Br. Michael Gosch, CSV

by | Feb 15, 2018 | Meet a Viatorian

Br. Michael Gosch, CSV, first encountered the Viatorians as his teachers and mentors at Saint Viator High School. They made such a profound impact on him that he joined the community in 1978, even before graduating from Loyola University Chicago.

Br. Gosch seeks to involve youth in social justice initiatives, such as this Las Posadas procession in Chicago with Cristo Rey St. Martin students.

Br. Michael began his ministry as a religion and English teacher at Saint Viator, but after a few years, he returned to school to earn a degree in social work. He then served as a case worker at the Howard Area Community Center.

“As Viatorians we are called to raise up communities where faith is lived, deepened and celebrated. We’re also called to educate the young. But what a lot of people may not know is that we are also called to reach out to those accounted of little importance,” Br. Michael said. “This is one of the main attractions as to why I’m in this community and why I stay.”

In addition to nine years working with Chicago youth at the Howard Area Center, he did similar work later with students at Cristo Rey St. Martin College Prep in Waukegan, IL. He also returned to teaching, in stints both at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas and later again at Saint Viator High School.

Br. Michael (left) and Sr. Rayo Cuaya-Castillo (right) meet with a VHH resident.

For the last several years, Br. Michael has spent most of his time in ministries with people in immigration. This includes being one of several Viatorians involved in the Chicago-based Interfaith Committee for Detained Immigrants, assisting with the Post Detention Accompaniment Network, visiting immigrants who were detained at McHenry County Jail, and sustaining Sisters and Brothers of Immigrants with peer religious. Then, in 2017, Br. Michael and Fr. Corey Brost, CSV, co-founded Viator House of Hospitality, a residential program for young men seeking asylum. In this ministry, Br. Michael brought together much of his experience in teaching and social work, with his passion for accompanying young people.

“We’ve filled up very quickly. We’ll have a waiting list soon. We need more Viator Houses of Hospitality,” Br. Gosch said in the early days – after nine years, VHH had hosted 120 young men from 25 nations, as the important work continues.

Within the Viatorian Community, his brothers have often elected him to leadership positions, including serving as Assistant Provincial to Fr. Dan Hall, CSV, from 2018 to 2022, and his long-running service as the community’s Coordinator of Justice, Peace, and the Integrity of Creation.

More on Br. Michael from Viatorians.com:

  • Viatorians Stand with Neighbors for Immigration Justice (2025): Many residents of Arlington Heights, including Br. Michael, spoke at a village board meeting in favor of an ordinance barring federal immigration agents from using municipal property – an ordinance that later passed.
  • Working Collaboratively for Peace and Justice (2025): Sisters and Brothers of Immigrants is a group of religious women and men who organize to accompany and advocate for people in immigration, and this article features a time when Br. Michael hosted and moderated the group’s meeting.
  • Public Witness for Immigrants (2025 – Viatorian Voices podcast appearance): At a public witness for immigrants in summer 2025, several demonstrators shared brief reflections in this podcast episode, including Br. Michael who helped organize the regular witness events.

  • Br. Michael speaks to demonstrators gathered for public witness in 2025.

    St. Viator’s New, Experienced Pastor (2025): In this feature, Br. Michael talks about working together with Fr. Edgar Suárez, CSV, in servant-leadership for the community.

  • Viatorians Take Part in Public Witness with SBI (2025): With SBI and other peers, Br. Michael helped sustain regular public witness events around Chicagoland in support of people in immigration.
  • Provincial Council Statement on Immigration Policy (2025): Along with Fr. Mark Francis, CSV, and the Provincial Council, Br. Michael signed this public statement criticizing harsh, erratic immigration enforcement by the Trump administration.
  • VHH Opens Doors for 8th Anniversary (2025): Br. Michael’s ministry had a special open house to celebrate its eighth birthday.
  • SBI Recognized for Advocacy (2024): A Chicago Catholic article recognized the advocacy work of SBI in Chicagoland.
  • Viatorians Recognized for Changing Lives (2024): Along with Fr. Corey, Br. Michael received a Heart of Gold award from the Village of Arlington Heights.
  • International Community of Viatorians Coming Together (2024): During a peak of international brothers’ studying and living in the US, Br. Michael enjoyed the community life with the larger crowd at the Saint Viator High School residence.
  • VHH Draws Visit from Cardinal Cupich (2024): The Archbishop of Chicago made a visit to the VHH house to meet with staff and participants.
  • Welcoming Migrants: A Civic and Faith Response (2023): Br. Michael joined Fr. Tom Long, CSV, and Fr. Corey Brost, CSV, as presenters at a Dominican University presentation.
  • Accompanying Young People Seeking Asylum (2022 – Viatorian Voices podcast appearance): Br. Michael gives a primer on the parameters for seeking asylum in the US and how Viator House identifies potential residents and works with them throughout the process.
  • New Provincial Superior Elected (2022): When the congregation elected Fr. Mark Francis, CSV, as Provincial, Fr. Mark appointed Br. Michael as one of his two appointed provincial councilors for this mandate.
  • Speaking the Language of Love (2021): Br. Michael gave witness to his religious life and ministry on Dare to Love, the video and radio series from the Archdiocese of Chicago.
  • Roundtable on Viatorian Faith in Action (2021 – Viatorian Voices podcast appearance): Alongside Fr. Tom Long, CSV, Br. Michael gives witness to advocacy and activism for social justice and shares some of the how and why of putting faith into action in these ways.
  • St. George Parishioners Have a Heart for Asylum Seekers (2020): The community in Bourbonnais identified key items of need for VHH and provided a collection’s worth of items to Br. Michael for the men.
  • Viatorians Take Part in Protest Outside ICE Detention Center (2019): Br. Michael joined 250+ demonstrators outside the Combs Center in Kankakee to dissuade the county from cooperating and making revenue off immigrants.
  • Fr. Hall Elected Provincial Superior (2018): The 2018 election that selected Fr. Dan as Provincial Superior also elected Br. Michael as a provincial councilor.
  • Responding to Syrian Refugee Crisis (2016): The Viatorians helped organize an interfaith service for International Day of Peace as the crisis in Syria worsened.
  • Move-In Day (2014): The precursors to Viator House and Bethany House opened years earlier, when the ideas around housing and social support were taking off among the network of advocates.

This article was updated on February 9, 2026 by Associate Dan Masterton.