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Ordination to the Priesthood

Deacon Charles Allen Boedeker Rev. Mr. Jacob Thomas Braun Rev. Mr. Joshua Stephen Deters Rev. Mr. Ryan Thomas Quarnstrom Rev. Mr. Jacob Richard Wessel

will be ordained to the priesthood at a ceremony here at the Cathedral Basilica on Saturday, May 27, 2023, with Archbishop Mitchell Rozanski presiding. 

The Ordination Ceremony will begin at 10:00 a.m. and a reception/receiving line for the newly ordained priests will immediately follow.

Click here for the LiveStream 

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Assignment changes for priests and deacons beginning July 1

By Anne Marie Amacher The Catholic Messenger

Sixteen priests and four deacons will see assignment changes beginning July 1 when four priests are retiring and one religious order priest is moving out of the Diocese of Davenport, Bishop Thomas Zinkula announced.

Retirements

Father Anthony Herold , 69, will retire. The Fort Madison native graduated from Northeast Missouri State (now Truman State University) and St. Ambrose College in Davenport. He completed his theology studies at the Pontifical North American College in Rome. Bishop Gerald O’Keefe ordained him to the priesthood July 14, 1979 at St. Mary Church-Fort Madison. Father Herold served at St. Paul Parish-Burlington, St. Mary Parish-Clinton and as spiritual director, diocesan vocations director and rector of the former St. Ambrose Seminary-Davenport. He served at St. Mary Parish-Iowa City, St. Patrick Parish-Ottumwa, St. Mary Magdalen Parish-Bloomfield and St. Mary of the Visitation Parish-Ottumwa and in pastoral management for corporate affairs at St. Aloysius Parish-Eldon. He served at Jesus Christ, Prince of Peace Parish-Clinton, Immaculate Conception Parish-Petersville, Ss. John & Paul Parish-Burlington, St. Paul the Apostle Parish-Davenport and as diocesan vicar general. He currently serves as pastor of Sacred Heart Parish-Newton and dean of the Grinnell Deanery.

Father Timothy Regan , 73, will retire. A Wisconsin native, he graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and completed theology studies at Pope John XXIII National Seminary in Weston, Massachusetts. Bishop O’Keefe ordained him to the priesthood May 30, 1991 at St. Anthony Church-Knoxville. Father Regan served at University Hospitals in Iowa City, Our Lady of Lourdes Parish-Bettendorf, Holy Trinity Parish-Keota, Sacred Heart Parish-Lost Nation, St. James Parish-Toronto and Sacred Heart Parish-Oxford Junction. He served as priest chaplain at Genesis Health System in Davenport and at St. Paul the Apostle Parish-Davenport. He currently serves as a chaplain at University Hospitals in Iowa City.

Father David Wilkening , 74, will retire. The Sigourney native graduated from the University of Northern Iowa-Cedar Falls and completed his theology studies at St. Paul Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. Bishop O’Keefe ordained him to the priesthood June 9, 1979 at St. Mary Church-Sigourney. Father Wilkening served at Sacred Heart Parish-Clinton, St. Mary Parish-Iowa City, St. Mary Magdalen Parish-Bloomfield, and St. Aloysius Parish-Eldon. He also served at St. Joseph Parish-What Cheer, Our Lady of Lourdes Parish-Keswick, St. Joseph Parish-North English, St. Mary Parish-West Point and St. Boniface Parish-Farmington. He also served at St. Mary Parish-Solon, Holy Family Parish-Fort Madison and St. Joseph Parish-Montrose. Currently, he is pastor of St. Patrick Parish-Marengo, St. Joseph Parish-North English and St. Mary Parish-Williamsburg.

Father Stephen Witt , 74, will retire. The Clinton native graduated from St. Ambrose College-Davenport and the University of Iowa. He married Patricia Finkenhoefer in 1974 and was in the workforce for 45 years. Ordained to the diaconate in 1982, he served parishes in Clinton before moving to Grinnell and serving at St. Mary Parish. After his wife’s death in 2001, he discerned a call to the priesthood. He completed theology studies at Sacred Heart School of Theology-Hales Corners, Wisconsin. Bishop Martin Amos ordained him to the priesthood Dec. 15, 2012 at Sacred Heart Cathedral. Father Witt currently serves as pastor of St. Mary Parish-Iowa City and has served that parish and the Newman Catholic Student Center-Iowa City in various roles.

Assignment changes

Father James Betzen, C.PP.S , 69, is being reassigned outside of the Davenport Diocese by his community, the Missionaries of the Precious Blood. Father Betzen currently serves at St. Mary of the Visitation Parish-Ottumwa.

Father Gary Beckman , 64, will become pastor of Holy Family Parish-Fort Madison and St. Joseph Parish-Montrose. The Burlington native studied at Southeastern Community College-Burlington, Western Illinois University-Macomb, Illinois, and graduated from St. Ambrose University with a degree in criminal justice. He worked in law enforcement before studying theology at St. Paul Seminary-St. Paul, Minnesota, and completed theology studies at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary-St. Louis. Bishop William Franklin ordained him to the priesthood June 4, 1995 at Sacred Heart Cathedral. He served at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish-Bettendorf, Holy Family Parish-Davenport, Assumption & St. Patrick Parish-Charlotte, Ss. Mary & Joseph Parish-Sugar Creek and St. Joseph Parish-DeWitt. He also served at St. John the Baptist Parish-Houghton and St. James Parish-St. Paul. He currently serves as pastor of St. Wenceslaus Parish-Iowa City and St. Bernadette Parish-West Branch.

Father James Flattery , 33, will become pastor of St. Mary Parish-Tipton, St. Mary Parish-Mechanicsville and St. Bernadette Parish-West Branch. The Colfax native graduated from AIB College of Business-Des Moines and went to work for Target Corp. in Altoona and Ankeny. He graduated from Conception Seminary-Conception, Missouri, and completed his theology studies at University of St. Mary of the Lake–Mundelein Seminary in Mundelein, Illinois. Bishop Thomas Zinkula ordained him to the priesthood June 6, 2020 at Immaculate Conception Church-Colfax. Father Flattery currently serves at Divine Mercy Parish-Burlington/West Burlington and St. Mary Parish-Dodgeville.

Father Scott Foley , 38, will remain as pastor of St. Mary Parish-Grinnell and add the assignment of pastor of St. Patrick Parish-Brooklyn. The Williamsburg native graduated from the University of Iowa with a BSE in civil engineering and a minor in business. He completed his theology studies at the Pontifical North American College-Rome. He worked as an engineer before entering the seminary. He also served as an English teacher at Mokpo Catholic University in Mokpo, South Korea, and worked with the Missionaries of Charity in Calcutta, India. Bishop Zinkula ordained him to the priesthood June 1, 2019 at Sacred Heart Cathedral. Father Foley has served at St. Paul the Apostle Parish-Davenport, Our Lady of Victory Parish-Davenport and Assumption High School-Davenport. He currently serves as pastor of the Grinnell parish.

Father Marty Goetz , 54, will become pastor at Sacred Heart Parish-Newton. The Keokuk native attended Southeastern Community College and St. Ambrose University. He completed theology studies at Mundelein Seminary-St. Mary of the Lake. Bishop O’Keefe ordained him to the priesthood May 29, 1992 at All Saints Church-Keokuk. Father Goetz served at St. Patrick Parish-Iowa City, Our Lady of Victory Parish-Davenport and Prince of Peace Parish-Clinton. After a leave of absence, he returned to active ministry in 2001. He also served at Holy Trinity Parish-Keota, St. Mary Parish-Sigourney and Our Lady of Lourdes Parish-Keswick and as diocesan director of vocations. He also served at Holy Trinity Parish-Richmond, St. Mary Parish-Riverside and St. Joseph Parish-Wellman. He currently serves as pastor of Divine Mercy Parish, formed by the merger of Ss. John & Paul Parish-Burlington and Ss. Mary & Patrick Parish-West Burlington. He also serves as pastor of St. Mary Parish-Dodgeville.

