GRANBY — Father Michael Goodreau, pastor at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, will oversee the Catholic Charities Agency of the Diocese of Springfield as its new president, expanding his work as a Catholic and spiritual leader from his parish in Granby to all of western Massachusetts.

“At my parish, I’m responsible for the welfare of all the people in my parish, Catholics or non-Catholics,” Goodreau said. “I treat everyone with respect because everyone is made in the likeness and image of God. But it was on a smaller scale. With Catholic Charities, we can now direct them more specifically to those resources on a much larger scale.”

Catholic Charities is an arm of the Diocese of Springfield that spearheads a myriad of charity efforts for local, national and international causes. Past projects include backpack distributions, coat and toy collections, food baskets for Thanksgiving, and housing assistance for refugees.

“Catholic Charities really does act as the hands and feet of Christ, helping those who are vulnerable and in need in our community,” said spokesperson Carolee McGrath.

The president position is a new executive role, above the current interim executive director, created in a restructuring of the diocesan charitable ministry. According to the diocese, Bishop William D. Byrne offered Goodreau the position due to his business background and commitment to the Catholic mission.

“Father Michael’s vocation story makes him the ideal candidate for this new position,” Byrne said. “He brings nearly 20 years of business experience and acumen that will undoubtedly help to strengthen the mission of the Catholic Charities Agency.”

After receiving his bachelor’s degree at UMass Amherst, Goodreau conducted various staff and executive training for convenience store company FL Roberts over an 18-year career. In 2015, he discovered a calling to priesthood and entered Pope St. John XXIII Seminary in Weston in 2015. On Aug. 15, 2020, he was ordained a priest at St. Michael’s Cathedral and was assigned as parochial vicar at St. Joseph Parish in Pittsfield. He became an administrator at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Granby in January 2023 and was named a pastor there a few months ago. He will remain a pastor while working as president.

“It’ll be a slight learning curve,” Goodreau said. “I do come from a business background so I have general business and financial experience in my mind, but not specifically with the Catholic Charities.”

As president of the Catholic Charities Agency, Goodreau will supervise all activities of the Catholic organization, from donations and grants to charity projects. He looks forward to learning more about the day-to-day operations of each department, as well as getting to work with a new group of people in Springfield.

“I always liked working with people, training people, talking with people, but I get that as a priest, and that goes with this new role,” Goodreau said. “Now I get to help the less fortunate because that’s what we do as Catholic Charities. We’re living the message of Christ and helping our neighbors.”

Emilee Klein can be reached at eklein@gazettenet.com.