St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church of Leesville recently said goodbye to Father Kenneth Michiels after 20 years of pastoring here.  The Diocese of Alexandria moved Father Michiels to pastor St. Alphonsus Church in Hessmer, Louisiana.

The Vernon Parish Journal sat down with his replacement, Father Adam Travis, on Friday, July 26, at his makeshift office at St. Michael’s Center. 

Father Travis was born in Michigan, the youngest of three sons born to Deacon Bill Travis and Joan Travis of Tioga, Louisiana.  The family arrived in Louisiana in 1984, where Father Travis attended Cabrini Elementary and graduated from Holy Savior Menard High School in Alexandria.  Father Travis holds a degree in business administration from LSU and quipped that the priesthood saved him from being an accountant. 

Father Travis has been a priest for 17 years.  He admitted to thinking about being a priest as a child but did not fully begin to understand the calling until his early 20’s.  He is a graduate of the Pontifical College of Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio, a Diocesan seminary under more direct authority of the Vatican.  It is the only pontifical seminary outside of Italy and is under the direction of the Congregation for Catholic Education.  The Apostolic Nuncio to the United States is the Chancellor for the university.

Father Travis previously served the Diocese of Alexandria at St. Martin Church in Lecompte and Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Forest Hill.  For the past two years, he was a civilian priest and government employee at Davis-Monthan AFB outside of Tucson, Arizona, before returning to the local Diocese and his present posting.

He confessed he grew up with a dog and a cat but now has neither due to a simple lack of time it takes to care for a pet.  He enjoys all foods, is not a vegetarian, and likes trying new flavors.  Father Travis enjoys reading and attempting to keep up with technology.

We asked the new Leesville resident for his initial thoughts on the St. Michael’s congregation.  He responded by saying that he was impressed by the church family’s commitment to the parish and senses a vibrant faith for serving the Lord. 

Welcome to Vernon Parish, Father Adam Travis.