Rt. Rev. Leo Michael Rector
The Right Reverend Leo J Michael, a native of India, left his home at age 14 to join the Salesians of Don Bosco Minor Seminary, a religious order dedicated to youth ministry. After five years of minor seminary and a year of novitiate formation in Nashik, Maharashtra, India he became an official member of the Salesians of Don Bosco. He earned his bachelors in philosophy in Darjeeling. His work and experience included serving in orphanages, schools, parochial settings, and social service settings among the poverty-stricken from the hills of Darjeeling to villages of rural Tamil Nadu. After Michael had completed his years of practical training he entered his Theology formation at Kristu Jyoti (Christ the Light) College, Bangalore, which is affiliated with the Pontifical Salesian University of Rome. After eleven years of formation, he was ordained in 1992. The next eight years, along with his regular pastoral duties he served as youth director, counselor, teacher, principal and dean of Don Bosco Schools in various locales of South India, while earning his Master's Degrees in English Literature, Education, and Counseling Psychology. Michael came to the United States in August 2000 to serve the Catholic Diocese of Little Rock, AR. In April 2003 he accepted a position as Rector of St. Gabriel's Anglican Church in Springdale, Arkansas. He was appointed as Archdeacon of the UEC in April 2005 and then in April 2006 he was consecrated Bishop and served as Suffragan. November 2007, Bp. Michael was licensed to serve in the Holy Catholic Church-Anglican Rite assisting Bishop James McNeley in the Diocese of the Holy Trinity-Great Plains. Bp. Michael became Bishop Ordinary on June 12, 2008 upon the retirement of Bp. McNeley. August 2008 he became rector of St. James. He is a US Citizen, married to Holly Michael and resides in Kansas City, Missouri.
