Dr. Michael Fonseca, D.Min., beloved husband, mentor, teacher, spiritual director, and friend, was called home to the Lord on August 12 at the age of 83. With deep sorrow and resurrection hope, his family and the countless people whose lives were touched by him entrust him to the loving mercy of God.

Michael was born on January 18, 1943 in Ajmer, India, to Anthony and Marie D'souza Fonseca.

A former member of the Society of Jesus, Michael served as a Jesuit priest in the Archdiocese of Ranchi, India. During those years, he taught college courses, served as a retreat master and spiritual director, formed Jesuit seminarians as Vice-Provincial Superior, and later served as Provincial Superior of the Ranchi Jesuit Province. In 1990, he was granted laicization from priestly duties and continued in good standing with the Catholic Church as a committed layman.

A lifelong student of the faith and the human person, Michael earned a Doctor of Ministry from the Graduate Theological Foundation in South Bend, Indiana; a master's degree in Counseling Psychology from Loyola University Chicago; a Bachelor of Theology with honors from Vidyajyoti Jesuit College of Theology in Delhi, India; a master's degree in English Literature from Karnatak University in Dharwar, India; and a Licentiate in Philosophy from the Papal Athenaeum in Pune, India.

For more than three decades, Michael served the Church through formation, retreat ministry, spiritual direction, and teaching. He was Director of Spiritual Formation at Saint Luke Institute in Silver Spring, Maryland, from 1993 to 1999; Coordinator for Spiritual Formation in the Diaconate Program of the Diocese of Victoria from 1998 to 2014; Director of Spiritual Formation of Adults for the Diocese of Gaylord from 2000 to 2013; and Coordinator for Spiritual Formation of the Diaconate Program in the Diocese of Grand Rapids from 2002 to 2005.

Together with his beloved wife, Cherrie, Michael founded God's Embrace Ministries. What began with a simple desire to "light candles" rather than curse the darkness became a lifelong invitation for Catholics to enter more deeply into prayer, the Scriptures, the sacraments, and the loving embrace of the Triune God. Through teaching, spiritual direction, retreats, pilgrimages, small groups, and formation materials, Michael and Cherrie encouraged countless people to become authentic disciples and, in Michael's own language, "great saints."

Michael served as President of God's Embrace Ministries from 2006 through 2023. In 2023, he became Director of Healing at Our Lady's Healing Center, where he continued to bring Christ's divine healing to those who were wounded, burdened, and seeking a deeper relationship with Jesus. His teaching consistently invited others to receive Christ's healing and transformation through prayer, the sacraments, the Word of God, and humble surrender to God's will.

On October 7, 2023, Michael received the Pontifical Benemerenti Medal, a papal honor recognizing dedicated service to the Church. He was among seventeen people from across the Diocese of Victoria recognized by Pope Francis for their witness, leadership, and service. The Diocese noted Michael's decades of work in spiritual formation, retreat ministry, spiritual direction, authorship, and the founding of God's Embrace Ministries.

Michael was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Cherrie Fonseca; his parents, Anthony and Marie D'souza Fonseca; and his sisters, Georgina and Carmen. He is survived by his sons, Robert Lee and Charles Bertelink; grandchildren, Josh Lee, Ashlen Lee, Keziah Roy, Isaac Lee, and Moriah Lee; great-grandchildren, Thorin and William; brother, Cyril Fonseca and his wife, Aggie; brother-in-law, Victor Lemos; sister-in-law, Ann Reed and her husband, Bill; niece,Christie Pennington and her husband, Doug; nephew, Edward Reed; his beloved family in India and countless friends whose lives were enriched by his love, faith, and spiritual fatherhood.

Funeral Services will be at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, August 20, 2026, from St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church in Weimar. Interment will follow in St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery in High Hill.

The family will receive friends beginning at 6:00 p.m. with the parish rosary to be prayed at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, from St. Mary's Catholic Church in High Hill.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to iin honor of Dr. Michael Fonseca to the ministries through which he so faithfully served:

God's Embrace Ministries, Founded by Michael and Cherrie Fonseca, God's Embrace Ministries continues their work of Teaching and Empowering Catholics to experience daily the loving embrace of our Triune God. 1601 High Hill Rd. - Schulenburg, TX 78956 -GodsEmbrace.org.   DONATE God's Embrace

Our Lady's Healing Center. Michael served as Director of Healing, helping guide its Catholic ministry of healing, prayer, the sacraments, and compassionate accompaniment. P.O. Box 826 Seadrift, TX 77983 - OurLadysHealingCenter.org

Please note "In memory of Dr. Michael Fonseca" on checks or online gifts. Memorial contributions may also be made to a charity of one's choice.

The family is deeply grateful for the prayers, presence, and love of all who have walked with Michael and Cherrie through the years.

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace. Amen.