When being a permanent deacon isn’t permanent: one man’s road to the priesthood

From Trenton comes this story of a former permanent deacon recently ordained a priest: 

Father Jim Grogan Sr. is gregarious and warm. He laughs easily and often.

He is also a man completely at peace with his life and where it’s headed.

When he lost his wife to ovarian cancer eight years ago, the goals he once had changed. His mind and focus became further fixed on God and service.

Grogan, 58, had traveled the world in his job in the disaster recovery business, he’d raised three sons with his wife, Ellie, and he’d dedicated his life to the Lord as a deacon in the Catholic Church.

After years of discernment, Grogan answered the call and was ordained as a priest in the Diocese of Trenton on June 6. He serves at Our Lady of Good Counsel parish, a church he’s been with for over three decades.

“I didn’t always want that (to be a priest),” Grogan said. “When you look at my background of having been married for 25 years, I wanted to be a husband. I was blessed with a wonderful wife. We had three great kids, who are now young men. When my wife lost her battle, suddenly everything changes. … I had to define a new set of dreams for the future.

“I feel my experience in the family setting helps me to be a better priest. I bring a different kind of context to my priesthood. At the same time, I hope being a priest allows me to continue to be an even better father. They’re young men. But I’m still their dad. … The context of who I am continues to be as a father.”

Read more.  God is full of surprises, isn’t he?

Ad multos annos!