New priest for Birmingham Diocese

Fr Michael blesses his uncle. Picture: Jozef Lopuszynski

St Thomas of Canterbury Church in Walsall, Birmingham Diocese, was packed for the Ordination of Deacon Michael Puljic to the Sacred Priesthood by Archbishop Bernard Longley. Members of Father Puljic’s family came from as far afield as Croatia and Canada to witness the event at the Coalpool Lane Church.

At the end of the Mass, people queued up to receive a First Blessing from the new priest. Father Mark OFM (pictured) said: “This is a great gift of God. I’m his uncle, and I had the privilege to baptise him in 1981 just four days after my Ordination, so he was the first baby, and I’m very grateful to God today to be able to participate in this wonderful occasion of his priestly Ordination.”

At the reception, Father Puljic thanked everyone who attended and said: "for any of you who are perhaps thinking about the priesthood, I would say, ‘Don’t be afraid, because if it’s the Lord’s will for you, He’ll help you through it all, and trust yourselves to Our Lady.’”

Father Puljic will be starting his life as a priest at Our Lady of Mount Carmel RC Church, Redditch.

First Blessings and Masses by Fr Puljik are at the churches of St Francis of Assisi, Walsall, on 24 July, St Thomas of Canterbury, Walsall, 25 July, St George, York, 1 August, St Ambrose Barlow, Hall Green, Birmingham, 8th August. Christ the King, Kingstanding, Birmingham and 8 August at St Patrick’s, Wolverhampton.

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