Detroit — Fr. Alexander Kuras will forever be remembered as a priest who had a profound impact on his parishioners, especially those he served for 31 years at Divine Savior Parish in Westland.

Fr. Kuras, whose leadership at Divine Savior ended last year, when he was granted senior priest status, died July 1 after a battle with cancer. He was 70.

“We were very saddened to hear of Fr. Alex’s passing. We shared so many memories and celebrations while in Michigan,” said Glenn and Patti Nutting in a remembrance. “Baptisms, Communions, confirmations and funerals. We enjoyed getting to know him during a Seder meal, parish council meeting or just a night out.”

During his three decades at the Westland parish, Fr. Kuras put his heart and soul into making Divine Savior a welcoming place of worship. He was instrumental in completing construction on the parish’s permanent worship space in 1991. Also under his leadership, the parish added a new chapel in 2001 devoted to Venerable Solanus Casey.

Fr. Kuras also helped dedicate the Anastasia Kuras Mothers Memorial Garden, in honor of his and all mothers, at Divine Savior in 2000. A statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary, “Our Confidence,” was added to the garden a year later.

Born Feb. 4, 1943, to Max and Anastasia Kuras, Alexander Kuras grew up in Detroit and entered Sacred Heart Major Seminary. He was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Detroit on June 7, 1969. Fr. Kuras, whose family had strong Polish roots in the city of Detroit, was related to a few well-known Holocaust survivors and Polish immigrants who helped in the fight against the Nazis, including a cousin, Fr. Hippolite Kuras, OFM, who knew and had often conversed with St. Maximillian Kolbe while at seminary in Poland.

His first priestly assignment was as associate pastor of St. James Parish in Ferndale, before being assigned as associate pastor of Holy Name Parish, Birmingham.

Fr. Kuras’ first pastorate was at Our Lady of the Lakes Parish in Waterford, before beginning his ministry at Divine Savior in 1980.

When Fr. Kuras retired from the pastorate at Divine Savior in May 2012, during which time he was undergoing chemotherapy, the parish held a special Mass and banquet in his honor. At the time, Fr. Kuras told his former parishioners that “words cannot begin to adequately express what is in my heart” for their show of love toward him over the years.

“The response on the part of so many participants was overwhelming. It was a tribute not just to me but also to the devotion and love so many of you have for this Church of the Divine Savior,” Fr. Kuras said.

“Thank you for all the words of appreciation, support and love over all these years.”

Preceding Fr. Kuras in death were his parents, Max and Anastasia, and his brother, Daniel. He is survived by his aunts, Helen Polanski and Rose Kuras, and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

A funeral Mass was held for Fr. Kuras at Divine Savior Parish on July 8, and interment will be in Our Lady of Hope Cemetery in Brownstown.