Father Jacob Greiner , 41, will become pastor of Divine Mercy Parish-Burlington/West Burlington and St. Mary Parish-Dodgeville and continue as diocesan director of seminarians and of vocations. The Keota native graduated from the University of Notre Dame and completed theology studies at St. Paul Seminary-St. Paul. Bishop Amos ordained him to the priesthood May 25, 2013 at Sacred Heart Cathedral. Father Greiner served at Ss. Mary & Mathias Parish-Muscatine, St. Anthony Parish-Knoxville, Sacred Heart Parish-Melcher and priest moderator of St. Andrew Parish-Blue Grass. He currently serves as pastor of Our Lady of Victory Parish-Davenport.

Father Patrick Hilgendorf , 53, will become pastor of Our Lady of Victory Parish-Davenport. The Clinton native graduated from Mount St. Clare College-Clinton, St. Ambrose University-Davenport and completed his theology studies at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary. Bishop Franklin ordained him to the priesthood May 17, 1997 at Sacred Heart Cathedral. Father Hilgendorf has served at St. Paul the Apostle Parish-Davenport, St. Patrick and St. Wenceslaus parishes in Iowa City, Ss. John & Paul Parish-Burlington and Ss. Mary & Patrick Parish-West Burlington. He currently serves as pastor of St. Patrick Parish-Ottumwa and St. Mary Magdalen Parish-Bloomfield.

Father John Lamansky , 32, will serve as pastor of St. Wenceslaus Parish-Iowa City with ministry to the Hispanic community at St. Patrick Parish-Iowa City. A Fairfield-area native, he graduated from Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio, completed advanced studies at Mundelein Seminary, and completed theology studies at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas-Rome. Bishop Zinkula ordained him to the priesthood June 30, 2018 at Sacred Heart Cathedral. Father Lamansky served at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish-Bettendorf and currently serves as parochial vicar of Jesus Christ, Prince of Peace Parish-Clinton and chaplain of Prince of Peace Catholic School.

Father Robert Lathrop , 64, while remaining pastor of Holy Trinity Parish-Keota and St. Mary Parish-Sigourney, and administrator of Ss. Joseph and Cabrini Parish-Richland, will add duties as pastor of St. Joseph Parish-North English. Born in Orlando, Florida, he moved around the country as his father served in the military. Father Lathrop served in the military from 1977-1995 and took early retirement to pursue undergraduate studies. He graduated from St. Ambrose University and completed theology studies at Mundelein Seminary. Bishop Franklin ordained him to the priesthood June 9, 2001 at Sacred Heart Cathedral. Father Lathrop served at Ss. Mary & Mathias Parish-Muscatine, Our Lady of Victory Parish-Davenport and All Saints Parish-Keokuk. He also served at St. Joseph Parish-Montrose, St. Patrick Parish-Georgetown, St. Peter Parish-Lovilia, St. Patrick Parish-Melrose and All Saints Parish-Keokuk. He currently serves as pastor of the Keota and Sigourney parishes and as administrator in Richland.

Father Khoa Le , 40, will become parochial vicar at Jesus Christ, Prince of Peace Parish-Clinton. Father Le, a native of Vietnam, graduated from the University of Hue with a bachelor’s degree in physics. He studied for the priesthood at Major Seminary of Hue. Bishop Francis Xavier Le Van Hong ordained him to the priesthood June 12, 2015 at Phu Cam Cathedral in Vietnam. He later earned a master of pastoral theology degree from Seton Hall University in New Jersey. He has served at Ss. Mary & Mathias Parish-Muscatine since arriving in the diocese in 2021.

Father Scott Lemaster , 66, while remaining as pastor at St. Bridget Parish-Victor, will be relieved as pastor of St. Patrick Parish-Brooklyn and assigned as pastor of St. Patrick Parish-Marengo. The Muscatine native graduated from St. Ambrose College, Aquinas Institute-St. Louis and studied theology at St. Paul Seminary in St. Paul, St. John’s School of Theology and Seminary, Collegeville-Minnesota, and Aquinas Institute-St. Louis. Bishop O’Keefe ordained him to the priesthood June 22, 1985 at St. Mary Church-Muscatine. Father Lemaster has served at Our Lady of Victory Parish-Davenport, Sacred Heart Parish-Kinross, Holy Trinity Parish-Richmond, St. Joseph Parish-Wellman, St. Patrick Parish-Melrose, St. Patrick Parish-Georgetown and St. Peter Parish-Lovilia. He has also served at Assumption & St. Patrick Parish-Charlotte, Ss. Mary & Joseph Parish-Sugar Creek, Immaculate Conception Parish-Petersville and St. Patrick Parish-Delmar. He currently serves as pastor of the Brooklyn and Victor parishes.

Father Symphorien Lopoke , 54, will become pastor of St. Mary Parish-Iowa City where he currently serves as parochial vicar.

Father Dale Mallory , 31, while continuing to serve as parochial vicar of St. Mary of the Visitation Parish-Ottumwa, will also serve at St. Patrick Parish-Ottumwa and St. Mary Magdalen Parish-Bloomfield. Born in Massachusetts, he graduated from the University of Iowa and worked several years before discerning a call to the priesthood. He completed theology studies at St. Paul Seminary School of Theology at the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota. Bishop Zinkula ordained him to the priesthood June 4, 2022 at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Davenport. He assisted at St. Anthony Parish-Davenport and currently serves at St. Mary of the Visitation-Ottumwa.

Father Francis Mensah , 40, while remaining pastor of St. Peter Parish-Cosgrove, St. Mary Parish-Oxford and serving as defender of the bond for the diocesan marriage tribunal, will add duties as pastor of St. Mary Parish-Williamsburg. He grew up in Ghana, Africa and earned degrees from St. Paul Seminary-Accra, and St. Peter Seminary-Cape Coast, the Pontifical Urbaniana University-Rome, Pontifical Gregorian University-Rome and Pontifical Lateran University-Rome. Bishop Matthias Kobina Nketsiah ordained him to the priesthood Sept. 25, 2010 in Cape Coast, Ghana. Father Mensah has served at the University of Cape Coast, Ghana; a senior high school in Agona Swedru, Ghana; in radio evangelization in Ghana; and as a parochial collaborator at St. Barbara Parish in the Diocese of Rome. He came to the Davenport Diocese in 2022.

Father Richard Okumu , 66, will serve as a senior priest at St. Thomas More Parish-Coralville and St. Patrick Parish-Iowa City. Born in Uganda, East Africa, he attended Katigando National Major Seminary and earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy. He also studied at Cambridge University in England and did theology studies at Gregorian University in Rome. Bishop O’Keefe ordained him to the priesthood Aug. 8, 1981 at Sacred Heart Church-Newton. Father Okumu served at Assumption High School-Davenport, St. Patrick Parish-Iowa City, Sacred Heart Parish-Kinross, Holy Trinity Parish-Richmond and St. Joseph Parish-Wellman. After a leave of absence for studies, he served at St. Peter Parish-Cosgrove, St. Michael Parish-Holbrook, St. Bridget Parish-Victor, St. Patrick Parish in Brooklyn and Church of the Visitation Parish in Camanche. He currently serves as pastor of St. Mary Parish-Mechanicsville and St. Mary Parish-Tipton.

