Father Mario Esposito, O.Carm. is a Carmelite Friar of the Province of Saint Elias. He served for 12 years as the Prior Provincial of the Carmelite Friars as well as Regional Superior and Formation Director for the Order in Vietnam. He was again elected Prior Provincial North American Province of St. Elias for three years on June 21, 2018. Father Mario had been on the Board of the Carmelite Institute of North America for many years, and twice served as the Chairman of the Board of Directors.
Father Mario was born in Brooklyn, New York and graduated from schools there. He has a Bachelor of Music degree from Catholic University of America and a Master of Divinity degree from the Washington Theological Union. He was simply professed on September 16, 1972, solemnly professed on September 13, 1975 and was ordained a priest on January 22, 1977.
He has served the Carmelite Order and Province in many capacities over the years – in parishes, schools, hospitals, administration and the formation of young Carmelites. He has given many classes and retreats for the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm over the years. Presently, he is serving as Pre-Novice Director for his Province.
Father Mario was the Diocesan Postulator for the Cause for the Beatification and Canonization of Mother Mary Angeline Teresa, O.Carm. from 1992 until 2007 and has been the Vice-Postulator of the Cause since then. He also works on several other Causes for Canonization for the Carmelite Order, including the recent miracle investigation of a cure attributed to Blessed Titus Brandsma, O.Carm.