Father Kawalec is Nativity’s second pastor. He was born on April 9^th, 1975 to Michael and Dwyn (nee Taddie and deceased 4/4/2017) Kawalec. He is the oldest of four children; 2 sisters and 1 brother. He and his siblings grew up in, and had received most of their Sacraments at, St. Mary Parish in Chardon, OH.

After graduating from Chardon High School in 1993, he entered Borromeo Seminary in Wickliffe, Ohio and studied there (and at John Carroll University) from 1993 – 1997; and then at St. Mary Graduate Seminary from 1997 – 2002. During those summers he was employed for four years at Hunter Racing Engines in Chardon as the grounds-keeper and “maintenance guy;” for the next four years he worked on the maintenance crew for the Geauga Park District. During the last two summers as a seminarian, he was privileged to live and work at Holy Name Parish in Cleveland.

He was ordained to the Priesthood of Jesus Christ on May 18^th, 2002 by Bishop Anthony M. Pilla along with two other classmates, Fr. Vince Hawk and Fr. Chris Weber. Father Kawalec began his pastorate here at Nativity on January 1, 2017. His previous assignments in the Diocese of Cleveland have been:

(2002 – 2007) Parochial Vicar at St. Francis of Assisi in Gates Mills

(2004 – 2008) Priest Mentor for Borromeo Seminary in Wickliffe

(2007 – 2011) Parochial Vicar at St. Francis Xavier in Medina

(2011 – 2013) Parochial Vicar at St. Monica in Garfield Heights

(2013 – 2016) Parochial Vicar at St. Mary in Chardon