The Spiritual Break was started in 2016 to send a reflection to a group of people in a church community in Winchester, MA. The group grew to more than 3,000 people during the next seven years and eventually became a dedicated website in the summer of 2023. 

Michael Cunningham OFS

Dr. Michael Cunningham, OFS, completed his MA in Ministry at St. John’s Seminary in Brighton, MA, and his Doctorate in Ministry at Catholic University in Washington, DC. He is the Executive Director of San Damiano Retreat in Danville, CA. Michael is married with four children and eleven grandchildren and is an avid writer, photographer and motorcyclist. Michael is a Retreat Master and Spiritual Director. 

Previously, Michael was for five years the Retreat Center Director at Mater Dolorosa Passionist Retreat Center in Sierra Madre, California. The team there held over 90 retreats each year for prayerful meditation and spiritual development in the Catholic tradition, and a thriving outreach Food Ministry which was founded in March 2020.

Prior to becoming a Retreat Center Director, Michael was a Director of Teen and Adult Formation at St. Eulalia Parish in Winchester, MA and Formation Director at the St. Anthony Shrine in Boston, MA for the Secular Franciscans.

Spiritually, he is a proponent of the Everyday Presence of God in Our Lives as an evangelization strategy. Michael is a commissioned presenter (instructor) for Contemplative Outreach and minister as a Spiritual Director and Retreat Leader.

Prior to moving into full-time ministry work, his background included leadership positions in management and IT consulting, using software tools to support teams undergoing transitions in business and organizational development.