---
title: The Second Day of Gifts - Br. Michael Suchnicki - Self-Deprecating Humor
description: The Second Day of Gifts - Br. Michael Suchnicki - Self-Deprecating Humor
---

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# [The Second Day of Gifts - Br. Michael Suchnicki - Self-Deprecating Humor](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/the-second-day-of-gifts-br-michael-suchnicki-self-deprecating-humor)

 Written by [Mike Brown](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/author/mike-brown) | Dec 8, 2008 11:00:00 AM

<https://www.brainzooming.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/081123-Br-Michael-Suchnicki-May-25-2022-01-46-32-56-PM.jpg>Brother Mike Suchnicki [O.F.M. Cap. ](http://www.capuchins.org/index.html)was my 7th grade catechism teacher. He was the first member of the clergy I really knew on a personal basis since he was with our class 5 days per week throughout the school year.

From Br. Mike (now [Fr. Mike](http://www.archden.org/dcr/news.php?e=97&s=4&a=2277)), **I learned the role that humor, especially self-deprecating humor, can play in making an apparent authority figure approachable.** He always told jokes on himself, frequently related to his Eastern European ethnic heritage. (For example, see his t-shirt from a yearbook picture of an intramural volleyball game.)

By readily using humor, the class became more comfortable and receptive to him and the serious religious messages he was sharing. Seeing a religious figure who was actually a real person also awakened in me an early interest in discerning whether I had a religious vocation.

The approachability Br. Mike created through humor led me to embrace a similar style – being willing to poke fun at myself to introduce people to more serious or complex subject matter.

**His gift of humor is still a part of my work style, writing, and interpersonal approach.** In fact, if you look across my websites, they represent three deep personal themes – strategy, [humor](http://funnyeyeforthecorporateguy.blogspot.com/), and [spirituality](http://aligningyourlifeswork.blogspot.com/). Within the latter two, Br. Mike was a strong early influence, for which I’ll eternally be grateful.

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