Michael is the Retreat Center Director at Mater Dolorosa Passionist Retreat Center in Sierra Madre, California. Michael and his team hold over 90 retreats each year for prayerful meditation and spiritual development in the Catholic tradition, and a thriving outreach Food Ministry which he founded in March 2020.

Michael holds a Doctor of Ministry degree from Catholic University of America with a concentration in Spirituality. A graduate of the Master of Arts in Ministry program from St. John’s Seminary in Brighton, MA, he has also studied at Boston College, Fordham and Catholic Theological Union.

Prior to becoming Retreat Center Director at Mater Doloros,a he was Director of Teen and Adult Formation at St. Eulalia Parish in Winchester, MA and Formation Director at the St. Anthony Shrine in Boston, MA for the Secular Franciscans.

Michael is a proponent of the Everyday Presence of God in Our Lives as an evangelization strategy. He is a commissioned presenter (instructor) for Contemplative Outreach and he ministers as a Spiritual Director at Mater Dolorosa.

Michael was born in Wales, of Irish parents and was raised in England. He is married to Sally, his wife of 42 years They have four children and ten grandchildren. His hobbies include family, motorcycles, photography, and poetry.

Prior to moving into full-time ministry work, he worked in management and IT consulting software products, changing the tools and behavior of teams undergoing transitions in business and organizational development.

He can be reached at mikeodial@gmail.com

Reflections, images and poetry Copyright 2023 Michael J. Cunningham, OFS