Put Out Into the Deep
Event description
Presenter
Dr. Michael Fonseca is a former member of the Society of Jesus. As a Jesuit priest, he served the people of the Archdiocese of Ranchi, India. His numerous assignments included teaching college courses and serving as a much sought after retreat master and spiritual director. He was named Vice-Provincial Superior for the formation of Jesuit seminarians in Ranchi, and was subsequently appointed Provincial Superior of the
Ranchi Jesuit Province. In 1990, Dr. Fonseca requested, and was granted laicization from his priestly duties. In good standing with the Church, Dr. Fonseca has worked energetically as a layperson with the Dioceses of Gaylord MI, Grand Rapids MI, and Victoria TX over the past twenty-plus years.
“We welcome you to participate in God’s Embrace Ministries, to set the world on fire with the love of Christ, one soul at a time.”
- Dr. Michael Fonseca, D.Min
Michael Fonseca, D.Min., has an extensive background in Spiritual Formation and Direction. As the Director of Spiritual Formation at Saint Luke Institute, a Psychiatric Residential Center, he treated clergy struggling with addictions in a clinical setting from 1993 to 1999. From 1998 through 2014, he was engaged as the Coordinator for Spiritual Formation in the Diaconate Program of the Diocese of Victoria, Texas.
Concurrently, the Diocese of Gaylord, Michigan employed Dr. Fonseca as Director of Spiritual Formation of Adults (2000 to 2013), while the Diocese of Grand Rapids, Michigan, named him Coordinator for Spiritual Formation of the Diaconate Program (2000 to 2005). During this period of time, Dr. Fonseca made some compelling observations that would become the mission of God’s Embrace Ministries. Evident in the hearts of many sincere seekers was a deep longing for a fuller understanding of their Catholic faith and for proper formation in Catholic discipleship. Catechetical Programs often proved insufficient to meet such a need. Thus the seed of God’s Embrace Ministries was planted within the prayer of Michael and his wife, Cherrie. Michael and Cherrie Fonseca experienced an extraordinary calling to light candles rather than curse the darkness. Under the Holy Spirit’s direction, GEM took shape with the creation of programs to instruct and empower Catholics to love and practice their traditional faith with devotion and authentic enthusiasm.
As a mission-driven organization in tune with our Catholic faith, GEM relies on user-friendly programs which provide thoughtful content to deepen the disciple’s covenant union with the Lord through prayer, Scripture, and sharing. We also utilize the wisdom of the Saints to prepare ardent disciples in service of the Church, the Body of Christ. GEM is continually fine-tuning its programs to better serve the spiritual formation needs of faith-filled Catholics as they become saints for the greater praise and glory of God.
GEM’S Mission: Teaching and Empowering Catholics to experience daily the loving embrace of our Triune God.