Who We Are
We are Dominican friars entrusted with the work of priestly formation. We serve as professors, formators, and spiritual directors at the two oldest seminaries in the United States: St. Mary’s Seminary & University in Baltimore and Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, MD.
We believe that the grace of St. Dominic is a gift to the entire Church, which can bear great fruit in the formation of priests and in the renewal of priestly spirituality.
Our Mission
The COR IESU Project exists to form priests after the Lord’s Own Heart by strengthening the spiritual and pastoral formation of seminarians in the Catholic Church today. The life and spirit of St. Dominic, the preacher of grace, is our touchstone.
the Priests of COR IESU
Fr. Michael O’Connor, O.P.
Director & Co-Founder
Fr. Michael is one of the directors and co-founders of The COR IESU Project. He serves as Director of Liturgical Music, Instructor in Liturgical Formation and Homiletics, Formation Advisor, and Spiritual Director at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, MD.
Fr. Michael earned a Doctorate of Sacred Theology from the University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome (the Angelicum) and has taught Fundamental and Moral Theology at Providence College in Providence, R.I., as well as Moral Theology, Preaching, Rhetoric, and Liturgical Music at the Pontifical Faculty of the Immaculate Conception (the Dominican House of Studies) in Washington, D.C.
In addition to Fr. Michael’s teaching work, he regularly preaches retreats and gives conferences for parishes and religious communities. Recently, he preached the 2025 Silent Retreat for the seminarians of Mount St. Mary’s in Emmitsburg.
Fr. Michael has also contributed to the world of liturgical music. Over the course of the last 30 years, he has worked extensively as a music director, organist, singer, choir director, and composer. He is the Music Editor of the St. Michael Hymnal, and the composer of numerous pieces of Catholic liturgical music for congregations and choirs.
More information about Fr. Michael’s liturgical music can be found at: www.PrayingTwice.org
Fr. Maximilian Jaskowak, O.P.
Director & Co-Founder
Fr. Maximilian is one of the directors and co-founders of The COR IESU Project. He serves as Instructor of Moral and Spiritual Theology, Faculty Mentor, and Spiritual Director at St. Mary’s Seminary & University in Baltimore, MD.
Fr. Maximilian earned a Licentiate of Sacred Theology from the Pontifical Faculty of the Immaculate Conception (the Dominican House of Studies) in Washington, D.C.
He has taught Catholic Social Ethics, Medical Ethics, Sexual Ethics, and Spiritual Theology at St. Mary’s Seminary & University.
In addition to his teaching and mentoring responsibilities at the seminary, Fr. Maximilian regularly assists with the Catholic chaplaincy at Johns Hopkins University. He has also preached a number of parish missions and led several retreats for college students.
To learn more about the Order of Preachers, please visit the following websites:
“In the midst of the Church he opened his mouth and the Lord filled him with wisdom and understanding and clothed him in a robe of glory.”
~ Introit, Common of Doctors (Sir 15:5)