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June 11, 2025Before Deacon John Grim was born, his parents prayed that God would bring them a son who was called to be a priest. On June 28, God willing, their prayers will be answered.
That’s when their son is scheduled to be ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City at The Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. The ordination is open to the public and will be broadcast on the archdiocesan website and the cathedral’s YouTube page.
“Early on Jim and I prayed that, if it was God’s will, we would have a son who would become a priest,” Ann Grim said. “We have four children and, naturally, want each one to follow what God is calling them to in their lives.
“It is evident to me that the Holy Spirit has brought John to this moment in his life. I have many times marveled and pondered that movement of the Holy Spirit as I watched him grow and mature. We truly believe he has been called to the priesthood, and we are filled with joy!”
Grim, 29, was accepted into the seminarian program for the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City in May 2018 before spending a pastoral year at Saint Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Oklahoma City. He studied pre-theology and the first two years of theology at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary in Missouri, finishing his studies this year at Mount Saint Mary's Seminary in Maryland; the same seminary attended by Archbishop Coakley and Blessed Stanley Rother.
In June 2024, he and fellow seminarian Jonah Beckham were ordained transitional deacons. Grim has spent the past year experiencing a change in his ministry.
“I’ve really enjoyed preaching, it’s amazing. You just really experience the Holy Spirit working through you,” he said.
“I was able to do some baptisms that are grace filled. I recently baptized my niece, which was just awesome to recognize this child is a child of God and I got to be a part of it! I was an instrument and that was powerful.”
Once he is ordained a priest, he said he looks forward to offering absolution and reconciliation through the sacrament of Penance.
“I was surprised to discover I was really looking forward to the sacrament of Penance, unburdening people of the ways of sin. Just to discover the abundant mercy of God, it has been incredible to experience and I’m looking forward to being an instrument of God’s mercy.”
The new experiences and years of discernment have heightened his determination to serve the Catholic community as a priest.
“There’s a great excitement and anticipation. I don’t see it as a culmination of the past seven years, I see it as a beginning,” he said. “If you just trust in the Lord and his providence, all of that becomes clear, the next step is there, and you take it in trust.”
After Grim’s diaconate ordination and first Mass as a deacon at his home parish of Our Lady of Sorrows in Chandler, James and Ann Grim found themselves sharing an overwhelming moment.
“Words cannot describe the amazing sense of God’s grace being poured out during those couple of days,” she said. “These past years of formation have served him well as he has continued to grow and discern. We now look forward to the day of his priesthood ordination and to being present for his first Mass. We are proud of him.”
Diane Clay is a freelance writer for the Sooner Catholic.
Photo: (Above) John Grim baptized his niece at St. Benedict Catholic Church. Her parents are Elizabeth Nunes, John’s sister, and David Nunes. Photo provided.
Rev. Mr. John Grim stood with his parents, James and Ann Grim, after he was ordained to the transitional diaconate on June 1, 2024, at The Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Oklahoma City. Photo Chris Porter/Sooner Catholic. 