St. Tarcissus Parish gets new pastor

by BRIAN NADIG

The Reverend Mike Grisolano, who will become the pastor of Saint Tarcissus Parish on July 1, plans to be a regular visitor to the school in the parish.

Grisolano said that he enjoys engaging students in meaningful discussions about faith and a variety of other topics.

"I’m a big proponent of Catholic education," he said. "I’ll go into the classes everyday. I like to teach and ask questions."

Grisolano said that he hopes his passion for faith-based education will encourage more families to become involved in other aspects of parish life. Saint Tarcissus is one of four Northwest Side parishes which sponsor the Pope Francis Global Academy, an elementary school that opened last year.

Grisolano, age 39, grew up in the Mount Greenwood area, where he attended Marist High School and later graduated from the University of Illinois in Champaign. Currently he is an associate pastor at Saint Damian Church in Oak Forest and once served as a traditional deacon at Queens of All Saints in Sauganash.

Grisolano said that he is eager to get to know parish members and to learn about the Gladstone Park community where Stain Tarcissus is located. "I like the neighborhood. It reminds me of the southwest neighborhood I’ve lived in," he said. "It’s a beautiful church."

Current Saint Tarcissus pastor, the Reverend Mike Solazzo, plans to start a new assignment at Saint Philip Parish in Northfield after his 6-year term at Saint Tarcissus ends June 30. Solazzo said that he decided not take another term as pastor because he plans to retire from the ministry in 3 years.