Father David Paintsil , 44, recently arrived in the Davenport Diocese and will become parochial vicar of St. Mary Parish-Iowa City. A native of Africa, he attended St. Peter Regional Seminary at Cape Coast, Ghana, did theological studies at the Pontifical Urbaniana University-Rome and advanced studies at the University of Cape Coast, Ghana. Cardinal Peter Turkson ordained him to the priesthood Nov. 12, 2005 at St. Francis Cathedral at Cape Coast. Father Paintsil has served at Mary, Queen of Peace, St. Edward and Immaculate Conception of Mary Grotto parishes, all in Cape Coast.

Father Joseph Phung , 65, will become pastor at St. Patrick Parish-Iowa City. Born in Vietnam, he began theology studies there before his school closed. He immigrated to the United States in 1993 and studied at St. Ambrose University. He completed his theology studies at Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. Bishop Franklin ordained him to the priesthood June 24, 2000 at Sacred Heart Cathedral. Father Phung served at St. Mary Parish-Iowa City, Sacred Heart Cathedral-Davenport, where he also served the Vietnamese Catholic community, and St. Alphonsus Parish-Mount Pleasant. He currently serves as pastor of Holy Family Parish-Fort Madison and St. Joseph Parish-Montrose.

Father Joseph Sia , 48, will become pastor of St. Patrick Parish and St. Mary parishes in Ottumwa and St. Mary Magdalen Parish-Bloomfield. Born in Manila, Philippines, he earned a BS in basic medical sciences and a doctor of medicine from the University of Philippines. Before entering the priesthood, he was a university research associate at the Institute of Human Genetics, University of the Philippines. He served as a graduate research assistant at the University of Iowa before completing theology studies at Mundelein Seminary. Bishop Amos ordained him to the priesthood May 10, 2008 at Sacred Heart Cathedral. Father Sia served at Ss. Mary & Mathias Parish-Muscatine; St. Joseph Parish-Columbus Junction, St. Joseph Parish-West Liberty and as the diocesan director of vocations. He also served at St. Mary Parish-Davenport and as minister to the Hispanic community there, and at St. Bernadette Parish-West Branch. Currently he serves as pastor of St. Patrick Parish-Iowa City and as diocesan director of recently ordained.

Deacon Christopher Kabat , while remaining at St. Wenceslaus Parish-Iowa City, is relieved of duties at St. Bernadette Parish-West Branch.

Deacon David Montgomery , while remaining at St. Peter Parish-Cosgrove and St. Mary Parish-Oxford, will also serve St. Mary Parish-Williamsburg.

Deacon John Osborne , while remaining at St. Mary Parish-Grinnell, will also serve St. Patrick Parish-Brooklyn.

Deacon Joseph Rohret , while remaining at St. Peter Parish-Cosgrove and St. Mary Parish-Oxford, will also serve St. Mary Parish-Williamsburg.

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New priest assignments announced 2023

Father John A. Riley, vicar general – chancellor, announces the following appointments made by Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann, effective July 1, unless otherwise noted.

Retirements

Father William Porter , from pastor of St. Agnes Parish, Roeland Park, to retirement from parish administration effective Dec. 31. 

Sabbaticals

Father John Pilcher , from pastor of Mater Dei Parish, Topeka, to priestly sabbatical effective July 1, then, effective Jan. 1, 2024, to a parish assignment to be determined. 

Father Patrick Sullivan , from pastor of Sacred Heart of Jesus, Shawnee, to priestly sabbatical; and effective Jan. 1, 2024, to pastor of St. Agnes Parish, Roeland Park.

Father Bruce Ansems , returning from priestly sabbatical and continuing as pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish, Louisburg, and Adjutant Judicial Vicar.

Father Nicholas Ashmore , from pastor of St. Joseph Parish, Olpe, to chaplain/director of Didde Catholic Campus Center, Emporia, and continuing as pastor of St. Catherine Parish, Emporia. 

Father William Dun-Dery , from parochial vicar for St. Patrick Parish, Kansas City, Kansas, to pastor of St. Joseph Parish, Nortonville; Immaculate Conception Parish, Valley Falls; and Corpus Christi Parish, Mooney Creek.

Father Mathew Francis , from pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Onaga, St. Patrick Parish in Corning and St. Bede Parish in Kelly, to pastor of St. Michael Parish, Axtell, and Holy Family Parish, Summerfield.

Father Joel Haug , from parochial vicar for St. Joseph Parish, Shawnee, and chaplain of Bishop Ward High School, Kansas City, Kansas, to pastor of Sacred Heart Parish, Sabetha; St. Augustine Parish, Fidelity; and St. James Parish, Wetmore.

Father Raymond May , from parochial vicar for Holy Cross Church, Overland Park, and chaplain of Donnelly College, Kansas City, Kansas, to pastor of St. Patrick Parish, Osage City, and St. Patrick Parish, Scranton, effective May 30. 

Father Matthew Nagle , from chaplain/director of Didde Catholic Campus Center, Emporia, and pastor of St. Mary Parish, Hartford, to pastor of Mater Dei Parish, Topeka.

Father Viet Nguyen , from parochial vicar for Church of the Ascension Parish, Overland Park, to pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Parish, Onaga; St. Patrick Parish, Corning; and St. Bede Parish, Kelly. 

Father Jaime Zarse , from pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Sabetha, St. Augustine Parish in Fidelity and St. James Parish, Wetmore, to pastor of Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, Shawnee.

Parochial administrators

Father Mohana Rao Bathineni , from parochial vicar at Curé of Ars, Leawood, to parochial administrator of St. Joseph Parish, Olpe, and St. Mary Parish, Hartford.

Parochial vicars

Father Andrew Gaffney , from co-chaplain of St. Thomas Aquinas High School, Overland Park, to continuing as parochial vicar for Prince of Peace Parish, Olathe.

Father Wilson Garnica Rodriguez (Diocese of Zipaquirá, Columbia), from ministry outside of the archdiocese, to parochial vicar for Blessed Sacrament Parish, Kansas City, Kansas, and Our Lady of Unity, Kansas City, Kansas. 

Father Michael Kantanka (Archdiocese of Kumasi, Ghana), from ministry outside of the archdiocese, to parochial vicar for Holy Trinity Parish, Lenexa.

Deacon Colm Larkin , from completion of seminary formation and ordination to the priesthood of Jesus Christ, to parochial vicar for Church of the Ascension Parish, Overland Park, and chaplain of St. Thomas Aquinas High School, Overland Park.

Father Travis Mecum , from parochial vicar for Holy Trinity Parish, Lenexa, to parochial vicar for St. Joseph Parish, Shawnee.

Deacon George Rhodes , from completion of seminary formation and ordination to the priesthood of Jesus Christ, to parochial vicar for Most Pure Heart of Mary, Topeka, and chaplain of Washburn Catholic Campus Center, Topeka.

Deacon Timothy Skoch , from completion of seminary formation and ordination to the priesthood of Jesus Christ to parochial vicar for St. Patrick Parish, Kansas City, Kansas, and chaplain of Bishop Ward High School, Kansas City, Kansas.

Father Brent Stull , from co-chaplain of St. Thomas Aquinas High School, Overland Park, to continuing as parochial vicar for Church of the Ascension Parish, Overland Park.

Father Francis Bakyor , from parochial administrator of Immaculate Conception Parish, Louisburg, to retiring from parish administration and returning to priestly ministry in the Diocese of Wa (Ghana). 

