Seminary Board of Trustees

Research Assistant in Epidemiology/Oncology at Wayne State University School of Medicine. President of the Michigan Division of the Polish American Congress. Scouting instructor with the Polish Scouting Organization of Michigan as past brownie troop leader, summer camp director, and current assistant to Girls Division leader in Michigan; scout master since 1986. Life long active participation in Michigan Polonian life. Currently a Regent of the OLS, and Trustee of St. Cyril and Methodius Seminary. Active Catholic belonging to St. Valentine’s Parish in Redford, MI. Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Detroit, & Master’s Degree in Social Work from Wayne State University. She is fluent in English and Polish.

Born in Poland and arrived to SS. Cyril and Methodius Seminary in 1998. Studied theology at St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in Boynton Beach, FL and graduated with M.Div. Ordained a priest for the Diocese of St. Augustine in 2005. Since ordination: parochial vicar,diocesan director of vocations, Vice-Rector, Dean of Human Formation and Assistant Professor of Canon Law at St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary and currently pastor of San Jose Parish in Jackosnville, Fla. as well as Promoter of Justice in the Diocese of St. Augustine. Earned licentiate in Canon Law from the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. and doctorate in Canon Law from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome. Member of the Canon Law Association of America and the Board of Trustees of SS. Cyril and Methodius Seminary.

Member of the Felician Sisters of North America; ministered as an elementary and secondary teacher or principal for 24 years followed by higher education administrator, Vice President of Student Services at Madonna University for 22 years. Currently serving as Director of the Center for Catholic Studies and Interfaith Dialogue at Madonna University. Member of the Board of Regents of Orchard Lake Schools and Trustee of St. Cyril and Methodius Seminary since 2012. Committed to working with fellow regents and trustees to advance the mission of the Orchard Lake Schools, increase enrollment and further the growth of Ss. Cyril and Methodius Seminary to prepare priests who will faithfully live the Gospel and serve the Church.

Served on the Boards of Directors of many organizations such as Detroit Diesel, Penske Corporation, Wabash Trailer, VM Motori-Italy, FER-Germany, Barron Cast, Inc., Truck-Lite, Keystone International, and Entec Engine. Was a member of the Board of the American Trucking Research Institute. Served on many civic and charitable organizations to include Mary’s Children Family Center, Orchard Lake Schools including Ss. Cyril and Methodius Seminary and St. Mary’s Prep, Focus Hope, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and local YMCA & parishes. Member of the Cardinal Club of Detroit, Legatus, and is a Knight of the Order of Malta and a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Holy Sepulcher. Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the General Motors Institute and a Master of Science degree in Theoretical and Applied Mechanics from Michigan State University. Attended management course work at the University of Illinois and the Stanford Executive program. He held a number of positions with General Motors. Was President, Vice Chairman, and CEO of Detroit Diesel Allison Corp. Was Vice President of Daimler Corporation in charge of engine development for commercial engines headquartered in Stuttgart. Was President of Penske Transportation Components LLC and a Director of Penske Corporation.

Successfully combined his knowledge of dentistry with his business acumen and entrepreneurial spirit to develop MIDA Dental Plans ("MIDA"), Great Expressions Dental Centers ("GEDC") and UnifiedSmiles. Currently, is Chairman of the Board of UnifiedSmiles and owner of Knysz Holdings, an international corporate development and strategic planning firm, which includes a real estate development arm, an award winning boutique resort in the Turks & Caicos, a French vineyard and a wine import and distribution company. Bachelor of Science degree from Wayne State University and doctorate in dental surgery from the University of Detroit School Of Dentistry. Prior to becoming a dentist, he was an investment advisor with Prudential Bache. Dr. Knysz founded MIDA and GEDC. Both MIDA and GEDC have been recognized by Inc. Magazine as one of America's fastest growing private companies. Under Dr. Knysz' leadership, GEDC, based in Bloomfield Hills, MI, successfully grew to more than 200+ dental offices in seven states with approximately $220 million in annual revenue. Strong supporter of Catholic education. Dr. Knysz is a board member of Madonna University, Ave Maria University, sits the on the advisory board of Thomas More Law Center, and is Chairman of the Board of the Catholic League. Regent of the Orchard Lake Schools and Member of the Board of Trustees of the Seminary.

