Background
Gries was born in Cleveland to John and Dorothy (Soukup) Gries.
Gries was born in Cleveland to John and Dorothy (Soukup) Gries.
He attended Benedictine High School in Cleveland and then attended Loyola University Chicago, earning a Bachelors and Master Degrees.
He served as an auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Cleveland in the state of Ohio from 2001 to 2013. He became prior of the abbey and was elected the fifth abbot of the abbey in 1981, a position he held for over 20 years. He was named Titular Bishop of Praesidium and Auxiliary Bishop of Cleveland by Pope John Paul II on March 25, 2001 and was ordained with Bishop Martin Amos on June 7, 2001.
The ordaining bishop was Cleveland Bishop Anthony Pilla, and Cleveland Auxiliary Bishops James Quinn and Anthony Pevec were the principal co-consecrators.
His resignation as Auxiliary Bishop of Cleveland was accepted by Pope Francis on Friday, November 1, 2013.