Fr. John Gagala passed on from this life on February 4, 2019 at the age of 84.

Fr. Gagala was born July 22, 1934, in Poland and ordained a priest in the Carmelite Order, Province of Krakow, on May 22, 1958. He was incardinated in the Archdiocese of Detroit on May 27, 1981.

Fr. Gagala served as pastor of St. Ladislaus Parish, Hamtramck. He also served as administrator of St. Beatrice Parish, Southfield, as well as Parochial Vicar of St. Bartholomew Parish, Detroit.

The funeral Mass for Fr. Gagala was celebrated on Monday, Feb. 11 in Krakow, Poland. There will be a Memorial Mass at Church of the Transfiguration, Southfield, on Saturday, Feb. 23, beginning at 10 a.m. The Memorial Mass will be preceded by a Sharing of Memories at 9:30 a.m.

Condolences may be sent to the family of Fr. Gagala in care of the Archdiocese of Detroit, Office for Clergy and Consecrated Life, 12 State Street, Detroit, MI 48226.