Born in Perth Amboy and raised in Bayville, New Jersey, Fr. Michael Tietjen comes to St. John’s eager to share his love of chess with the students of the parish school. One observer proffered, “He’s begun a chess ministry.” By all indications, the 70 odd students of St. John’s who flock to ches

s club on Friday afternoons are willing, if noisy disciples.

Though Fr. Mike grew up near the Tom’s River, close to the Jersey shore, he regrets that he never learned to swim. During a recent interview, he cracked the wriest of smiles, counting his blessings: this way, he avoided the dreaded jellyfish which patrols the beaches near his home and he practiced the fine art of building castles in the sand. Fr. Michael and his sister Laura were raised by their parents in a Catholic home.

When he was younger, Fr. Michael’s favorite vacation with his family (mother, father, sister (3 years younger) and an adopted cousin (Andrea, 10 years younger)) satisfied his father’s passion for model trains at the Red Caboose Motel. There, one could ride an old steam locomotive, marvel at train sets large enough to fill a barn, or eat in the Venetian dining car. He also fondly remembers lazy afternoons at home, wandering down to the local duck pond with his best friend to catch sun fish or industriously programming his family’s computer. Fr. Michael’s favorite movies include Star Wars (episodes four and five, preferably) and Raiders of the Lost Ark. Not surprisingly, Fr. Michael developed a fondness for chess after his dad taught him how to play.

Attending public schools until college, Fr. Michael pursued his childhood love of science, graduating from Loyola College with a BS in Physics in 1995. Upon graduation, the job market in 1995 was not kind, with a grinding recession stalling the economy. So, Fr. Michael pieced together a livelihood working at Rite Aid and a start up car sales company. His first “real” job landed him in Germantown at the National Institute of Standards and Technology. For over a year, while working in the semiconductor electronics division, Fr. Michael began exploring his faith more deeply with the Young Adult group at St. Martin of Tours. Though he found his scientific employment “too theoretical” he gratefully acknowledges that Gaithersburg and that Young Adult group ushered in a more vibrant faith.

Unlike so many young people, early on Fr. Michael “knew I wanted to be a scientist.” Through high school and college he explored different fields in science, looking for the right calling. While at NIST, Fr. Michael decided that a more applied science, engineering, might be just the ticket. So, he enrolled in another bachelor’s program, this time in engineering, at the University of Maryland at College Park. Concom

itant with this quest, Fr. Michael’s faith became increasingly important in his life. Even as his interest in studying engineering waned, “the idea of the priesthood popped into my head.”

Initially, he fought the idea of becoming a priest due to a fear of public speaking. With a few phone calls to the Archdiocese vocations office, Fr. Michael learned that he could go to the Seminary to find out whether he was supposed to be a priest without making a full commitment right up front. As is protocol, he endured extensive background checks, psychological evaluations and a nerve-racking meeting before a board prior to entering Mt. Saint Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg. After years of searching, Fr. Michael enthusiastically claims that “those were the best six years of my life.”

It was at Mount Saint Mary’s that Fr. Michael studied under now Bishop Kevin C. Rhodes who as rector was “the perfect blend of authority and approachability.” Along with his passionate love of the priesthood, he commanded a high level of respect, leading like a father. Fr. Michael appreciated most his balanced, solid nature that left no room for duplicity. Well equipped with such mentoring, Fr. Michael landed at St. John’s upon ordination.

This fall, Fr. Michael boldly restarted the chess club at St. John’s, shortly after arriving at his first priest assignment. Grateful to Michael Beauregard (and Cheryl) who established a taste for chess club in the past, Fr. Michael envisions great things for this motley crew: “In addition to building intellectual ability, the game of chess has the capability of building virtue and character.” In fact, once you are past the mechanics of the game, the player’s personality comes across and chess becomes “a mode of self expression.” For Fr. Michael, “the beauty is in the ability of two minds to clash and see what happens.”

We at St. John’s, are grateful that Fr. Michael has taken cues from his father, Mr. Tietjen, who still loves model trains and who took the time to teach his son to play chess, and his mentor, Bishop Rhodes who modeled for seminarians how to lead like a father. Through chess club, Fr. Michael hopes to form beautiful minds that clash and spar, silently. When the chess clock chimes, our young gentlemen and young ladies will shake hands, satisfied with their conquests and losses. With the help of chess club and Fr. Michael, we trust that they will grow into those attractively poised; intellectually challenging young adults whose character gracefully defines them. Watch out, world!