New associate eastern vicar appointed to succeed Monsignor O’Connor

Conventual Franciscan Father Donald Grzymski will succeed Monsignor Jay O’Connor as eastern vicar of the Archdiocese of Baltimore, with the transition set to take place next year, Archbishop William E. Lori announced Aug. 18.

Monsignor O’Connor will retire from his role as eastern vicar July 1, 2027. Father Grzymski will begin serving as the associate eastern vicar Sept. 1, 2026, allowing for a transition before he assumes the leadership role next year.

A native of the Archdiocese of Baltimore, Father Grzymski grew up in Essex and was a parishioner of St. Clare before joining the Franciscan Friars Conventual. He was ordained a priest in 1980.

Father Grzymski has served his religious community as a seminary formator at St. Hyacinth Seminary in Massachusetts and in provincial administration. He also spent 28 years at Archbishop Curley High School in Baltimore, where he served as a teacher, administrator, vice principal, principal and president.

From 2005 to 2014, he was pastor of St. Clement Mary Hofbauer in Rosedale. He has also served on the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s College of Consultors and Presbyteral Council and has provided sacramental assistance at parishes throughout the archdiocese.

For 10 years, Father Grzymski served as Maryland State Chaplain of the Knights of Columbus.

In an Aug. 18 letter to clergy announcing the changes, Archbishop Lori expressed gratitude to Father Grzymski’s provincial leader, Conventual Franciscan Father Michael Heine, for allowing him to accept the assignment and to Father Grzymski “for his willingness to serve in this important role of leadership in our archdiocese.”

The archbishop also thanked Monsignor O’Connor for his service.

“Like yourselves, I continue to be very grateful to Monsignor O’Connor for his extraordinary service to the Archdiocese,” Archbishop Lori wrote.

The eastern vicariate serves the parishes and institutions of Harford, Baltimore and Anne Arundel counties 

Archbishop Lori asked the archdiocese’s clergy and faithful to pray for both Monsignor O’Connor and Father Grzymski as they prepare for the transition.

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