PLYMOUTH — In October, Michelle Piccolo became the fourth woman in the history of the Archdiocese of Detroit to be consecrated as a “virgin living in the world.” 

The 42-year-old acknowledges that she’s part of local Church history, but that doesn’t mean the vocation she’s chosen is new. 

In fact, she told Detroit Catholic for a recent video interview, a life of consecrated virginity “is the Church’s oldest vocation,” taking as its model the virgin mother of Christ, the “first consecrated virgin.” 

Piccolo, who works as Christian service director of Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish in Plymouth, retains her day job and wears a wedding ring as the only visible sign of her commitment. But inwardly, she’s devoted to the life she’s chosen and desires to draw others closer to her spouse — the Lord Jesus Christ.