Father Michael grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He entered the Legion of Christ in 2005 in Cheshire, Connecticut where he began his studies of religious life before continuing these studies in Ireland, Spain and then Rome. In the Eternal City, he completed his bachelor’s degree in philosophy and was sent to work as Dean of Students for two years in Center Harbour, New Hampshire, then continued the same work with young men in Cornwall, Ontario for another year. Father Michael studied three more years in Rome and acquired his bachelor’s degree in theology before being ordained a deacon in June of 2016. He then began his work at Clear Water Academy as instructor of formation in August of 2016. At the beginning of the 2017-18 school year, he became chaplain at Clear Water Academy.