Born in Brooklyn, Father Gural was baptized in Our Lady of Consolation Church, Williamsburg. He attended St. Francis College and Cathedral College, both Brooklyn, and Immaculate Conception Seminary, Huntington, L.I. He was ordained June 2, 1956 by Archbishop Thomas E. Molloy at St. James Pro-Cathedral, Downtown Brooklyn.
He served as an assistant at St. Josaphat, Bayside, 1956-66; St. Camillus, Rockaway Beach, 1966-69; St. Nicholas, Williamsburg, 1969-72; and Holy Cross, Maspeth, 1972-83.
In 1984, he was named pastor of Our Lady of Consolation and served there until 1990. He also was pastor of St. Stanislaus, Bishop and Martyr, Ozone Park, 1990-94. In 1994, he took early retirement for health reasons.
Father Gural also served as coordinator of the Polish Apostolate, and he taught at Most Holy Trinity H.S., Williamsburg, 1969-71, and Cathedral Prep, Brooklyn, 1971-77.
He was a member of the Diocesan Priests’ Senate, 1975-77, and 1980-81; chaplain to the Don Bosco K. of C. Council, 1971-2003; chaplain to the Pulaski Assn. of the NYPD, and a member of the board of directors of POMPC, 1981-89.
In 1990, he received the Humanitarian Award from the Polish Gift of Life.
Bishop-elect Witold Morziewski was the main celebrant of the funeral Mass. Special concelebrants included Father Thomas Pettei, Andrzej Klocek, and James J. Meszaros, who preached the homily.
“He was a very pastorally oriented priest, very good with the people,” said Msgr. Peter Zendzian, pastor of St. Matthias Church, Ridgewood.
Father Gural was also an artist who made paintings and banners, especially with Polish themes, said Msgr. Zendzian. “He brought the best Catholic elements of Polish culture.”
Msgr. Zendzian – who knew Father Gural through the late Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua, founding director of the Catholic Migration and Refugee Office, and through the Polish Apostolate – remembered him from his devoted work and involvement with the Polish community.
“He was a very kind, generous man. He was always helpful,” Msgr. Zendzian added. “We are going to miss him.”
Burial was in St. John’s Cemetery, Middle Village.