Rose Olivieri and Fr. Michael Trail
When Rose Olivieri recalls her first encounter with Fr. Michael Trail, she is grateful. The young priest, freshly assigned to Queen of All Saints parish in 2018 in the Sauganash neighborhood, arrived in her life during a time of immense sorrow. Rose’s husband, Tony, who was suffering from Alzheimer’s, was in a memory care facility and nearing the end of his life. Upon hearing that Tony’s condition had worsened, Rose reached out to the parish for last rites. Despite being new to the parish, Fr. Trail assured her he would come immediately.
“He came, offered last rites, and asked to keep my number,” Rose recounts. “From that day, he checked on me regularly, calling once a week to ask if there was anything he could do.” Six weeks later, on August 30, Tony passed away. Fr. Trail, who had grown to know the family, requested to celebrate Tony’s funeral Mass. “He wanted to know what made Tony tick,” Rose said, reflecting on how the connection deepened when they discovered Tony and Fr. Trail’s shared Puerto Rican heritage.
From selecting meaningful scripture verses to delivering a heartfelt homily, Fr. Trail’s care and presence at the funeral left an indelible impression. Following the service, he joined the family for lunch, and everyone quickly grew fond of him. “He was in his 20s but had the gravitas of a much older priest,” Rose recalls.
Although Fr. Trail’s time at Queen of All Saints was brief—just one year before being transferred to Our Lady of Mount Carmel—he remained a significant presence in Rose’s life. She occasionally visited his new parish for Mass, and her sons affectionately referred to him as their “brother” and her “fifth son.”
Even now, as Pastor of St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, Fr. Trail maintains his connection with Rose. “Last year, on August 29, he texted me and asked what I was doing the next day,” she shares. “He wanted to have lunch with me, and when we met, he told me he remembered it was the anniversary of Tony’s passing. That gesture meant so much—some of my sons didn’t even remember.”
Beyond the personal connection, Fr. Trail also profoundly influenced Rose’s faith journey. Encouraged by him, she joined Queen of All Saints’ bereavement group, despite initial hesitation. “The Lord works in mysterious ways,” she says. “God knew I was going to need Fr. Trail, and he arrived at my parish during a great time of need. I wouldn’t have made it through that first year without him.”
The bereavement group became a source of healing and lifelong friendships for Rose. She bonded deeply with other women who had lost their husbands, forming a tight-knit group that continues to support one another. Now, Rose and several members volunteer to assist grieving families in the parish, reaching out with cards, calls, and support. “It’s so important to feel like you’re not alone,” she notes.
Rose believes Fr. Trail’s wisdom stems from his own experiences with loss, he understands the value of support during grief. “I think that’s why he is so empathetic—he truly knows how important it is to help others grieve.”
To Rose, Fr. Trail is more than a priest; he’s family. When he couldn’t have his family present at his installation as Pastor at St. Thomas, Rose and her children attended to support him. “He’s like part of the family—wherever he goes, he just fits in,” she says.
Rose’s gratitude for Fr. Trail is endless, “Thank you for getting me out of the doldrums of grief that could have eaten me alive,” she says. “My message to other priests is that your parishioners aren’t just there on Sunday. They always need you, and Fr. Trail truly understands that.”
If you have a story about a priest who has been important in your life that you would like to share, please contact Kirsten Trybula at [email protected].
