Oblate of St. Francis de Sales Father Michael S. Murray was appointed pastor of St. John Neumann Church in Reston Jan. 2. Bishop Michael F. Burbidge is scheduled to celebrate his Mass of installation at the church Feb. 9.
Father Murray is a native Delawarean who holds a bachelor’s in psychology from De Sales University in Center Valley, Pa.; a master’s in divinity from the De Sales School of Theology; and a master’s in educational administration from George Washington University in Washington.
He worked in secondary school leadership for 12 years in Wilmington, Del., and Philadelphia before serving in a variety of other ministries and capacities as a member of the Philadelphia Province of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales with a special emphasis on disseminating the down-to-earth, inspired common sense of Salesian spirituality.
Father Murray was appointed parochial vicar of St. John Neumann in 2022 and administrator of the parish last year.
He has a number of other interests, particularly railroad photojournalism. Over a period of four decades, he has been published in a number of industry-related publications, including Railpace Newsmagazine, CTC Board/Railroads Illustrated Magazine, Rail Classics, Trains Magazine, Irish Railroad Record Society Bulletin, The Railroad Photographer and McMillan Publishing’s annual railroad calendars. Father Murray also co-authored two all-color books from Morning Sun Books featuring the Pennsylvania Railroad and the Southeast Pennsylvania Transit Authority, or SEPTA.
