About Father Vannicola

Father Michael Christopher Vannicola joined the faculty of Salesianum with the start of the 2006-2007 Academic Year, but he was not new to the school. A native of Wilmington, Father Vannicola enrolled as a student at Sallies in 1991, after attending Saint Helena’s School in Bellefonte (1983-1987) and Holy Angels School in Newark (1987-1991).

While a student at Salesianum, Father Vannicola was involved in a variety of student activities including serving as Co-Editor-in-Chief of the school newspaper, The Salesianum Review, heading up elections and academic affairs for the Student Council, assisting in Campus Ministry, and serving as a Minuteman. Of all of his extracurricular activities, Vannicola was most dedicated to the Model United Nations program. Father Vannicola became interested in politics at a very young age. At the age of eight, he began volunteering for campaign work at the encouragement of his aunt who served as a committeewoman for her political party, ran a successful presidential primary campaign in Delaware, and served as a delegate at her party’s national convention. In 1992, Vannicola was able to join his aunt at the convention, an experience in democracy that he still holds as one of the most influential experiences in his life. One of the highlights during Vannicola’s high school years was his participation as one of two of Delaware’s rising Seniors in American Legion Boys Nation during which he met President Bill Clinton. (Clinton himself had met President Kennedy when he was a Boys Nation participant.)

Bill Clinton of Arkansas meets President Kennedy during American Legion Boys Nation in the Rose Garden of the White House in 1963. Michael Vannicola of Delaware meets President Bill Clinton during American Legion Boys Nation in the East Room of the White House in 1994. Because of the influence that meeting Kennedy had on him, President Clinton made it a priority to meet each of the Boys Nation participants during his time in office. (White House Photos)

For five summers beginning at the age of fourteen, Father Vannicola worked at MBNA America, gaining exposure to marketing and the credit industry. While Father Vannicola had talked with his mother about wanting to be a priest from a very young age, it became clear after meeting the Oblates, who taught him at Sallies, that God was calling him to priesthood in the context of the Religious Life and, in particular, to the Oblates. He appreciated the Oblates’ approachability, kindness, dedication, sense-of-humor, and genuine care and concern for their students. Vannicola also found Salesian spirituality appealing, noting that Saint Francis de Sales believed that all people were called to holiness in the present moment, in the circumstances in which they found themselves. During his senior year, Vannicola was designated by his classmates in the Senior Superlatives as “most likely to become an Oblate.” During commencement exercises on June 9, 1995, Father Vannicola was, among other awards, presented the Provincial Medal of Honor, the school’s highest award, given annually to a graduate who attempts to live in the spirit of Saint Francis de Sales. The Oblates encouraged Michael to accept the award as a challenge to grow in the spirit of the Gentle Saint, a challenge which inspired him to consider life as an Oblate.

Michael Vannicola receives the Provincial Medal of Honor at Salesianum's Commencement Exercises on June 9, 1995 from Oblate Provincial Superior, the Very Rev. Richard T. Reece, OSFS and the Fourteenth Principal of Salesianum, the Rev. Thomas J. McGee, OSFS. It was the challenge by the Oblates to live in the spirit of Saint Francis de Sales that inspired Michael to consider life as an Oblate. (Family Photo)

After graduating from Salesianum, Father Vannicola entered the Oblate Associate Program which allows young men to stay in touch and interact with Oblates during their years in college. He enrolled at Saint Joseph’s University, Philadelphia’s Jesuit University, majoring in History with a minor in Secondary Education. During his time at Saint Joseph’s, he served as Head Resident Assistant of Central Campus (1997-1999) and was appointed a member and later Chair of the Peer Review Board, the university’s judicial board. (1995-1998). He also continued to assist in Campus Ministry. Father Vannicola also began to chair at Model UN Conferences during his college years. From 1995-1997, he served as a member of the National Advisory Panel of Student Concerns to The College Board, the creator of the SAT and the Advanced Placement Program, and simultaneously participated on the Middle States Regional Council of The College Board, after pushing for student input not only nationally, but on the regional level as well. During the years 1996 and 1997, he served as the national panel’s Chair. Vannicola presented on Student Life Issues at the 1997 College Board National Forum in Chicago. He completed his student teaching at Father Judge High School which is administered by the Oblates of Saint Francis de Sales and was selected by the Education Department Faculty at Saint Joseph’s to address the department faculty, supervisors, cooperating teachers, and fellow student teachers at the conclusion of the experience. During his time at Saint Joseph’s, Father Vannicola was initiated into four honor societies: Alpha Sigma Nu (the National Jesuit Honor Society-Chapter Treasurer), Phi Alpha Theta (the National Honor Society in History-Chapter President), Pi Sigma Alpha (the National Honor Society in Political Science-Chapter Secretary), and Kappa Delta Pi (the International Honor Society in Education).