Father Lazar Carasala , from parochial administrator of St. Joseph Parish in Nortonville, Immaculate Conception Parish in Valley Falls and Corpus Christi Parish, Mooney Creek, to returning to priestly ministry in the Diocese of Nellore (India).

Father Salvador Llamas Diaz, MNM (Missionary Fathers of the Nativity of Mary), from parochial vicar for St. Mary-St. Anthony Parish, Kansas City, Kansas, to reassignment by his religious community to priestly ministry outside of the archdiocese.   

Father Agustin Martinez , beginning summer and remote study program for canon law at Catholic University of America, Washington, and continuing as parochial vicar for St. Paul Parish, Olathe.

Father Daniel Morris , from in-residence sacramental assistance to St. Lawrence Catholic Campus Center to in-residence sacramental assistance to Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, Shawnee, and continuing as vocation director.

Father Konda Reddy Nusi, MSFS (Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales), from parochial administrator of St. Patrick Parish, Osage City, and St. Patrick Parish, Scranton, to reassignment by his religious community to priestly ministry outside of the archdiocese, effective May 30.

Father Fredy Hernán Pinzón Palacio , from parochial vicar for Blessed Sacrament Parish, Kansas City, Kansas, and Our Lady of Unity Parish, Kansas City, Kansas, to returning to priestly ministry in the Diocese of Zipaquirá (Colombia). 

Father John Riley, from sacramental assistance to Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, Shawnee, to providing sacramental assistance to St. Agnes Parish, Roeland Park, and continuing as vicar general – chancellor. 

Father Carter Zielinski , beginning summer and remote study program for canon law at Catholic University of America, Washington, and continuing as pastor of Sacred Heart Parish, Emporia.

Permanent deacons

Deacon Joseph Allen , to state chaplain, Daughters of Isabella, effective May 1, while continuing as chaplain of Catholic Community Hospice, Lenexa, and in diaconal ministry at St. John Paul II Parish, Olathe.

Deacon Keith Geary , from leave of absence from diaconal ministry at Our Lady of Unity Parish, Kansas City, Kansas, to retirement from diaconal ministry, effective May 3.

Deacon Ralph Schramp , from diaconal ministry at Church of the Nativity Parish, Leawood, to retired status, effective February 22, 2023.

Deacon Stanley Sluder , from diaconate ordination (Archdiocese of Santa Fe), to diaconal ministry at St. Benedict Parish, Atchison.

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In order to provide coverage for the other parishes in the Diocese, a significant number of priests have been transferred to new assignments and duties. Parameters for implementing the new structure will be developed with the help of ongoing consultations.

Is father TOM wiederholt retired?

Who is the new pastor. At Matre Dei in Topeka Ks.

New priest assignments as Road to Renewal continues

• July 7, 2023

Bishop Michael W. Fisher has announced the next round of priest assignments in the Diocese of Buffalo as the Road to Renewal program continues to place pastors and parochial vicars in the collaborative model of Family of Parishes.

Father Michael Brown has been named pastor in Family #32 that includes St. Bernard Parish, Buffalo; Our Lady of Czestochowa Parish, Cheektowaga; St. Andrew Parish, Cheektowaga; and rector at St. Casimir, Buffalo; effective July 1. Father Czeslaw Krysa, SLD, has been appointed senior parochial vicar.

Father David Tourville has been named pastor in Family #5 that comprises St. Mary of Lourdes Parish, Bemus Point/Mayville; Christ Our Hope Parish, French Creek/Sherman; and St. Dominic Parish, Westfield/Brocton; effective July 1. Father Romulo Montero has been appointed parochial vicar.

In Family #14, Father F. Patrick Melfi has been named pastor for St. Michael Parish, Warsaw; Mary Immaculate Parish, East Bethany; and St. Isidore Parish, Perry/Silver Springs effective July 1.

Father Michael LaMarca has been appointed pastor in Family #18 for St. Amelia Parish, Tonawanda; St. Christopher Parish, Tonawanda; St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Tonawanda; St. Andrew Kim RC Mission, Tonawanda; St. Jude the Apostle Parish, North Tonawanda; and Our Lady of Czestochowa Parish, North Tonawanda; effective July 1.

The following appointments were conferred Thursday, June 29, and priests had their weekend Masses to communicate their new assignments to their parishioners. All the following appointments are effective July 15. 

Father Leon Biernat has been named pastor for Family #19 for St. Pius X Parish, Getzville; Good Shepard Parish, Pendleton; and St. Gregory the Great Parish, Williamsville.  Father Robert Wozniak has been named senior parochial vicar and Father Daniel Ulmer has been appointed parochial vicar.

Father Jozef Dudzik has been appointed pastor of Family #8 that includes St. Josaphat Parish, Cheektowaga, Our Lady Help of Christians Parish, Cheektowaga, Queen of Martyrs Parish, Cheektowaga, and Resurrection Parish, Cheektowaga. Father Louis Klein has been appointed senior parochial vicar and Father Marcin Porada has been appointed parochial vicar.

Father Gerard Skrzynski has been appointed pastor of Family #6 for Immaculate Conception Parish, East Aurora; Church of the Annunciation Parish, Elma; St. Joseph Parish, Holland; St. Vincent de Paul Parish, Springbrook; and St. George Parish, West Falls. Father Karl Loeb has been named senior parochial vicar, and Father Aaron Kulczyk has been appointed parochial vicar. 

Father Gregory Faulhaber was named priest In Solidum and moderator of priests In Solidum for Family #7 that includes St. Gabriel Parish, Elma, St. John Vianney Parish, Orchard Park; Fourteen Holy Helpers Parish, West Seneca; Queen of Heaven Parish, West Seneca; and St. John XXIII Parish, West Seneca. Father Walter Grabowski has been named priest In Solidum and Father Mark Itua and Father Ryan Keating were named parochial vicars.

In Family #12, Father Patrick O’Keefe has been named parochial vicar for the family that includes Resurrection Parish, Batavia; Ascension Parish, Batavia; St. Brigid Parish, Bergen; Our Lady of Mercy Parish, LeRoy; and St. Padre Pio Parish, Oakfield.

Article can be found on wnycatholic.org

Author: wnycatholic

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News and Events

News releases, cardinal blase j. cupich to ordain five priests for the archdiocese of chicago on saturday, may 20, 2023 at holy name cathedral.

Chicago, (May 17, 2023) – Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, archbishop of Chicago, will ordain five priests for the Archdiocese of Chicago at 10 a.m., on Saturday, May 20, 2023 at Holy Name Cathedral, 735 N. State St., Chicago. The newly ordained priests, ranging in age from 30 to 35, hail from Barrington, Burr Ridge, Crystal Lake, Mexico and Puerto Rico. The ordination will be livestreamed on the archdiocese’s YouTube channel Catholic Chicago https://www.youtube.com/live/M-wVjJnBL0Q?feature=share .

“The Church in every age, and even more in our own, needs leaders who can inspire hope and bring Jesus’ message of mercy and compassion to the diverse communities of the archdiocese,” said Cardinal Cupich. “These fine young men are being ordained to serve the People of God and we look forward to see how their ministry unfolds in the years to come.”

Men become priests through the Sacrament of Holy Orders, a celebration rich in symbolism and tradition. By ordination, priests receive a wide variety of responsibilities, particularly celebrating the Mass and granting forgiveness of sins through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Priests also preach the Gospel, and celebrate the Sacraments of Baptism, Matrimony, and Anointing of the Sick. Diocesan priests make promises of life-long celibacy, prayer for the People of God, and obedience to their bishop at their ordination. It is also expected that priests will lead a life of simplicity consistent with the people they serve.

