New priest joins Catholic parishes in RC, Metz, and Posen

Father Paul Grala has been spotted at local events, supporting the communities and soaking up local culture. He has also been spotted where he feels most comfortable ? at the pulpit of the Catholic churches in Rogers City, Metz, and Posen, where he is sharing duties with Father Charlie Donjakowski.

FATHER PAUL arrived locally in September, and took up residence at the St. Casimir rectory in Posen. He leads mass at St. Casimir in Posen, St. Ignatius in Rogers City, and St. Dominic in Metz, alternating responsibilities between the three parishes with Father Charlie. As an Associate Pastor, Father Paul was not definite on the plan for his services when he first arrived, knowing only he would be working for three parishes. Since his arrival, he has officiated mass and has begun teaching religion at St. Ignatius Catholic School. ?I love my work very much,? said Father Paul. ?I enjoy working with students especially. I go from class to class, teaching different religious themes at each level. The Lord has given me a gift ? I can talk to the littlest people, and I can talk to the older people.?

Before coming to Presque Isle County, Father Paul served in Central America. ?For the last five and a half years I have worked in Belize, and before that I was in Texas for five years,? said Father Paul. ?I was pondering about coming back to work in my home state of Michigan, asking God if it was meant to be ? then the door opened.? Father Paul was born and raised on the west side of Grand Rapids, where a large Polish community exists. He is one of six children, and his family still resides in the west Michigan area. In 1979, Father Paul earned his social work degree from Grand Valley State University. This degree led him to work with Michigan youth, and in 1985 he returned to college to earn his secondary teaching degree from Aquinas College. ?I worked as a high school religion teacher at St. Patrick High School in Portland,? said Father Paul. ?I was the religion teacher for grades 9-12.? Father Paul taught high school for about three years, and in 1988 he found himself considering priesthood.

?I INVITED a retired priest to come and talk with my class (at St. Patrick High School),? said Father Paul. ?At this time, I was feeling called toward priesthood, and I asked the Lord for a sign to tell me if it was God?s will that I become a priest.? The sign Father Paul was looking for was delivered through a kind gesture given by the visiting retired priest. ?I prayed?to Our Ble

ssed Mother, and at the end of my prayer I received a clear sign,? said Father Paul. ?The retired priest put his arm around me and asked if I had ever thought about becoming a priest.? That question was all Father Paul needed, and within a year he earned a minor in philosophy, and entered the seminary. ?In 1990 I entered a seminary in Connecticut that offered a program geared toward older men, because by that time, I had been in the working world for some time,? said Father Paul. ?I completed four years at the seminary, and one year of Novitiate, which was a year of work and prayer to prepare me for religious life.?

This June, Father Paul will celebrate 12 years as a Catholic priest. He is very grateful to be a part of the local community, and said he is hoping to remain part of the Catholic churches in Posen, Rogers City, and Metz. ?God willing, I am hoping to continue my priestly ministry here in Michigan,? said Father Paul.