Orchard Lake — A Polish priest of the Archdiocese of Newark, N.J., has been appointed the 12th chancellor of the Orchard Lake Schools, ending a monthslong search.

Fr. Miroslaw K. Krol, 46, a native of Poland and former student, dean and vice rector of the Orchard Lake Schools, will succeed Msgr. Thomas Machalski as chancellor, the schools’ board of regents announced July 24.

Fr. Krol attended SS. Cyril and Methodius Seminary for two years before completing his theological studies at Immaculate Conception Seminary of Seton Hall University in South Orange, N.J. He was ordained a priest for the Newark archdiocese in 1999.

After serving in parishes in New Jersey, Cardinal Adam J. Maida named Fr. Krol dean of human formation at SS. Cyril and Methodius Seminary in Orchard Lake in 2006. He served in that capacity before being named vice rector two years later, serving in that capacity for five years.

“Rev. Krol’s dedication to the mission of the Orchard Lake Schools, his experience, and the vigor and enthusiasm he will bring to us are what we sought in our new chancellor,” said Stephen Gross, chairman of the Orchard Lake Schools board of regents. “We welcome and look forward to working with him.”

Fr. Krol also served as director of the Blessed John Paul II Be Not Afraid Center in the United States, overseeing the center’s fundraising and spiritual direction.

Since 2011, Fr. Krol has served as pastor of St. Theresa Parish in Linden, N.J., which is now an archdiocesan shrine to St. John Paul II.

The Orchard Lake Schools is comprised of SS. Cyril and Methodius Seminary, St. Mary’s Preparatory High School and The Polish Mission, which is dedicated to preserving and promoting Polish and Polish-American culture in the United States.

Msgr. Machalski served as the schools’ chancellor and rector since 2012.