Father Paul Dominic Marich, O.P., 36, formerly of Woodbridge, was ordained to the priesthood for the Dominican Province of St. Joseph May 21 at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington. Archbishop J. Augustine DiNoia, O.P., Adjunct Secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in Rome, ordained Father Paul and nine classmates.
From 2013-2017, Father Paul was a teacher at Saint John Paul the Great Catholic High School in Potomac Shores, where he taught in the religion, bioethics and social studies departments. During his time living in the Arlington diocese, he was a parishioner at Our Lady of Angels Church in Woodbridge, taught religious education classes at St. Raymond of Peñafort Church in Springfield, and was part of the Upper Room Theatre Ministry at All Saints Catholic Church in Manassas. During his second year of priestly formation at the Dominican House of Studies, Father Paul assisted at the Basilica of St. Mary in Alexandria, where he brought Communion to homebound parishioners and nursing home residents. He is originally from Youngstown, Ohio, and a 2008 graduate of Franciscan University of Steubenville.
Father Paul entered the Dominican novitiate in 2017, made his solemn profession of vows Aug. 7, 2021, and was ordained a transitional deacon Sept. 4, 2021. Since his ordination to the diaconate, Father Paul has been on a pastoral year at St. Patrick Parish in Columbus, Ohio, where he will remain for his first assignment as a parochial vicar St. Patrick Parish.