Owner of a 33 year old risk bearing, licensed, 50 person dental insurance company, namely, DENCAP dental plans. He is an OLS Regent, and has been for 20 years. He spent 3 years as OLS full time chief financial officer. He serves on the Seminary, Budget and Finance, and Investment boards. He holds a degree in finance, doing M&A for large conglomerates in his younger days. Strong Catholic, married for 52 years, has 5 grown children. A 40 year active member of St. Kieran’s Parish in Shelby Twp., MI. Long time member of Detroit Kiwanis #1 club, managing our “books for kids” project distributing over 50,000 children books per year. Feel free to contact him at any time at 248-212-3812.

Retired executive engineer from General Motors after 37 years of service. Former mayor and current councilman of City of Orchard Lake, Michigan. Former Captain US Army. Practicing conservative Catholic & active member of Our Lady of Czestochowa Parish in Sterling Hts., MI. Very active at the Orchard Lake Schools to include being a Regent, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Polish Mission, and member of the Seminary Board of Trustees, Facilities Committee, Nominating, & By-Laws Committee. Doctorate in Mechanical Engineering & MBA from University of Detroit Mercy. Alumnus of St. Mary’s Preparatory of the Orchard Lake Schools - 1966. Licensed Michigan residential builder. Significant construction experience. Fluent in English and Polish.

Rev. Gary Michalik was born on February 22, 1953 in Dearborn, Michigan. He attended Elementary and High School at St. Andrew Parish in southwest Detroit graduating in 1971. Post-high school education includes a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Religious Studies from the University of Detroit in 1976 and a Masters in Divinity Degree from St. John Provincial Seminary in 1979. Fr. Gary was ordained a transitional deacon at St. John Seminary in 1979 and ordained a priest for service to the Archdiocese of Detroit on June 21, 1980 by the late John Cardinal Dearden. His parish assignments during the past 38 years include the following: internship at St. Agatha Parish in Redford in 1980, associate pastor of Our Lady Queen of Apostles Parish in Hamtramck from 1981 – 1985 and St. Mark Parish in Warren from 1985 – 1987, and pastor of St. Stephen Parish in Detroit from 1987 – 1993, Our Lady Queen of Apostles Parish from 1993 – 1998, St. Theodore of Canterbury Parish in Westland from 1998 – 2010, St. Colette Parish from 2010 to the present. Fr. Gary has served several terms on the former Council of Vicars for the Archdiocese of Detroit and two terms as a member of the Priests’ Assignment Board for the Archdiocese. Currently he is the president of the West Side Detroit Polish American Historical Society and secretary for the Priests’ Conference for Polish Affairs – Archdiocese of Detroit. In his free time Fr. Gary enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, history, collecting old maps, movies and theater. Reflecting on thirty-five years of priesthood Fr. Gary feels they have been years blessed with joy and happiness. “My greatest joy...” says Fr. Gary “...is the opportunity of celebrating the Mass and sacraments. I have a great love for the liturgy.” Also, “I have met many wonderful people in ministry, made longtime friendships, and have had the opportunity to be with people throughout all the activities of daily living from birth and baptisms, graduations and weddings, sickness, death, and funerals. Looking to the future I expect there will be many more opportunities to serve God’s people as a priest!”

Bishop Thomas John Paprocki was ordained for the Archdiocese of Chicago in 1978. After ordination, he studied law at DePaul University, and was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1981. Working as a parish priest at St. Michael Church in South Chicago, a neighborhood with high unemployment, then-Father Paprocki co‑founded the South Chicago Legal Clinic to help answer the need for legal services for the poor.

In November 1985, Cardinal Bernardin appointed Fr. Paprocki Vice‑Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Chicago and in 1987 sent him to do post‑graduate studies in canon law at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. He completed his doctoral degree in 1991. Father Paprocki then returned, and was appointed Chancellor in March 1992.

Beginning in June 2000, Father Paprocki studied Polish language and culture at the Jagiellonian University in Kraków, Poland. In January 2001, he was appointed Pastor of St. Constance Parish, serving primarily a large immigrant community from Poland on the northwest side of Chicago. Pope John Paul II appointed him to serve as Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago on January 24, 2003. Bishop Paprocki serves as Vice-President of the Illinois Catholic Health Association. He is a member of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Canonical Affairs and Church Governance, the Committee on Budget and Finance, and the Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth. He formerly served on the USCCB Administrative Committee and the Ad Hoc Committee on Religious Liberty. In addition to English, he speaks Polish, Spanish and Italian, and he reads Latin. On June 22, 2010, Bishop Paprocki was installed the ninth Bishop of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois. In May 2013 he received his Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) degree from the University of Notre Dame. He taught as an Adjunct Professor of Law at Loyola University Chicago School of Law from 1999 to 2015. He joined the Adjunct Faculty of Notre Dame Law School in 2016.

