October 9, 1949 was a day of great rejoicing for the Congregation as well as for the Zegers family when Paul was ordained to the sacred priesthood. After his ordination, Father Paul spent two years as a teacher in Kortrijk, Belgium. In 1952 he was asked to go to the Hawaiian Islands. Upon arrival, Father resided at St. Patrick Church for a period of orientation and then on Christmas Day was given the assignment of being the associate pastor of Our Lady of the Mount Church, Kalihi.
Throughout his 55 years of active ministry, Paul also served as the Associate Pastor of Holy Family, Puunene, Maui, Our Lady of Sorrows, Wahiawa, St. Patrick Church, Kaimuki, and St. Anthony Church, Kalihi. He became the Pastor of Sacred Hearts Church, Lanai City; Our Lady Queen of the Angels, Kula, Immaculate Conception, Lihue, Kauai, St. Rita, Haiku and finally St. Mary, Hana. In his letter to the provincial accepting the assignment to Hana, Father wrote: “I wish to stay on as long as the good Lord will allow me to do a good job. It is in His hands!”
In 2007, after courageously battling cancer for five years, Paul’s health weakened and was told by his physician he could no longer do parochial work. He reluctantly accepted the decision as well as that of going to St. Patrick Monastery where he could receive the medical care and attention that he needed.
Father Paul gave himself entirely to God and was summoned back to Him on July 25, 2007. He remembered the Words of Scripture: “Remain faithful even when facing death and I will give you the crown of life – an unending, glorious future!” (Rev. 2:10).
Ewald Zegers was born in Martenslinde, Belgium on August 8, 1922, the son of Gerard and Marie Lambrechts Zegers. There were eight children in the Zegers family including another brother, Victor, who also became a priest. Ewald entered the seminary of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary in Tremeloo and was temporarily professed on September 15, 1943. He took Paul as his name in religious life. Three years later, on September 16, 1946, he made his perpetual vows.