Each newly ordained priest has completed at least six years of human, spiritual, academic and pastoral formation, which included an exhaustive study of philosophy, Catholic theology, the history of the Church, and pastoral practice. As part of their seminary education, future priests are assigned to work at parishes, schools, and hospitals as they develop their capacity to be shepherds of God’s people.

"This year's ordinandi bring a wealth of prior life experience drawn from a broad range of backgrounds, such as social work, finance, teaching, and engineering but what they share is a priestly formation that has prepared them to be men of prayer, teaching and service for the people of God and God's Church,” said Very Reverend John Kartje, rector/president of University of St. Mary of the Lake / Mundelein Seminary. “By the grace of God, their gifts will be a blessing to the archdiocese as we continue to journey together into the new reality of Renew My Church - which is not all that different from the ‘original new reality’ seen in the Acts of the Apostles.”

Kevin Gregus , 35, from Crystal Lake, will have his first assignment at Two Holy Martyrs Parish in Chicago. He will celebrate his first Mass on Sunday, May 21, 2023 at 2 p.m. at St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Crystal Lake.

Daniel Korenchan , 30, from Burr Ridge, will have his first assignment at St. Elizabeth Seton Parish in Orland Hills. He will celebrate his first Masses on Sunday, May 21, 2023 at 2 p.m. at St. James Parish in Arlington Heights and on Sunday, May 28, 2023 at 11 a.m. at St. John of the Cross in Western Springs.           

Michael Mehringer , 33, from Barrington, will have his first assginment at Queen of Apostles Parish in Chicago. He will celebrate his first Mass on Sunday, May 21 at 9 a.m. at St. Alphonsus Parish in Chicago.

Francisco Javier Pagán Portalatín , 34, from San Juan, Puerto Rico, will have his first assignment at San José Sánchez del Río Parish in Chicago. He will celebrate his first Mass in English on Sunday, May 21, 2023 at 11 a.m. at Our Lady of the Woods Parish in Orland Park. He will celebrate his first Mass in Spanish at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 27 at Santa Gema Galgani Sanctuary (Shrine of St. Gemma) in Carolina, Puerto Rico.

Jesús Raya Custodio , 34, from Chicago, will have his first assignment at St. Alphonsus Parish in Chicago. He will celebrate his first Mass in English and Spanish on Sunday, May 21, 2023, at 3 p.m. at Our Lady of Nazareth Parish in Chicago.

New Pastoral Assignments

2023 Pastoral Assignments Announced

Bishop Edward M. Rice announced the following clergy assignments effective Saturday, July 1, 2023, unless otherwise noted.

“Please keep these priests in your prayers as they adjust to their new assignments,” said Bishop Rice. “Please pray too, for their former parishioners and new parishioners during this time of transition.”

New Pastoral Changes

Reverend Victor Anokwute

Concluding: Assignment as Parochial Administrator of Sacred Heart Parish, in Caruthersville, and Immaculate Conception Parish, in New Madrid. Continuing: Assignment as Pastor of St. Teresa Parish, in Glennonville, and St. Ann Parish, in Malden.

Reverend Charles Dunn

New Appointment:  Pastor of St. Mary Parish in Seneca. Continuing: Assignment as Pastor of St. Canera Parish in Neosho and Nativity of Our Lord Mission Church in Noel.

Reverend Rick Jones

New Appointment: Parochial Administrator of St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Fredericktown. Continuing: Assignment as Pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Parish, in Cape Girardeau.

The Very Reverend Allan Saunders

Concluding: Assignment as Parochial Administrator of St. Denis Parish, in Benton, and St. Lawrence Parish, in New Hamburg. Continuing: Assignment as Pastor of St. Mary of the Annunciation Cathedral, in Cape Girardeau, and historical Old St. Vincent Chapel of Ease, in Cape Girardeau.

The Very Reverend Joseph Weidenbenner

Concluding: Assignment as Pastor of St. Mary Parish, in Seneca. Continuing: Assignment as Pastor of St. Mary Parish, in Joplin, and Chaplain at McAuley Catholic High School, in Joplin.

Named Pastor

Reverend Tuan Van Nguyen, CRM

New Appointment:  Previously the Parochial Administrator, Fr. Tuan Nguyen, CRM, is now appointed Pastor of St. Elizabeth of Hungary Parish, in El Dorado Springs, and St. Peter the Apostle Mission Church, in Stockton.

Reverend Brian Straus

New Appointment: Previously the Parochial Administrator, Fr. Brian Straus is now appointed Pastor of St. Peter the Apostle Parish, in Joplin. Continuing: Role as Director/Chaplain of Catholic Campus Ministry at Missouri Southern State University, in Joplin. Concluding: Role as Lead Chaplain of McAuley Catholic High School and as a diocesan Regional Vocation Promoter.

Reverend Tomasz Wilk, OSPPE

New Appointment: Previously the Parochial Administrator, Fr. Tomasz Wilk, OSPPE, is now appointed Pastor of St. Augustine Parish, in Kelso, and St. Joseph Parish, in Scott City.

Parochial Administrators

Reverend Daniel Belken

New Appointment: Parochial Administrator of St. Denis Parish, in Benton, and St. Lawrence Parish, in New Hamburg. Continuing: Role as diocesan Associate Director of the Office of Worship and Liturgy. Concluding: Assignments as a diocesan Associate Vocation Promoter and Lead Chaplain of Notre Dame Regional High School, Cape Girardeau.

Reverend Suresh Samala

New Appointment: Parochial Administrator of Immaculate Conception Parish, in New Madrid, and Sacred Heart Parish, in Caruthersville. Concluding: Assignment as Parochial Administrator of St. Michael the Archangel Parish, in Fredericktown.

Reverend Pompeyo Tan, Jr.

New Appointment: Parochial Administrator of St. Joseph Parish, in Springfield. Continuing: He remains Chaplain to the Filipino Community, in Springfield. Concluding: Assignment as Parochial Vicar of Holy Trinity Parish, in Springfield. He remains Chaplain to the Filipino Community.

Reverend Timothy Tran, CRM, JCL

New Appointment: Parochial Administrator of St. Joseph the Worker Parish, in Ozark. Concluding: Assignment as Parochial Vicar of St. Agnes Cathedral, in Springfield. Continuing: Role as the diocesan Coordinator of the Tribunal.

Parochial Vicars

Reverend Jesse Hiett

New Appointment: Parochial Administrator of St. Mary of the Annunciation Cathedral Parish, in Cape Girardeau, Old St. Vincent Chapel of Ease, in Cape Girardeau, and Lead Chaplain of Notre Dame Regional High School, in Cape Girardeau.

Reverend Audrey Troya Toloza

New Appointment: Parochial Vicar of St. Mary Parish, in Seneca. Continuing: Assignment as Parochial Vicar of St. Canera Parish, in Neosho, and Nativity of Our Lord Mission Church, in Noel.

Leaving the Diocese

Reverend Karl Barrman, OSB

Concluding: Assignment as Pastor at St. Joseph Parish, in Springfield, to return to his religious community, the Benedictine Fathers at Conception Abbey, in Conception, MO.

Thank you, Fr. Karl, for your service to the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau, at St. Joseph in Springfield.

Reverend José Marino Novoa, CMF

Concluding: Assignment as Parochial Vicar at St. Ann Parish, in Carthage, and Sacred Heart Parish, in Webb City, to return to his religious community, the Claretian Missionaries United States-Canada Province, in Chicago.

