Ave Maria – 2026

Simeon Gallagher, OFM Cap., is a member of the Mid-America Province of the Capuchin Order. Fr. Gallagher is currently the Director of the Preaching Ministry Office of the Mid-America Province of the Capuchin Order. He conducts retreats, parish development programs, parish missions and religious education workshops. His association with the Emmaus Spirituality Program for Priests has gained him an international reputation in conducting retreats for priests.

His work has taken him to Central America (El Salvador). He was instrumental in founding Emmaus in Great Britain, and he has presented ecumenical lectures at the Jean XXIII Centre, Geneva, Switzerland. For the past several years, he has worked closely with the US Armed Forces at military bases around the world. He recently returned from engagements in Asia and Australia. In June, 2011 he was a featured speaker at the Society of University Neuro-Surgeons (SUN) International Symposium in Athens, Istanbul, and Ephesus.

Deacon Mike Cipressi is a License Clinical Social Worker, and Certified Employee Assistance Professional, he has held leadership positions in the employee assistance field and served several terms on the board of directors for the Employee Assistance Professional Association.

Mike holds a BS in Sociology from St. Joseph’s University (1983) and MS in Social Work from Columbia University (1988). He attended St Charles Seminary and was ordained a deacon in 2019. Deacon Mike serves as a deacon at St Phillip Neri parish in Lafayette Hill.

Professionally he has presented at regional and national conferences and has been a guest lecturer at local universities. He provides onsite trauma and grief support to work organizations. He conducts workplace training. His workplace training has focused on a variety of topics including Building Resilience, Diversity, Emotional Intelligence, Coping with Change and Stress Management.  He has provided compliance training on DOT and EEOC topics.

In his clinical practice Deacon Mike specializes in anxiety, depression, relationship concerns, addictions, stress management, work issues and life transitional problems. He runs two weekly therapy groups focused on sexually compulsive behavior. He has provided on-site counseling support services to different work organizations in the areas of healthcare, transportation, entertainment, and finance.  He uses an interactive strengths-based approach that maximizes resilience in the clients he serves.