Before joining the Marianists, Fr. Mike’s  
employment experience included the African 
Economic Research Consortium in Nairobi and 
specialized education and corporate management 
in California. Fr. Mike formally met the Marianists 
while discerning the call to religious life while 
in California. The Archdiocese of Los Angeles 
vocations office recommended the Marianists 
because he had already met some brothers while 
an undergrad in Kenya. He also became active 
with Lay Marianists while briefly living in  
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. 
Fr. Mike entered the Novitiate in Dayton in 2010 and professed first 
vows in 2012.  He served in parish ministry as well as a teacher and 
campus minister at Mother Seton Academy in Baltimore, before seminary 
studies in Rome. Fr. Mike was ordained in 2020 at Our Lady of the Pillar 
Parish in St. Louis, where he served the parish community and other 
Marianist-sponsored ministries until a 2021 move to Chaminade College 
Preparatory in West Hills, California, where he currently serves as chaplain 
and in school leadership.    
Regarding his role as Councilor, Fr. Mike commented, “What I am 
most looking forward to is learning: from my brothers, from our shared 
history, and from the practice of living well. I hope to be a good sounding 
board for my fellow brothers on the Council as we answer the call to serve 
together and be a Council that asks honest questions and is not afraid of 
where those questions lead.”  
He also draws inspiration from the Blessed Mother. 
“As Marianists, we truly hold Mama Mary as our everything,” he said. 
“Going forward, I carry her with me into this role, as I have carried her 
into every other: as a mother, as a model, and as the one who keeps remind­
ing me that this work is not ultimately mine to accomplish. It belongs to 
her son. My job is simply to stay faithful to Him.” 
For the faithfulness of the previous Council, we are so very grateful. 
We owe a debt of gratitude to Fr. Oscar Vasquez, SM (Provincial), Bro. 
Bernie Ploeger, SM (Assistant Provincial), Fr. Tim Kenney, SM (Assistant 
for Religious Life), Bro. Joe Markel, SM (Assistant for Temporalities), 
and Bro. Jesse O’Neil, SM (Assistant for Education) for their servant 
leadership over the past several years. We also thank Bro. Ed Violett, SM. 
and Fr. Bob Jones, SM, for serving as Councilors for this Provincial 
Council, and we offer our prayers for them as they continue their service 
to the Society of Mary in their new roles.  ■
14  •  Call 1.800.348.4732
Father Michael Chiuri, SM
“WHAT I AM 
MOST LOOKING 
FORWARD TO IS 
LEARNING: FROM 
MY BROTHERS, 
FROM OUR 
SHARED HISTORY, 
AND FROM THE 
PRACTICE OF  
LIVING WELL.” 
 
– Father Michael Chiuri, SM 
To learn about a vocation as a Marianist Brother,  
visit marianist.com/join-us.

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