Born in Chicago, Illinois, Michaels was ordained to the priesthood on December 21, 1951, for the Missionary Society of St. Columban.

On February 15, 1966, he was appointed auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Kwangju, South Korea and was ordained on April 15, 1966, by Archbishop Leo Binz of Saint Paul.

of Kwangju and Bishop William O'Connor of Springfield in Illinois.

On April 3, 1977, he was appointed auxiliary bishop of the Wheeling-Charleston diocese, resigning on September 22, 1987.

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