Marian Helper • Winter 2024-25 • Marian.org 15 Where would we be without our priests? No Sacraments. A much harder road, with far less grace, and far fewer of the blessings (quite literally) that God intends for us to have on the long pilgrimage of this life, the straight and narrow path to Heaven. So when you hear of a priest celebrating his 50th anniversary of priestly ordination — Fr. Timothy J. Roth, MIC — it’s news of a great gift to Christ, to His Church, and to all of us members of the Mystical Body of Christ! Marianapolis ministry Born on Aug. 22, 1948, in Cleveland, Ohio, Fr. Timothy made his first vows as a member of the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception on Aug. 15, 1967 in the old St. Casimir Province in Chicago, and made his perpetual vows on Aug. 15, 1973. A graduate of the Catholic University of America, the Sacred Heart School of Theology, and Assumption College, he was ordained a priest on Sept. 14, 1974. For Fr. Timothy, 50 years of priestly life has, in many ways, meant service at Marianapolis, a Catholic preparatory high school in Thompson, Connecticut. Marianapolis was founded by the Marians in 1926 in Illinois as a house of formation for Lithuanian students. When Archbishop — future Blessed — George Matulaitis toured the United States in 1926, he visited what was then called Marian Hills Juniorate. In 1931, the school moved to Connecticut and began the transition to an all-boys prep school offering high school and college degrees. In 1974, girls were admitted. In 2001, the Trinity Foundation completed the purchase of Marianapolis; Marians continue to reside on campus and remain an integral part of the community. Father Timothy joined the school shortly after ordination, and over the years served as a teacher of religious studies and psychology, dean of students, and resident director. From 1988-2001, Fr. Timothy was headmaster of Marianapolis, stepping down when the school ownership changed. Today, he serves as chairman of the religious studies department and chaplain. He teaches moral and ethical dilemmas and social justice, and coaches golf and intramural basketball. “I take a pastoral approach in presenting the faith to students,” he says. “We do not force. We invite and encourage, with the knowledge of what is good. It’s about putting Christ forward towards others to see His message.” Outside of school, Fr. Timothy presents Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekends for couples, a ministry he has done for 45 years. He’s also writing the history of Marianapolis Preparatory School in anticipation of its centennial in 2026, with 11 chapters published so far. “I’m working on the draft for the year 1948,” he says. Without which, nothing And of course you Marian Helpers have all played a role with your prayers and financial support of the vocations of men like Fr. Timothy. “One of the things that every Marian needs is support, not only financially but more spiritually, and most important in ministry,” said Fr. Timothy. “Your prayers make a tremendous amount of difference. In the religious life, knowing that we’re being prayed for helps us in our ministry for others, to bring them to Christ, and to share His message successfully.” A Jubilee of priesthood By Chris Sparks Father Timothy J. Roth, MIC, in the chapel of Marianapolis Preparatory School, with a portrait of Blessed George Matulaitis in the background. Photo by Adrienne Fournier
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