St Joseph Group – 2025

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.

Bishop Alfred A. Schlert was born to Alfred and Marylou Schlert in Easton and was educated at St. Jane Frances de Chantal Elementary School and Notre Dame High School in Easton. He prepared for the Priesthood at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, Philadelphia, the Pontifical Roman Seminary, Rome and St. John Lateran University, Rome. He was ordained a priest at the Cathedral of Saint Catharine of Siena, Allentown on September 19, 1987.

He served as a Parochial Vicar at St. Francis of Assisi Church, Allentown, as a Professor at his alma mater, Notre Dame High School, Easton and as the Catholic Chaplain at Lehigh University, Bethlehem. During his years at Notre Dame High School, he resided at St. Anthony of Padua Church, Easton, St. Bernard Church, Easton and Sacred Heart Church, Bath. He completed graduate studies at the Pontifical North American College, Rome and the Pontifical Lateran University, Rome where he received a Licentiate in Canon Law in 1992.

He was named Vice Chancellor and Secretary to Bishop Welsh in 1997 before being named Vicar General of the Diocese by The Most Reverend Edward P. Cullen, Third Bishop of Allentown, in 1998. As Vicar General, he oversaw the coordination of all administrative offices of the Diocese. From 1998 to 2008 he was in residence at the Cathedral of Saint Catharine of Siena, Allentown. While still serving as Vicar General, he was appointed Pastor of St. Theresa of the Child Jesus Church, Hellertown in July 2008. Upon the Ordination and Installation of The Most Reverend John O. Barres, Fourth Bishop of Allentown, he was reappointed as the Vicar General of the Diocese and resumed full-time service as Vicar General in February 2010, with residence at St. Theresa of the Child Jesus, Hellertown, until his Ordination as the Fifth Bishop of Allentown.

Pope St. John Paul II named him Chaplain to His Holiness with the title of Monsignor in 1999. Pope Benedict XVI named him a Prelate of Honor, the second highest rank of Monsignor, in 2005.

Bishop Schlert served as Vice President of the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference and as a member of its Administrative Board. He also served on the Diocesan Council of Priests, the Diocesan Finance Council and the Diocesan College of Consultors. He was a member of the Board of Trustees of DeSales University, Center Valley, Pennsylvania.

He was appointed and ordained the Fifth Bishop of Allentown by Pope Francis June, 2017. 

He is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, DC; a member of the Board of Directors of Cross Catholic Outreach; is a member of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs; is a member of the Episcopal Advisory Board of the Catholic Leadership Institute; and serves on the Board of Trustees of Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary, Overbrook. He is a Fourth Degree member of the Knights of Columbus, a Conventual Chaplain ad honorem of the Order of Malta, and a Knight Commander with Star of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem.

Father Mike was ordained on May 16, 1987 by Bishop John J. Graham, and has served as a parish priest for all but 5 years as  he had served on the Faculty of Bishop Kenrick High School, Norristown, and St. Maria Goretti High School, Philadelphia from 1990-1995. In parish ministry, he has served as a Parochial Vicar, as a Parochial Administrator, and as a Pastor in several parishes, most recently he was the Pastor of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Feasterville. Father Mike loves the Blessed Virgin Mary, truly appreciates her spiritual motherhood, and firmly supports the challenging work of the Legionaries of Mary as her instruments to invite and encourage persons to connect to Jesus through His Mother.  Father Mike is the Spiritual Director of the Our Lady of the Assumption Praesidium in his parish, and is the Spiritual Director of the Bucks County Curia of the Legion of Mary. Currently Fr. Mike is assigned as the Rector of Malvern Retreat House 

2025