Deacon Paul Peter Bolus, lifelong member of St. Elias Maronite Church in Birmingham, will be ordained to the priesthood on Friday, June 26, by Bishop A. Elias Zaidan of the Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles. The ordination will be at 5:00.

Deacon Bolus will be the first married priest to be ordained at St. Elias. American-born Maronite married men have only been allowed to be ordained priests since 2014.

Deacon Bolus is the son of the late Tofe Assad Bolus and Dorothy Helen Butrus Bolus. His siblings are Tofe Jr. (deceased), Joseph (wife, Sandra), Mary, Herbert (deceased; wife, Martha Anne), Dora, and Norman (wife, Lisa).

On May 19, 1989, the deacon entered into the Mystery of Holy Matrimony with Theresa Ann Joseph. Together they have been blessed with four children: Stephen (wife, Maribel “Mimi”), Jessica, Matthew (wife, Miriam), and Daniel (wife, Bridget), as well as four grandchildren.

Deacon Bolus pursued his academic studies at Woodlawn High School, Birmingham-Southern College, Tulane Law School, and Holy Apostles College & Seminary. He had a successful career as an attorney for 36 years before retiring from Bradley Arant Boult Cummings, LLP in 2024 to pursue religious life.

In 2019, during a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, he experienced a profound moment of grace through which he discerned the Lord’s call to deeper service. 

He was ordained as a subdeacon on July 2, 2023, and as a deacon on March 2, 2025. Priests who have been instrumental in his spiritual formation and preparation for the priesthood include Chorbishop Richard D. Saad, Monsignor John Paul Kimes, Father Peter Zogbi, Father Elias Yazbeck, Father Patrick Kassab and Father Jad Chlouk.

Deacon Bolus has been active in every aspect of parish life at St. Elias. He served as an altar server, lector, president of the MYO, president of the MYA, and a multiple-term member of the Church Council, including two terms as council chair. He is also the co-founder of the Lebanese Food and Cultural Festival held annually in Birmingham.

Father Elias Yazbeck, pastor of St. Elias, noted, “I have had the privilege of witnessing Deacon Paul’s deep love for God, his family, and his Church. His journey to the priesthood is not the result of a single moment, but the fruit of a lifetime of faithful service, humble leadership, and a sincere desire to follow the Lord’s call. The people of St. Elias have known him as a devoted parishioner, and now they will receive him as a spiritual father. We thank God for the gift of his vocation and look forward to the many blessings his priestly ministry will bring to our parish and our Eparchy.”

Following the deacon’s ordination to priesthood, he will continue his ministry at St. Elias, celebrating his first Divine Liturgy on Sunday, June 28.