Vicar general stays connected pastorally through his ‘little parish’

February 1, 2021

Austin Chapter’s Father James Misko named 2020 Central Region Chaplain of the Year

Father James Misko, general for the Diocese of Austin, says his role as chaplain of Legatus’ Austin Chapter helps keep him connected to the pastoral dimension of his priesthood.

“In the midst of the administration I’m asked to do for the diocese in general, it gives me an opportunity to continue to be the pastor that I’ve been called to be,” Father Misko told Legatus magazine in a recent interview.

Father Misko, 50, who was ordained in June 2007, is Legatus’ 2020 Central Region Chaplain of the Year.

How does it feel to be the 2020 Central Region Chaplain of the Year?

It’s certainly flattering. It shows the ministry I’m doing is important to the people to whom I’m ministering. The Legatus group in Austin is special to me. They’re not only my friends, but also a tight-knit Christian community. When I go to the meetings and celebrate the sacraments with them, it feels like Christ is present in this community. It’s almost like a little parish to which I’m ministering.

How did you become acquainted with Legatus?

I was invited by my bishop to be the chaplain for Legatus when I was pastor of St. Louis Catholic Church in Austin. Now that I’m vicar general, I continue in that role. It’s been a wonderful experience of not only growing in wisdom and holiness myself by being around the different speakers we bring in and listening to what they have to say, but it’s also been a wonderful time for me to unplug from the duties of vicar general and getting back into a pastoral reality. I find it quite rewarding.

How do you find time to be a Legatus chaplain?

Every Sunday I have in my schedule opportunities to be a pastor. I make it a priority every weekend to find a parish and say Mass. Every weekend I’m fed by being with the people, so when I come back to work on Monday, I’m energized and joyful in my ministry as vicar general. The same is true for Legatus. I look forward to our meetings every month because those are chances to feed my soul and to be the priest that God has asked me to be by hearing Confessions and celebrating Mass.

When did you first feel called to the priesthood?

I probably thought about it in elementary school when I was an altar server. It’s so important that parishes have strong altar server programs because it’s been widely documented that an overwhelming majority of newly ordained priests began hearing the call to the priesthood when they were serving at Mass. For me, that was the beginning of thinking of being a priest.

Who are some of your spiritual role models?

Pope Francis has been influential in my priesthood. I love the things he does. It started right off the bat when he went to go pay for his own bill in the hotel just the day after he was elected pope. His feet-on-the-ground ability to connect with everybody is a very powerful witness, something I try to do as a priest myself.

Another role model is Pope Benedict XVI. He will go down in history as one of the giants in theology. Everything I’ve read of his has resonated with me. Everything he writes makes sense. He has a mystical quality about his writings. He writes about the dogmas and doctrines, and he does it in such a way that it’s almost like a spiritual director mixed with a theologian.