The Rev. Msgr. Michael Farmer Instills Hope Across Generations
College students define him as blunt, unordinary and approachable. Older parishioners praise his empathetic and selfless nature.
They say he articulates the Christian message with a sprinkle of sarcasm. Both the old and young claim the Rev. Msgr. Michael Farmer helps them see the Holy Spirit crossing generational bounds in a time of fear and uncertainty.
Since accepting his position at St. Michael’s Catholic Church on North College Street in Auburn, Father Farmer said it’s the little things that keep him going, like the sounds of hope springing from phone calls and shared prayers.
Born and raised in Prattville, Alabama, Farmer was no “Cradle Catholic”. After spending years of Sunday mornings in the Methodist church, a passion for history in high school sparked a new curiosity about Catholicism.
Farmer felt an attraction to the priesthood soon after his conversion to the faith in 1984. “A priest in the parish said, ‘That’s nice. But learn to become Catholic first. Feel comfortable in Catholic shoes,’” Farmer recalled.
Farmer took that advice to heart and continued his education at Auburn University at Montgomery, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in history. He says he felt the call to religious life in London during an internship at the House of Commons. From 1990 to 1996, Farmer studied in Rome, where he was later ordained to the priesthood.
When Farmer transferred to St. Michael’s in July 2019, navigating a parish through a pandemic was not part of the job description. But, in spite of it all, his parishioners seem to agree he is a force to be reckoned with.
St. Michael’s care coordinator Janine Babbitt commented on Farmer’s presence in the parish. “He is truly our pastor: He counsels us through difficult situations, supports us, reminds us of God’s love and ultimate sovereignty, and resonates calm and reason through all of it,” Babbitt said.
Upon reopening the church in late May, Farmer enforced social distancing and sanitation measures to ensure the safety of parishioners. Masks are encouraged as church occupancy remains at 50% capacity. Still, some parishioners remain homebound in spite of precautions.
With the help of Babbitt, Farmer began conducting window visits to local retirement communities. “We felt they needed to know we were still thinking and praying for them. The homebound residents were so happy to see us. Father prays with each of them and gives them a blessing,” Babbitt said. The parish staff also began a letter-writing campaign and conducted phone calls to those who were isolated.
Howard Dean, 89, and his wife, Joan, are among the lucky folks visited by Farmer at Summer Village Azalea Place. Prior to the pandemic, Saturday evenings for the Deans consisted of 5 p.m. mass followed by dinner with friends at Outback Steakhouse. Now they attend mass through a Facebook live-stream and anticipate weekly conversations with the priest. Howard Dean praised Farmer’s warmth and empathy, especially when communicating with his wife who is in fragile health.
“I just always look forward to him coming, because he is a genuine guy. [With] him being a [former] vicar, he just talked to us like a fella who delivered a new couch, a fella I wouldn’t mind having a beer with,” Dean said.
According to Farmer, the company is appreciated on both ends. He considers those window visits to be life-giving. “You administer to somebody that you know you’re helping, but they’re also helping you, too. And they don’t know that,” Farmer said.
Interpersonal connections remained a top priority during the lockdown. Despite physical restrictions within the church, Farmer worked to maintain a sense of community among all ages.
“We were still able to hear confessions outside. It was a way to be around the church at a safe distance and to be able to talk to people. And I think [it’s] the importance of that whole human bond,” Farmer said. “We can get lost in doing things because we feel like we have to do them. During the lockdown, we tried to make sure that we were doing the things that really mattered.”
In addition to his role as the head pastor, Farmer helps out with the Auburn campus ministry to provide spiritual guidance to students. The ministry serves approximately 2,000 college students desiring to grow in their spiritual and social lives. Farmer said some days involve conversations about religious discernment or marriage. Other times, he serves as a safe voice for students to air out their thoughts.
The president of the Auburn University Catholic Student Organization, Chad Beibide, said, “[Father Farmer] has a very unique relationship with the students. [They] joke around with him a lot more.” Beibide also commented on Farmer’s drive to grow CSO and feed the community spiritually in whatever ways he can.
Auburn University student Annie Dorsey recalled a favorite moment within the ministry last Halloween, when she decided to serve dinner to her campus community dressed as Father Farmer. She completed the look with a clerical collar, a bald cap and aviator glasses. Dorsey claims he was a great sport about it, and it was a night she will never forget.
“Father Farmer is an awesome soul, but not in the fact that he sugar coats things or tells people we will make it through, the kind of encouragement I would expect from a pastor of a church. Instead, Father Farmer sometimes shocks me with his bluntness and brings joy to me through his constant stream of jokes,” Dorsey said.
When hope feels lost, Farmer said he believes there’s a mission in the good times and in the bad. Looking ahead, he said the goal is not for the parish to return to where it was pre-COVID when things were taken for granted. Rather, Farmer aims to articulate the Christian message by living out his Catholic faith as an example to follow.
“It’s a challenge, but it’s a hopeful challenge,” Farmer said.
