Father Anthony Smela was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Lansing in 2017 after receiving a Masters of Divinity from Sacred Heart Major Seminary. It has been a profound joy for him to serve in a variety of roles since then.

In the summer of 2020, Father Tony was reassigned to Flint, where he was invited to teach an 8th grade Church History class and a freshman Scripture class. The following school year, Father Tony began teaching freshman Scripture full time—and it turned out to be one of the most fun and fulfilling years of his life! Sharing the beauty of the faith with young people and watching them encounter Scripture in new ways has been one of the great blessings of his priesthood.

Father Tony’s love for Scripture is something that deeply shapes both my ministry and my personal prayer life. Psalm 91 holds a special place in my heart, and I’m continually drawn to the richness of books like Acts of the Apostles, Romans, Nehemiah, and Revelation. Whether Father Tony is preaching, teaching, or praying, he find great joy in helping others encounter the living Word of God and grow in their relationship with Jesus through the Scriptures.