Fr. Edward Wal grew up in Zagorzany, Poland and attended High School in Biecz, Poland. He attended seminary in Tarnow and was ordained a priest in the Diocese of Tarnow, Poland on May 24, 1979. He served in Poland for many years before heeding the call to serve abroad.
In 1991 he was assigned to the Diocese of Huancavelica, Peru. Before becoming Pastor in the local community, Fr. Wal studied Spanish for four months. Once he felt confident with the language, he became Pastor to several communities in the Diocese, including Huando, Conaica and Moya.
In 1997, Fr. Wal again made an international move and was assigned to assist with a Polish Ministry at St. Cecilia’s Parish in Clearwater, Florida. While the Polish Ministry did not go as planned, he remained at St. Cecelia as an associate pastor for many years and was responsible for the Spanish Ministry.
He took a sabbatical from 2005-2006 and spent some time in his native country of Poland. He has now returned to the United States and is a part of the staff of St. Frances Cabrini Parish. Fr. Wal is also a celebrant of the Spanish Mass offered at St. Theresa Parish in Spring Hill.