Commencement Day with classmate and friend Jennifer Prushan- May 16, 1999 (Family Photo)

After graduating from Saint Joseph’s in 1999 with a Bachelor’s degree in History and receiving a teaching certificate in Secondary Social Studies from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Father Vannicola entered the Oblates of Saint Francis de Sales at De Sales Hall in Washington, DC. During his postulant year, Father Vannicola enrolled in the Master of Divinity program at the Washington Theological Union and worked one day a week at Paul VI High School in Fairfax, Virginia where he guest taught in religion classes and worked with students in the nationally-recognized OPTIONS Program. The following summer, Vannicola entered the Oblate novitiate. During his novitiate, he guest taught in religion classes and shadowed the Principal one day a week at Bishop Ireton High School in Alexandria, Virginia. After his first profession of vows as an Oblate on July 15, 2001, Vannicola was assigned as a new Oblate Scholastic to the faculty at Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School in Washington, D.C. At Visitation, Father Vannicola taught Western Civilization in the History Department as well as Scripture and Bioethics in the Religion Department. In addition to teaching, he assisted in Campus Ministry and designed a Salesian retreat based on the Kairos model. Georgetown Visitation has already begun implementing this retreat program and it has been shared with the other schools in the Visitation Ministry Network.

Michael Vannicola, OSFS on the day of his First Profession of Vows as an Oblate of Saint Francis de Sales, July 15, 2001, with his Grandmother, Rosemary and his mother, Eileen. (Family Photo)

In 2003, Vannicola returned to WTU to complete his theological studies. During the 2003-2004 academic year, he remained at Visitation on a part time basis, visiting each religion class once per semester to provide them with Salesian instruction. He continued to assist with retreats. On October 9, 2004, Vannicola made his perpetual profession of vows as an Oblate of Saint Francis de Sales. During the 2004-2005 academic year, Vannicola worked in religious education at Saint Martin’s, a vibrant, inner-city parish in Washington, D.C. and after being ordained a deacon on January 8, 2005 began preaching at the parish regularly. During the 2005-2006 academic year, Vannicola was assigned to Saint John Neumann Parish in Reston, Virginia where he continued to minister as a deacon. He also served as Director of Liturgy for the National Salesian Conference in 2004 and 2005. Vannicola served as a Respondent to the Keynote Address given on Consecrated Life Day at WTU in January of 2006. On May 5, 2006, Vannicola graduated from the Washington Theological Union, having been granted the Master of Divinity degree. On the morning of graduation day, Vannicola was selected to preach at the celebration of Morning Prayer for the graduates, their families, and the faculty. Less than one month later, Vannicola was ordained to the priesthood on June 3, 2006 by the Most Reverend Michael A. Saltarelli, D.D., Bishop of Wilmington, at the Cathedral of Saint Peter and celebrated his Mass of Thanksgiving at Sacred Heart Oratory in Wilmington on the following day. Upon his ordination, Father Vannicola was assigned to the faculty of the Salesianum School, his alma mater. After teaching full time in the Social Studies Department for one year, Father Vannicola was named Assistant Principal/Director of Activities. He also teaches one section of Phase 4 U.S. Government each semester. He also serves as Model UN Moderator, Football Moderator, and Ice Hockey Moderator.

Bishop Michael Saltarelli ordaining Father Vannicola a priest at the Cathedral of Saint Peter- June 3, 2006
(Photo by Robert V. Canning, Jr.)

Father Vannicola offers his first blessing as a priest to Bishop Saltarelli
(Photo by Robert V. Canning, Jr.)

Father Vannicola is pleased to be back in Wilmington and once again living close to his parents (Dad-Michael ’71/Mom-Eileen (Canning) Poland (Ursuline ’71), step father Doug Poland and step-mother Teri Vannicola), his four brothers (including Matthew Vannicola ’98 and Douglas Poland ’03), his nephew Matthew from the future class of ’18, as well as numerous aunts, uncles (including Phil Vannicola ’58), and cousins.

Father Vannicola with his brothers Matthew '98, Douglas (Poland) '03, Daniel (Poland), and his nephew Matthew.
(Photo by Robert V. Canning, Jr.)