He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Philosophy from Quincy University.

[3] Following his university studies, he entered the novitiate of the Province of the Sacred Heart of the Franciscan Order on 25 June 1977, and professed temporary religious vows on 11 August of the following year, the feast day of Saint Clare of Assisi.

[4] He professed solemn vows as a full member of the Franciscan friars on 10 October 1981, and was ordained on 2 June 1984.

[1] After his ordination, Perry was assigned to serve his province in the formation of its candidates, during which time he worked with the Office of Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation, an international ministry of the Franciscans.

[4] Perry was elected general minister of the order on 22 May 2013, to complete the six-year term of his predecessor, José Rodríguez Carballo, O.F.M., after Rodríguez was named a bishop and the new secretary for the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, a part of the Roman Curia.