Thank you, Fr. José, for your service to the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau.

Reverend Joji Vincent

Temporary Assignment

New Appointment: Due to health reasons, Rev. Joji Vincent will take on a three-year appointment in the Diocese of Las Vegas, Nevada. Concluding: Assignment as Pastor of St. Joseph the Worker Parish, in Ozark.

Reverend Andrew Williams

New Appointment: Sacramental Priest of Sacred Heart Parish, in Webb City; St. Ann Parish, in Carthage; faculty member and Lead Chaplain of McAuley Catholic High School, in Joplin, and as a diocesan Regional Vocation Promoter. Continuing: Role as Chaplain of Mercy Joplin. Concluding: Assignment as Parochial Vicar of St. Mary Parish, in Joplin, and St. Mary Parish, in Seneca.

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New Clergy Assignments for May and July 2023

Assignments will help support the diocese’s regional approach to parish ministry

PRESS RELEASE

March 20, 2023

CONTACT: Justin Huyck, Director of Communications; (330) 744-8451, ext. 320; [email protected]

On the weekends of March 11/12 and March 18/19, The Most Rev. David J. Bonnar, Bishop of Youngstown, announced various clergy assignments for parishes throughout the six-county diocese. In the parishes that will be receiving new priests or deacons, letters were read from Bishop Bonnar. Most of the new assignments will take effect on July 1, 2023, with some taking effect in May.

Consistent with many current assignments throughout the diocese, the new assignments reflect the Diocese of Youngstown’s regional model for ministry, with priests, deacons, and diocesan pastoral associates serving multiple parishes. Bishop Bonnar comments, “Through the hard work of our personnel board, who I consult with on assignments, we continue to navigate the shortage of priests while desiring to support parishes as they live missionary discipleship in new ways. Just as importantly, this approach allows for a more vibrant experience of parish life as we share our strengths across parishes.”

One of the features of the diocese’s regional approach to ministry and personnel assignments is the grouping of parishes who share not only priests as pastors, parochial vicars, or sacramental ministers, but also deacons and, where applicable, diocesan pastoral associates assigned to the same grouping of parishes. A diocesan pastoral associate is a lay person or deacon assigned by the bishop to the leadership team for one or more parishes. The consistent assignment of clergy and diocesan pastoral associates allows for mutual support.

Below are the assignments made in March 2023. They are effective July 1, 2023 unless otherwise noted. Previous and future assignments can be found at www.doy.org/official/

Priests: Rev. Steve Agostino , from administrator of Saint Brendan Parish, and sacramental minister at Saint Christine Parish, Youngstown, to pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish and Saint Stephen Parish in Niles.

Very Rev. Michael D. Balash , from Pastor of Saint William Parish, Champion, to full-time ministry at the Central Office, remaining as Vicar for Clergy and Director of the Office of Worship, effective May 15, 2023, and remaining pro-tem Administrator of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Niles, until July 1, 2023.

Rev. David Bridling , from administrator of Saint Mary Parish, Orwell and Sacred Heart Parish, Rock Creek, to pastor of Saint Patrick Parish and University Parish Newman Center in Kent.

Rev. Edward Brienz , from administrator of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, McDonald, to vice-rector Saint Columba Cathedral and parochial vicar of Saint Edward Parish and Holy Apostles Parish in Youngstown, in addition to his current responsibility as Diocesan Director of Missions and Propagation of the Faith.

Rev. Thomas Cebula , from pro-tem administrator of Saint Louis Parish, Louisville, and Sacred Heart of Mary Parish, Harrisburg, to pro-tem administrator of Saints Philip and James Parish, Canal Fulton.

Rev. Christopher Cicero , as pastor of Saint Mary and Saint Joseph Parish, Warren, in addition to his current responsibilities as pastor of Blessed Sacrament Parish and Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Warren and chaplain of John F. Kennedy School (Lower Campus) effective May 1, 2023.

Rev. Shawn Conoboy , from pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Aurora; Saint Joseph Parish, Mantua; and Saint Ambrose Parish, Garrettsville, to a ministerial assignment outside the Diocese effective May 1, 2023.

Rev. Ryan Furlong , as Pastor of Saint William Parish, Champion effective May 15, 2023, and Pastor of Saint Robert Bellarmine Parish, Cortland, effective July 1, 2023, in addition to current responsibilities as Pastor of Saint Thomas the Apostle Parish, Vienna, Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, and Chaplain at John F. Kennedy Catholic School, Warren (Upper Campus).

Rev. Matthew Humerickhouse , from parochial vicar of Saint Charles Borromeo Parish and Saint Luke Parish in Boardman, and chaplain at Cardinal Mooney High School, to pastor of Saint Louis Parish, Louisville; Sacred Heart Parish, Harrisburg; Saint James Parish, Waynesburg, and chaplain of Saint Thomas Aquinas High School, Louisville.

Rev. John Jerek , as pastor of Saint Brendan Parish, Youngstown, in addition to his current responsibilities as pastor of Saint Christine Parish and Our Lady of Sorrows Parish, in Youngstown and Director of Formation for the Permanent Diaconate.

Rev. Chad Johnson , from Parochial Vicar of Saint Patrick Parish, and University Parish Newman Center, Kent, to Parochial Vicar of Saint William Parish, Champion, Saint Robert Bellarmine Parish, Cortland, and Saint Thomas the Apostle Parish, Vienna, in addition to current responsibilities as Diocesan Vocations Director.

Rev. Frantisek Katrinak , from pastor of Saint Mary and Saint Joseph Parish, Warren, to pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Aurora; Saint Joan of Arc Parish, Streetsboro; Saint Joseph Parish, Mantua; and Saint Ambrose Parish, Garrettsville effective May 1, 2023.

Rev. Robert Lanterman , returning from leave of absence to Archives Clerk with residence at the Oblates Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Hubbard effective April 17, 2023.

Rev. Chris Luoni , from pastor of Saint Joan of Arc Parish, Streetsboro to sacramental minister for Portage County parishes with residence at Saint Joseph Parish, Mantua, effective May 1, 2023.

Rev. Michael Marcelli , returning from service as chaplain in the United States Navy to sacramental minister pro-tem at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Niles, (April 10-July 1, 2023), and then as parochial vicar at Saint Patrick Parish and University Parish Newman Center in Kent effective July 1, 2023.

Rev. Kevin McCaffrey , from pastor of Saints Philip and James Parish, Canal Fulton, to pastor of Saint Mary Parish, Orwell, and Sacred Heart Parish, Rock Creek.

Rev. Richard Murphy , from pastor of Saint Stephen Parish, Niles, to pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, McDonald, in addition to his current responsibilities as pastor of Saint Mary Parish, Mineral Ridge, and President of Ursuline High School.

Very Rev. Monsignor Robert Siffrin , from Vicar General to Diocesan Vicar of External Affairs/Special Projects and Pastor of Holy Apostles Parish, Youngstown, in addition to current responsibilities as Rector of Saint Columba Cathedral and Pastor of Saint Edward Parish, Youngstown.

Rev. Brian Smith , from Director of Hispanic Ministry and Coordinator of Continuing Education to graduate studies in Moral Theology at the Angelicum University, Rome effective September 1, 2023.

Rev. Edward Stafford , as parochial vicar of Saint Mary and Saint Joseph Parish, Warren, in addition to his current responsibilities as parochial vicar of Blessed Sacrament Parish and Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Warren effective May 1, 2023.

Rev. Stephen Zeigler , from pastor of Saint Paul the Apostle Parish, New Middletown and sacramental minister at Our Lady of the Rosary Parish, Lowellville, to parochial vicar at Saint Charles Borromeo Parish and Saint Luke Parish in Boardman.

