to renovate the parishes by renovating family life,” Fr. Persich said. “I learned a great deal about married love and love in general. And I formed friendships that continue to this day, 50 years later.”
Fr. Persich goes to Camarillo when needed at the parish, which helps him maintain meaningful connections.
“When I go there, I stay with friends,” he said. “It’s a combination of helping at the parish and visiting with friends, another aspect of relationship-building.”