During this Year for Priests, the Diocese of Raleigh is presenting a “Did You Know” feature of Priests serving in the Diocese. As new profiles are added, such as the one below, the previous ones will be available on the Year for Priests page.

Rev. Msgr. Michael Clay
Pastor, St. Ann Catholic Church, Clayton
Diocesan Lobbyist, CatholicVoiceNC

Who is your favorite saint?

St. Thomas More’s integrity and his effort to wed truth to the daily work of government and life are a source of inspiration to me.

What was your most memorable spiritual pilgrimage?

Visiting the tomb of St. Thomas More at the Tower of London. While visiting as a tourist in 1995, one month before arriving at St. Thomas More Church in Chapel Hill as pastor, I learned his sarcophagus was in a locked crypt in the chapel on the grounds but that no one was allowed to visit the crypt. It took sitting through three tours of the chapel with three different Beefeaters and making three different requests before I was allowed, on the third attempt, to go near the door, which was cordoned off from the rest of the chapel, to pray. While praying, the Beefeater came over to me and asked why I wanted to visit the crypt. I told him I was a Catholic priest and was becoming the pastor of a parish under the saint’s patronage. He noted there was no one in the chapel and unlocked the door to the crypt. It was spartan in appearance with a few sarcophagi and I had no problem finding St. Thomas More’s resting place. It was an intensely holy experience being at his tomb. Upon leaving, I offered to tip the Beefeater for his kindness but he refused and simply said, “Father, I’m a Catholic and know how important your ministry is. Please remember me in your prayers.” I still pray for that man to this day for his kindness to me.

Who was the greatest influence on your vocation as a priest and why?

That would be Msgr. Thomas Hadden. He was my pastor at St. Paul’s in New Bern in the 60’s. His heroism and leadership in the process of integrating two parishes into one and serving as pastor of a predominantly white parish in the days of the Civil Rights Movement was inspirational. He struck me as a man of prayer with a fine mind, a sense of humor, and a keen interest in promoting the teachings of Vatican II to everyone, young and old. He encouraged me when I first approached him about the idea of priesthood and remained steadfast in his support of me throughout my formation.

Do you have a hobby or hobbies or leisure activity?

I am a voracious reader and enjoy every opportunity I have to read a book, a journal, a magazine and the newspaper.

What is your favorite food? Do you cook it yourself?

My favorite dish is Spaghetti a la Carbonara, a pasta dish that is endemic to Rome where I did some of my studies for the priesthood. It is an extremely rich dish that is lovingly called Spaghetti a la Clog-o-nara for the fact that you can feel the fat clogging your arteries as you’re eating it.

Favorite sport? Favorite team?

My favorite sport to play is tennis although my work schedule and my knees have made it mostly a spectator sport in recent years. My favorite team to watch is the UNC basketball team, especially when they play Duke.

Favorite author and/or book?

My range of reading is pretty wide, so it’s difficult to pinpoint a specific author or book.

Favorite movie?

There are several, but I enjoy watching E.T. because it is a metaphor of the story of Jesus and children can understand it.

Music/artist you enjoy?

My taste in music is very eclectic. I like classical music as well as contemporary jazz. Sacred music and rock and roll are found among my CDs.

Interesting facts that your parishioners would be interested in knowing?

I have trained clergy and laity in the implementation of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) over the past 22 years in over 50 dioceses in the United States and Canada, wrote my doctoral dissertation on the pastoral implementation on the RCIA in the rural and small-town setting and published a book on the rural RCIA a few years ago to assist pastoral ministers in this setting with its implementation.