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After serving in religious life, Michael Fonseca came to the United States with a heart for ministry and a spirit of discipleship. Until 1987 Michael belonged to the Society of Jesus in India and served in various capacities. He taught high school and college and was involved in the formation of Jesuit seminarians for several years. From 1984 to 1987 he served as the Provincial Superior of the Ranchi Province in India. Since 1987 Michael has lived and worked in the United States. Much of Michael's spiritual wisdom was learned from study and practice of Ignatian spirituality as well as the well known Christian mystics like St. Teresa of Avilla and St. John of the Cross. He was privileged to learn about Saint Ignatius and the Spanish mystics from several prominent Jesuit spiritual mentors.
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Now as a laicized priest (in good standing with the Church without priestly faculties) Michael leads retreat and formation programs in the United States and other countries. He has written two books, Living in God's Embrace and Loving in the Master's Footsteps as manuals of spiritual formation. He has a spiritual direction practice as well. With his wife Cherrie, he has continued to direct a small retreat center in Ravenna, MI. Michael has also designed and implemented spiritual formation courses for various programs.
Michael holds degrees in Philosophy, English Literature, Theology, and Counseling Psychology, the last from Loyola University, Chicago. He has been the coordinator for spiritual formation at Saint Luke Institute in Silver Springs, Maryland and is currently Director of Spiritual Formation for the Diocese of Gaylord, MI.
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The history of God's Embrace
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Michael and Cherrie Fonseca were led by the Holy Spirit to found God's Embrace Renewal Centers. With the love and support of their family and friends who shared their calling to serve God, the center was incorporated as a Non-Profit Ecclesial Corporation on August 8, 2006.
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Late 2006 and early 2007 were a time of organization and preparation. During this time Michael and his team have developed an organization dedicated to the formation and development of Christian Disciples. Michael and the God's Embrace staff will focus their initial efforts on the development and preparation of these small Christian communities.
Directed and conference retreats, as well as spiritual conferences and seminars will continue as a core element of God's Embrace Renewal Centers' activities. Individual retreat opportunities are available at our Ravenna, MI. retreat center. Plans are currently being developed for the design and construction of a larger spiritual center capable of handling more retreatants and offering more retreat alternatives. Go to Retreat Programs
God's Embrace is a 501(c)(3) organization and gratefully accepts tax free donations for the development and continuation of the retreat center and its programs.
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