Rev. Matthew Zwilling , from vice-rector of Saint Columba Cathedral and parochial vicar of Saint Edward Parish, Youngstown, to administrator of Saint Paul the Apostle Parish, New Middletown, in addition to his current responsibilities as administrator of Christ the Good Shepherd Parish, Campbell, and online studies in Church Management at Villanova University.

Permanent Deacons:

Mr. Sylvester Frazzini III , to Holy Apostles Parish, Youngstown in addition to his current responsibilities at Saint Columba Cathedral and Saint Edward Parish, Youngstown.

Mr. Michael Hanshaw , to Saint Stephen Parish, Niles in addition to his current responsibilities at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Niles.

Mr. Ed Kleese , to Saint Mary and Saint Joseph Parish, Warren in addition to his current responsibilities at Blessed Sacrament Parish and Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Warren effective May 1, 2023.

Mr. Michael Puhalla , to Holy Apostles Parish, Youngstown in addition to his current responsibilities at Saint Columba Cathedral and Saint Edward Parish, Youngstown.

Mr. Robert Simmerly , to Saint Mary and Saint Joseph Parish, Warren in addition to his current responsibilities at Blessed Sacrament Parish and Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Warren, effective May 1, 2023.

Mr. Joseph Toth , to Saint Mary and Saint Joseph Parish, Warren in addition to his current responsibilities at Blessed Sacrament Parish and Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Warren, effective May 1, 2023.

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Diocese of Youngstown Announces Palm Sunday and Holy Week Events at Saint Columba Cathedral

Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord Mass on Saturday, March 23

Diocese of Youngstown Announces New Parish Collaborations

Bishop Bonnar accepts recommendations for sharing resources and staff 

Newly restored St. Patrick Church in Hubbard to reopen March 17

Second Annual Hispanic Ministry Conference to be held at St. Michael Parish on March 9

Lunch is provided free of charge; please RSVP 

Mary Fiala to Receive Award for Lifetime Commitment to Catholic Education

Fiala is one of five educators nationally to be honored by the ECEA on April 1

Bishop Bonnar to Celebrate Mass Honoring Wedding Anniversaries

Registration for the May 5 celebration will be sent to parishes beginning in March.

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New priest assignments announced

The Most Reverend Patrick M. Neary, C.S.C., Bishop of the Diocese of Saint Cloud, makes the following appointments in the Diocese of Saint Cloud, effective June 28, 2023:

The Most Reverend Patrick M. Neary, C.S.C., Bishop of the Diocese of Saint Cloud, after presentation by the Reverend Jilson Mathew Kakkattupillil, V.C., Provincial Superior, St. Joseph Province, Vincentian Congregation, makes the following appointments in the Diocese of Saint Cloud, effective June 28, 2023:

The Most Reverend Patrick M. Neary, C.S.C., Bishop of the Diocese of Saint Cloud, makes the following appointment in the Diocese of Saint Cloud, effective July 1, 2023:

Given at the Chancery Joseph C. Towalski, Chancellor Saint Cloud, Minnesota May 19, 2023

Author: The Central Minnesota Catholic

The Central Minnesota Catholic is the magazine for the Diocese of St. Cloud.

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ARCHDIOCESE TO WELCOME EIGHT NEW PRIESTS AT ANNUAL ORDINATION MASS ON JUNE 3

Eight new priests will be ordained for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles on June 3, 2023 at 9 a.m. at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels (555 W. Temple Street). Archbishop José H. Gomez will preside over the Ordination Mass. As in prior years, the ordination is ticketed and will be open to a limited number of family members and friends of the ordinands. The Mass will be livestreamed via  lacatholics.org/ordination  and  facebook.com/olacathedral .

“Celebrating priestly ordinations is one of the great joys of my ministry. And I have been thinking a lot these days about the mystery of our Christian vocations — how God calls some of us to the priesthood or consecrated life, while calling others to serve him as laypeople, in their families and in all the many occupations in society,” wrote Archbishop Gomez in his biweekly column in Angelus News available at  https://angelusnews.com/voices/gomez-saint-advice-young/ .  

The men who will be entering the priesthood are Deacons Michael DiPietro, Cesar Galan f.s.p., Rene J-C Haarpaintner, Hieu D. Nguyen, Luis Gerardo Peña, Enrique Piceno Jr., Emmanuel Sanchez, and Sergio Sandoval Martinez. All have completed five to seven years of theological formation at St. John’s Seminary in Camarillo, preceded by four years at Queen of Angels Center (for those who had not earn a university degree, which is mandatory), plus their service as transitional deacons and a year-long internship at different parishes in the Archdiocese. They will celebrate their first Mass as priests on Saturday, June 3 and Sunday, June 5, and will begin their parish assignments on July 1.

“This year we are blessed once again with eight men being ordained to the priesthood for our local Church. These men come from various backgrounds and ages from working professionally as a chiropractor and a physicist to entering seminary right after high school,” said Fr. Mike Perucho, the Archdiocese’s director of the Office for Vocations. “Wherever they came from, God had a plan for them. Encouraged and supported by family, friends and the faithful, they heard God’s voice and responded to Him. We pray for these men and that more men will enter deeper into relationship with Jesus through prayer so they may hear God’s voice and respond with their lives. Our Church will always need priests and we thank God for the ‘yes’ of these eight men.”

The Ordination Mass is a sacramental ceremony in which a man becomes a priest and is enabled to minister in Christ’s name and that of the Church. The essential rite of the Sacrament takes place during the Laying on of Hands and Prayer of Consecration, an ancient tradition in the Church, mentioned in the Bible. The ceremony includes various rituals, rich in meaning and history, such as prostration, or when the men being ordained lay face down before the altar as a symbol of their dependence upon God and the prayers of the Christian community. They will also receive their investiture, the vest or robe used by the priests when they celebrate Mass, from a priest, and will be anointed with chrism oil, only used during baptisms and the anointing of the sick and dying.

Following are brief biographies of the soon-to-be priests. Video stories of each of the new priests is available at  lacatholics.org/ordination .

Dcn. Michael DiPietro

Hometown: Pasadena, California

Home parish: St. Philip the Apostle Church, Pasadena

Parish assignment: St. John Vianney Church, Hacienda Heights

Dcn. Michael DiPietro likes to invoke a St. Charles de Foucauld quote when talking about his call to priesthood. “The moment I realized God existed; I knew I could not do otherwise than to live for him alone.” Having grown up in a very Catholic household, DiPietro was born and raised in Pasadena, the sixth of eight children in a devout Catholic family he had thoughts of becoming a priest as early as eighth grade, but the road was as direct as the Foucauld quote would have you believe. For him, it was more of a gradual unveiling of who God was and who God is. Click  here  to learn more about Dcn. Michael DiPietro.

Dcn.  Cesar Galan

Hometown: Artesia

Home parish: Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels

Assignment: St. Francis Medical Center, Lynwood (chaplaincy)/St. Raymond Church, Downey

In 2001 while recovering at St. Francis Medical Center in Lynwood after a gang-related incident that took the life of his brother and left him paralyzed at age 21, Galan says “I heard a voice deep inside of me just saying, ‘Do not be afraid, I’ll be with you always.” After his brother’s passing, Galan began a process of what he called “surrender.” In 2015, Galan made his perpetual profession of vows as a Friar of the Sick Poor in the chapel of St. Francis Medical Center — the same hospital where he’d been taken that fateful night. “I have to remind myself not to give up, to push past steps or whatever obstacle there might be so I can serve the Lord as he wants me to.” Click  here  to learn more about Dcn. Cesar Galan.

