Father Lou is a native of New Jersey, born and raised in Mahwah. He is the older of two children, his sister, Linda, is married and lives in Mahwah along with his parents, Mary and Lou.

Fr. Lou graduated from Don Bosco Preparatory High School in 1979, then joined the religious congregation which staffed his high school, the Salesians of Saint John Bosco. The Salesians, are the third largest religious order in the Catholic Church, known internationally for their total dedication to young people, especially those who are poorest and most abandoned. Fr. Lou was ordained a priest in 1990. Fr. Lou received a BA Degree in Philosophy and Mathematics from Don Bosco College, Newton, NJ, an MA Degree in Sacred Scripture (1989) from the Pontifical College Josephinum, Columbus, OH, and a Master of Divinity Degree (1990) from the same institution. Fr. Lou received a Masters in Educational Administration from Boston College in 1994. From 1984-1986 and 1990-1995, Fr. Lou worked at Mary Help of Christians School, Tampa, FL, as a teacher, youth minister and director of resident students at the school. After a period of three years as youth minister and assistant principal at Don Bosco Prep High School, in 1998, Fr. Lou became the principal at St. Petersburg Catholic High School. Then, in 2004, Father Lou was appointed Director/President of Don Bosco Prep High School.