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The Rohms - Saints Under Construction
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“This is no place like we’ve ever been before!” That’s Mike Rohm’s joyful assessment of Mary, Queen of Peace Parish. You may have seen Mike and Vicky Rohm at 8 a.m. Mass, or if you went to any of the Lenten fish frys, you maybe spotted Mike behind the serving line or Vicky handout out delicious desserts.Mike and Vicky have immersed themselves into the life of our parish family at Mary, Queen of Peace, especially since Vicky became Catholic in 2024. Their stories are much like many we’ve all heard – longing for the Lord and being surprised by His grace.Vicky grew up Baptist in a “little bitty town in Arkansas” where Catholics were few and far between. She worked for Entergy as an executive assistant for 23 years and then for Mike at Eagle Capital Management, which he formed. When she and Mike married, she said she would go to the Catholic church with him throughout the years, “but I didn’t really understand anything. I just sat there, you know, and I didn’t understand all the rituals. I couldn’t understand why I couldn’t take communion.” She said her heart was changed listening to Father Mike Schmitz. “We did Bible in a Year, then we did Catechism in a Year, and about halfway through, I decided I wanted to convert.” Vicky when through what is now called the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults and came into the Catholic Church with Mike by her side at MQP.“She has the fire of the Holy Spirit like I’ve never seen!” Mike said.The Rohms have a blended family of four daughters, nine grandchildren, and three step-grandchildren. They also have a really big family here at MQP.“I’m a cradle Catholic and fell away and, you know, I’d go to church every once in a while.” There were a variety of things that brought Mike back to the Church – among them a profound encounter with Christ as well as listening to Fr. Mike with Vicky, retreats at Manresa and his time here at Mary, Queen of Peace.“It’s what happens here at this parish,” he said. “It’s dynamic. You can feel it; there’s a vibe about this parish.I hope that this parish becomes the faith-based community that everybody on the northshore talks about. I want them to say, ‘Go there, praise God, talk to God, meet him.’ It’s not just a terrific pastor, who’s a great homilist, but he’s a good person. And he rallies around him people you feel comfortable with.”“We can walk into church and feel loved by everybody, really feel a part of it. And the relationships are hugging relationships,” Mike said. “There’s meat in this community. There’s meat on the bone.”Mike and Vicky, also members of the Responders for Urgent Needs team, said they know this is where they belong, where God wants them to continue their “construction” work on sainthood. As Mike puts it: “I told Chris Erkel (RUN co- leader): All of what we’re doing here, we’re driven to do. And it’s not for recognition at all, at all. It’s to inspire. That’s one word. Inspire others if we can. I never had this kind of peace.”If you have suggestions for a “Saint Under Construction,” email Karen Baker at [email protected].