Pastor's Page
Biographical Information
For
Rev. Paul M. Williams, OFM
Fr. Paul Mario Williams, was born and raised in Alexandria, Virginia where he attended both various Catholic and public schools, and would graduate from George Washington High School on June, 4, 1970. After graduation he would attend Northern Virginia Community College, while working full time.
On August 29, 1975 after much prayers and reflections he joined the Franciscan Province of the Holy Name of Jesus, and was received as a postulant at Holy Cross Friary in the Bronx, NY. On June 6, 1976 he was received in to the novitiate in Brookline, MA where a year later he would take his first vows. Br. Paul went on the Holy Name College in Washington, DC to reside while pursuing his undergraduate degree in Government and Politics at George Mason University in Fairfax City, VA, where he would graduate with a B.A. degree on May 22, 1982. Br. Paul made his Solemn Profession at St. Francis of Assisi Church on June 28, 1980 in New York City. Two years later he would be assigned to St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Greenville, SC, where he was the director of religious educations. In September 1982 he began his studies for the priesthood at Pope John XXIII National Seminary in Weston, MA, where he would receive a Master of Divinity degree in May 1986. On December 14, 1985 he was ordained to the transitional diaconate at St. Mary of the Angels Parish in Roxbury, MA by the Most Rev. Robert J. Banks, then Auxiliary Bishop of Boston. He would soon be assigned to St. Francis of Assisi Church in New York City. On May 3, 1986 he was ordained a priest at St. Francis of Assisi Church in New York by the Most Rev. Emerson J. Moore, an Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of New York.
On July 15, 1987 Fr. Paul returned to St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Greenville, SC as pastor, and would remain there until July 15, 2002. As pastor he was involved in many civic and ministerial activities such as: a participant in the Palmetto Project which was established to improve race relations in South Carolina, the Greenville County’s Jail Ministerial Board, the Gower Neighborhood Association Board, Greenville Urban League Board, Catholic Chaplain at Perry State Prison, Catholic Chaplain at Furman University for twelve years, Chaplain for the Notre Dame University Alumni Association for the Western Carolina Region, Chaplain for the Knights of Columbus Council #1668, and honored by the 4th Degree as Faithful Friar and he was appointed by the Franciscan provincial as Spiritual Assistant for the Secular Franciscans in Greenville, Spartanburg and Columbia, SC.
On September 1, 2002 Bishop Robert J. Baker appointed Fr. Paul as pastor of St. Martin de Porres Parish in Columbia, where he built a new parish church and office building plus, a new rectory. Fr. Paul remained at St. Martin de Porres as pastor for eight years. On March 5, 2011 Bishop Robert Guglielmone appointed him pastor of St. Joseph Catholic Church & School.
Fr. Paul has served the Diocese of Charleston for twenty-four years in various ways: He is currently a member of the Diocesan College of Consulters, Vicar for African American Catholics, a member of the Diocesan Priests Personnel Board, and a member of the Diocesan Ecumenical Commission. Fr. Paul served as dean of the Midlands Deanery for five years.
Fr. Paul is Knight Commander of the Knights of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. He is a 4th Degree Knight of Columbus and a 3rd Degree member of the Knights of Peter Claver. On July 27, 2002 the Senate of the State of South Carolina honored Fr. Paul with a Senate Resolution honoring him for his contributions to the State of South Carolina. Pope Benedict XVI honored Fr. Paul with the Pro Ecclesia Et Pontifice Cross Medal on July 23, 2008. Bishop Robert Baker honored Fr. Paul in September 2007 with the Diocese of Charleston’s Caritas Medal and Award. On May 2, 2011 Fr. Paul celebrated his 25th anniversary as a Franciscan priest.