Fr. Rajmund Dorawa, C.Ss.R. was born on August 25, 1950 to Franciszek Dorawa and Sophia Zielinska. He professed his first vows on August 15, 1970 and was ordained to the priesthood on June 17, 1976.

Fr. Dorawa was born in Inowroclaw, Poland, the younger of two brothers. He received his early education at Elementary School No. 2 in Inowroclaw and attended Technical College at Torun, Poland. He entered the Novitiate at the Redemptorist house in Braniewo, Poland in 1969, where he made his first profession on August 16, 1970. He went on to attend the Redemptorist seminary at Tuchow, Poland.

Fr. Dorawa was ordained, as a member of the Province of Warsaw in Tuchow, Poland on June 17, 1976. He continued his studies at the Academy of Catholic Theology of Warsaw and obtained his Masters of Theology degree there in 1982. His first appointment was as Associate Pastor and Prefect of Youth in 1976.

Fr. Dorawa arrived in Canada in April 1979 to study English as a second language, which he did in Edmonton, AB for one year. He was appointed on loan from the Warsaw Province to the Edmonton Province and was appointed as Associate Pastor in St. Joseph’s Church, Grande Prairie (1980 – 1982). Following this appointment, he served at St. Mary’s Parish in Saskatoon (1982 – 1984) where he also worked as chaplain at St. Paul’s Hospital.

He was also appointed Associate Pastor at St. Gerard’s Church in Yorkton, SK (1984 – 1987), then St. Mary’s Church in Saskatoon (1987-1990), serving both as Associate Pastor and Pastor. During this time, he completed his Doctorate in Moral Theology in Rome, and worked for several years in the Redemptorist mission territory of Denmark.

In 2011, Fr. Dorawa petitioned to join the EdmontonToronto Province in Canada. Upon his return to Canada, he was assigned as Associate Pastor of St. Patrick’s Church, Toronto.

In 2014, Fr. Dorawa returned to Grande Prairie as Associate Pastor at St. Joseph’s Church, and then due to decreased mobility, he continued to offer pastoral assistance to St. Joseph’s Parish while living with the Redemptorist Community. Due to health issues, Fr. Dorawa moved into long term care in 2024 and was living at Pearson Place in Hythe, AB.

He continued to maintain strong friendships and connections with many people in the Grande Prairie community with whom he has served over many years, and who have remained close to him throughout his time of care.

Fr. Dorawa passed away on January 29, 2026 at the age of 75.