GREENSBORO — It has been two decades since Father Eric Kowalski, pastor of Our Lady of Grace Church in Greensboro, was ordained to the priesthood in Newark, N.J., by then-Archbishop Theodore E. McCarrick.
Over the course of the past 20 years, Father Kowalski has served the Diocese of Charlotte first as parochial vicar at Our Lady of Grace Church, then as pastor of Holy Angels Church in Mt. Airy, before returning to Our Lady of Grace Church as pastor last year.
He has greatly enjoyed "being present to people in their sacramental moments – when they are most open and ready to meet the Lord and to experience His healing presence and mercy through the sacraments of His Church."
Father Kowalski also enjoys preaching and offering the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in both the ordinary and extraordinary forms.
"The biggest lesson I learned over the past 20 years is how important it is to trust God – that as much as I would like to think I'm in charge, He's the one who really is in charge, and how much better my life is if I remember that, learn humility and patience, and then get out of His way and let Him use me to accomplish His Will in my life and in the lives of those with whom I am blessed to come into contact."
He offers advice to men discerning a call to the priesthood, reminding them to "always keep in mind that the vocation they have received, if it's truly a vocation to priesthood or religious life, is just that – a calling from God and as such it's between that person and God and will always be between them. It's a personal bond and connection. It's a vocation, not a career in the secular sense."
Father Kowalski notes that Pope Francis reiterated that same concept recently.
"If I had tried to 'plan' my priesthood as some do in the same way one would plan out their career path with a company, I would have missed out on so many blessings that God was trying to impart, and I wouldn't be where I am today."
"Has every experience been easy or convenient? No. But I believe each was necessary," Father Kowalski explains. "Don't worry about packing your luggage. Trust God enough to go where He wants and needs you to when He manifests His Will to you, and let Him worry about getting your luggage there. He has always gotten me there and given me everything I've needed, when I needed it."
Other priests celebrating jubilees are: Father John D. Hanic, pastor at St. John Baptist de la Salle in Wilkesboro, 30 years; and Father Vang Tran at St. James the Greater Church in Concord, 30 years.
— SueAnn Howell, senior reporter