Fr. Paul was born in 1951 in Fall River, MA and grew up in the neighboring town of Assonet. He has a younger sister. His parents, John and Jeanne, celebrated their 59th anniversary in Sept. 2005. Following graduation from Holy Cross College as a History major, he entered the Society of Jesus in 1973. His programs of study in Jesuit formation included a M.Ed. in religious education at Boston College, an MA in Philosophy at Gonzaga University (Spokane, WA), and an MDiv. and STM. in theology studies at the Jesuit School of Theology (Berkeley, CA). In 2003 he completed a D.Min. degree at Bangor Theological Seminary (Bangor, ME).

As a scholastic and again following ordination he was assigned to Cheverus High School (Portland, ME) where he taught Advanced Placement US History, various other social studies and religious education classes and served as faculty moderator for student clubs and organizations. During several summers he served as hospital chaplain at Mercy Hospital (Portland, ME). He was next assigned to Bishop Connolly High School (Fall River, MA) where he served as Public Relations Director and later Admissions Director for the school and taught part time.

From 1991 to 2005, he served as pastor of two parishes in Maine. From 1991-2003 he was pastor of St. Joseph Parish, Eastport, ME - way down east. There he was active in the local ecumenical clergy association, served as a Trustee of the community nursing home, and was very active in community theater. In 2003-05 he was pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Gardiner, ME. Highlights of the Gardiner parish include its very active programs of lay ministry and Scripture sharing and its experience in doing an Ignatian retreat in the midst of daily life for the past two Lenten-Easter seasons. Parish members also completed a major renovation of the worship space using volunteer labor (2002-2004).