Deacon Rene Haarpaintner

Hometown: Sainte-Croix, Switzerland

Home parish: St. Brendan Church, Hancock Park

Parish assignment: St. Joseph Church, Carpinteria

Born in the picturesque town of Sainte-Croix near the border with France. While traveling through Europe he met his late wife Lauren (from Beverly Hills), they married, he became a chiropractor and the couple had two sons, now aged 29 and 25. Haarpaintner followed his late wife’s prediction and joined the seminary. During his parish internship year, the pastor encouraged him to speak to couples suffering amid the pandemic. Listening to them and giving advice “resonated” in him, given his personal experience with the ups and downs of marriage. “The family is so important. It’s the foundation of everything, of society, of a nation.” said Haarpaintner. Click  here  to learn more about Dcn. Rene Haarpaintner.

Deacon Hieu D. Nguyen

Hometown: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Home parish: Incarnation Church, Glendale

Parish assignment: St. Cornelius Church, Long Beach

Nguyen didn’t grow up Catholic, he lived the early part of his life in his native Vietnam, mostly with his mother and sister while his dad worked in the United States. At age 11, the rest of the family moved to St. Louis, Missouri and his father, previously a Buddhist, converted to Catholicism and wanted his son baptized. While pursuing advanced degrees at UC Santa Barbara, he says he heard God’s calling. “God already put the call in, in some of the ways he was speaking to me. I remember one of the passages was the Gospel of John: ‘You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you,’” Nguyen said. Click  here  to learn more about Dcn. Hieu D. Nguyen.

Deacon Luis Gerardo Peña

Hometown: Autlán de Navarro, Jalisco, Mexico

Home parish: St. Martin of Tours Church, Los Angeles

Parish assignment: Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Northridge

At the age of six, Luis Gerardo Peña moved from Mexico to Downey, California. After his parents divorced when he was in middle school he returned to Mexico and at 17 he entered the seminary in Guadalajara, but due to violence in his hometown he decided to go back to California and enter the St. John’s Seminary in Camarillo. Peña knows what kind of Church he wants to bring to his flock after reading Spanish priest and author José Luis Martín Descalzo. “I started to read, and it painted an image of a Church, a young Church, an open Church,” Peña said. “One that was kind of depicted by Pope Francis — open arms, that embraces, that touches a world that is not scared to engage the world. And that was the image of the Church that I fell in love with.” Click  here  to learn more about Dcn. Luis Gerardo Peña.

Deacon  Enrique Piceno Jr.

Hometown: El Monte, California

Home parish: St. Pius X Church, Santa Fe Springs

Parish assignment: St. Agnes Church, Los Angeles

When he entered St. John’s Seminary in Camarillo, Piceno already had earned a degree from Cal State Los Angeles and became a physicist and went on to work at Northrop Grumman, helping engineers design and build F-15 jets. He had grown up Catholic, but “didn’t find it important” for much of his college years and 20s. But God had other plans. The idea of serving the Church was simply not going away. “I was always searching for something more and I couldn’t figure out what I was searching for,” Piceno said. “And it wasn’t until I started coming back to the faith that I realized what I was missing was that there was an emptiness in my life. God is always calling,” Piceno said. “But if you don’t make your faith and if you don’t make God important, you’re going to make something else more important, and you’re never going to be fulfilled.” Click  here  to learn more about Dcn Enrique Piceno Jr.

Deacon  Emmanuel Sanchez

Hometown: Palmdale, California

Home parish: St. Kateri Tekakwitha Church, Santa Clarita

Parish assignment: Resurrection Church, Los Angeles

For Sanchez the journey began shortly after his first holy Communion, when he started as an altar server at age 9. He fell in love with it, trying to do as many Masses as he could. In his senior year at Paraclete High School in Lancaster, becoming a priest still hadn’t fully entered his mind, but a meeting with his school guidance counselor changed that. Sanchez was accepted into the Juan Diego House in Gardena to begin discernment. He went in with the idea that he would stay for a semester, maybe a year but went on to get a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Cal State Dominguez Hills and entered St. John’s Seminary. “I want to be able to help people remember that, even in the darkest of times, no matter what may happen, God is there for us,” Sanchez said. Click  here  to learn more about Dcn. Emmanuel Sanchez

Deacon  Sergio Sandoval Martinez

Hometown: San Pedro Tolentino, Guanajuato, Mexico

Home parish: St. Joseph the Worker Church, Winnetka

Parish assignment: St. Philip Neri Church, Lynwood

Martinez was a practicing attorney in Mexico when he came to join his family in the United. He had been raised in Mexico by his grandparents. He first felt the call to be a priest as a teenager. But when he told his grandparents, they told him he was still too young. So, he waited. He continued his studies and eventually became a lawyer. After entering a seminary near Mexico City beginning formation, he got a call from his mother to say they had applied for him to immigrate to the U.S. He said no but later decided to make the move and join the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. As a priest, he looks forward to helping form “communities of love” that go beyond traditional divisions. “It’s not about the Hispanic community, it’s not about the Vietnamese community, it’s not about the Turkish community,” said Martinez. “It’s about the community of Jesus Christ.” Click  here  to learn more about Dcn. Sergio Sandoval Martinez.

For more information and to view the ordination, visit  lacatholics.org/ordination  and  LA Catholics – Angelus News .

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Cardinals: Miles Mikolas’ hilarious claim on Dodgers — ‘Playing checkbook baseball’

S t. Louis Cardinals pitcher Miles Mikolas will have a tough assignment right out of the gate of the 2024 MLB season. Mikolas has been named the team’s starter in the Cards’ Game No. 1 of the new campaign against the powerful and star-laden Los Angeles Dodgers on Mar. 29 at Dodger Stadium.

Just less than two weeks away from facing Shohei Ohtani and the Dodgers, Mikolas dropped one hilarious shot at Los Angeles, particularly regarding how much money LA spent in the offseason as compared with that of most other teams, including the Cardinals.

“We’re not exactly a low payroll team, but you got the Dodgers playing checkbook baseball,” Mikolas said (h/t

John Denton of MLB.com).

“We’re going to be the hardest working group of Midwestern farmers we can be. … It would be great to stick it to the Dodgers,” Mikolas added.

Before facing the Cardinals, the Dodgers will have already played two games in the regular season, as they are scheduled to kick off their campaign in South Korea during a two-game series against the San Diego Padres this week.

The Cardinals’ offseason is not as splashy as Los Angeles, but there’s really no team out there that has made bigger signings during the long break than the Dodgers. The acquisition alone of Ohtani made the Dodgers the clear winners of the MLB offseason. Yet, they managed to make it even better by signing Japanese superstar hurler Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

The Dodgers enter the 2024 MLB season with the ninth-highest payroll ($214,721,666) in the majors, per Spotrac. The Cardinals, on the other hand, are 10th on the list ($164,301,667).

Still, the Cardinals haven’t been entirely quiet. For one, they signed a trio of veteran arms in the form of Sonny Gray, Kyle Gibson, and Lance Lynn.

Miles Mikolas looking to build on 2023 All-Star season with the Cardinals

Mikolas earned his second All-Star nod in the majors in 2023 when he went 9-13 with a 4.78 ERA across 35 starts for St. Louis.

The Cardinals missed the playoffs in 2023, finishing just fifth in the National League Central division with a 71-91 record. Before that, St. Louis made it to the postseason for four seasons in a row, including an NL Championship Series appearance in 2019.

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