Shining Stars in Christ Honoree: Msgr. Mike Meyers
Monsignor Michael Meyers Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1951, his family moved to Long Beach in 1953. One of four children, he has an older brother Greg (Candy), and a younger sister Carrie Kistner (John, d.) and brother, David (d.) His father, R. James Meyers passed in 2018 and his mother continues to reside in Leisure World, Seal Beach, CA.
He grew up in Long Beach at St. Cornelius Church and graduated from St. Anthony High School in 1969. He then entered the seminary for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles at St. John’s Seminary, Camarillo, and was ordained in 1977.
His first assignment, 1977-81 was at St. Mary Magdalen Church, Camarillo. In 1981 he taught at Bishop Amat High School, La Puente and in 1983, he was assigned to the Mission Office of the Archdiocese where he served 16 years, while residing at Holy Spirit Church, Los Angeles.
As Director of the Mission Office, he was in charge of the Propagation of the Faith, the Holy Childhood Association and the Lay Mission-Helpers Association, taking care of all the mission activities of the Archdiocese around the world. In his work he visited Africa 12 times, visiting most every English speaking country of Africa. His work with the Lay Mission-Helpers regularly took him to Thailand, Papua New Guinea, American and Western Samoa, the Mariana Islands, including Guam, the Caroline and Marshall Islands and Panama. He served as a Board member of the National Council of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith from 1991 to 1999. In 1992, he was appointed an Honorary Chaplain by Pope John Paul II with the title of Monsignor.
In 1999, he returned to parish ministry and was the pastor of St. Dorothy Church, Glendora from 1999 to 2006. He has served on the Council of Priests since 2001-2006. In 2003, he was assigned as Dean of Deanery 11 in the East San Gabriel Valley, a member of the Archdiocesan Finance Council and a member of the Board of Consultors to the Cardinal.
He served in the Vicar for Clergy Office for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles from 2006 to 2011, having served as the Associate Vicar for Clergy from 2006 to 2009 and the Vicar for Clergy from 2009 to 2011. In this capacity he assisted Cardinal Mahony in all matters pertaining to the priests in ministry in the Archdiocese. In 2010, Pope Benedict XVI conferred upon him the title of Prelate of Honor to His Holiness, which also carries with it the title of Monsignor. During his assignment as Vicar for Clergy, he resided at St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church, Altadena.
He also served as Administrator, pro tem at Nativity, El Monte (1984), St. Martha, Valinda (1984), St. Agatha, Los Angeles (1985) and St. Genevieve, Panorama City (1999).
Archbishop Jóse Gomez assigned Monsignor Michael Meyers as Pastor of St. James Church, effective July 1, 2011. In 2018 he was appointed as Dean of Deanery 19 and served on the Council of Priests until 2023.
Now completing 47 years of priesthood, Archbishop Gomez has accepted his retirement from administrative duties and he will be continuing in pastoral ministry in the San Pedro Pastoral Region.