Graduate of Orchard Lake St. Mary’s (’60). Has a Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Detroit-Mercy, a JD from the University of Detroit-Mercy, LLM in Corporate Taxation from Wayne State University, and Honorary Doctor of Humanities from Madonna University. Was Vice President and Associate General Counsel, Intellectual Property for Verizon 2000-2011. Of Counsel to Hunton & Williams in Washington, DC 2012-2015. Sole Member of The Suchyta Firm, LLC 2012 to present. Member of the Board of Regents of the Orchard Lake Schools and Member of the Ss. Cyril & Methodius Seminary Board. Former Chairman and Member of the Madonna University Board of Trustees. Currently serving as General Counsel for Madonna University. Active supporter of the Orchard Lake Schools, including the Seminary.

Fr. Ulman was born October 3, 1946, to Alfred and Anna (Borys) Ulman. He was raised in Detroit and Hamtramck, attending Our Lady Help of Christians and Our Lady Queen of Apostles Elementary Schools. He graduated from St. Mary's Preparatory in Orchard Lake in 1964, and received his B.A. in Philosophy and Polish Studies from St. Mary’s College in 1968. He did his graduate work in Theology at Gregorian University in Rome receiving an STL in 1972, and has also completed course studies in the Doctorate of Ministry Program offered through St. Mary’s University in Baltimore in 1987.

Fr. Stan was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Detroit on August 25, 1973, at Our Lady Queen of Apostles Church, Hamtramck by Auxiliary Bishop Arthur Krawczak. His first assignments were as associate pastor at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Wyandotte, then at St. Gertrude's in Saint Clair Shores. In 1981 he was temporary administrator of St. Stanislaus and St. Bartholomew parishes in Detroit. In 1979 he was named associate pastor of St. Ladislaus Parish, and then pastor at in 1982. In July 2004 he was assigned pastor of St. Mary of the Hills Parish, Rochester Hills where he currently serves.

Fr. Stan uses his skills and talents by serving on numerous Archdiocesan, civic, and educational boards. Fr. Stan has served as Vicar of the SERF, North Central, and Pontiac Area Vicariates in past years. Active in the Polish-American community he is the moderator of the Catholic League for Religious Assistance to Poland and Polonia and President of the Priests' Conference for Polish Affairs. He is on the boards of trustees for Ss.Cyril and Methodius Seminary at Orchard Lake and Notre Dame Prep and Marist Academy in Pontiac. Father Stan's involvement in faith-based community organizing has led him in the past to leadership positions within MOSES (Metro Organizing Strategy Enabling Strength) and Gamaliel of Michigan (MI*Voice). He is a member of the Archdiocese's Incardination Board and chaplain to the Michigan John Paul II “Be Not Afraid” Foundation.

An easy-going and approachable man, Father Stan is an avid collector of toy trains and a member of the national Train Collectors Association. He loves a good movie or book on CD and enjoys Michigan’s northern woods and lakes.

On Jan. 25, 2017, the Most Rev. Robert J. Fisher was ordained as auxiliary bishop to Archbishop Allen Vigneron.

He attended Epiphany and St. Bede Elementary schools before graduating from the University of Detroit Jesuit High School in 1977.He went on to the University of Detroit, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Management Science. During his summers, he worked for the Catholic Youth Organization at their summer camps near Port Sanilac, Michigan.

After graduating, he worked full time for the CYO overseeing the Camping Services Department. While working for the CYO he began his discernment of the diocesan priesthood and entered formation at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in the fall of 1986, earning a Master of Divinity degree.

After being ordained a priest by Adam Cardinal Maida in 1992, he was sent as associate pastor to Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish in Grosse Pointe Woods. In 1995, Cardinal Maida assigned him as the Director of Priestly Vocations for the Archdiocese. In 2000, he was named pastor of St. Angela in Roseville, in 2003, St. Lawrence in Utica and since March of 2014 has served as rector of the National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica in Royal Oak.

During his pastorates, he has been a seminarian mentor at Sacred Heart Major Seminary, and served on the Program Review Committee and the Presbyteral Council. Currently he is a member of the Catholic Schools Council and the Board of Directors of the Catholic Youth Organization