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  Diocese of Allentown Restructuring Leads to Many Clerical Reassignments

By Colin McEvoy
PennLive
June 1, 2008

http://blog.pennlive.com/lvbreakingnews/2008/06/diocese_of_allentown_restructu.html

Due to the Diocese of Allentown's restructuring program, 54 pastors or diocese employees are being reassigned to a different church building, eight more employees are being assigned new jobs in their current churches and 11 are retiring.

In all, the 73 changes account for the largest amount of clerical reassignments in the diocese in recent memory, diocese spokesman Matt Kerr said.

Rev. Msgr. John S. Campbell talks with Casto Aniceto and his 2-year-old son, Cristian, on Sunday during a farewell reception at St. Bernard Church. Campbell, pastor at St. Bernard, St. Joseph and St. Michael in Easton, will be the new pastor at Queenship of Mary, Northampton.
Photo by Joe Gill

"It's certainly more than usual," he said. "It's all part of the restructuring. When you're putting a new parish together. sometimes it's best to have someone new there."

Monsignor Michael Chaback will leave Sts. Cyril and Methodius Parish, the Bethlehem city church he has served for 16 years, to become director of the Office of the Permanent Diaconate.

"I've known these people, I've grown up with them," he said. "No pastor wants to leave the people he's been close to in that situation, but all the way around, it's the best decision."

Planning for the restructuring began in 2005 as an effort to consolidate churches where possible. In all, 47 churches will close, leave the diocese with 104 parishes in Northampton, Lehigh, Carbon, Schuylkill and Berks counties effective July 15.

What do you think of the changes? Join the conversation in our Faith forum or post a comment below.

Below is a list of all the clerical reassignments in Northampton, Lehigh, Berks, Carbon and Schuylkill counties, which will take effect July 15..

Pastors assigned to consolidated or merged parishes

The Rev. Msgr. William T. Baker from pastor, St. Lawrence and St. Andrew, Catasauqua to pastor, Incarnation of Our Lord, Bethlehem.

The Rev. Clifton E. Bishop from Pastor, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Sacred Heart, Immaculate Conception, Nesquehoning to Pastor, St. Francis of Assisi, Nesquehoning.

The Rev. Richard C. Brensinger
from assistant pastor, St. Ann, Emmaus to Pastor, All Saints, McAdoo.

The Rev. Msgr. Lawrence J. Bukaty
from pastor, St. Michael, SS. Peter and Paul, and St. Ann, Lansford to pastor, St. Katharine Drexel, Lansford.

The Rev. Floyd Caesar Jr. from pastor, St. Mary, Beaver Meadows and St. Nicholas, Weatherly to pastor, Our Lady of Lourdes, Weatherly.

The Rev. Msgr. John S. Campbell from pastor, St. Bernard, St. Joseph and St. Michael, Easton to pastor, Queenship of Mary, Northampton.

The Rev. Kevin P. Gallagher from pastor, St. Mary, St. Boniface and SS. Peter and Paul, St. Clair to pastor, Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, Mahanoy City.

The Rev. Msgr. William F. Glosser from pastor, St. Canicus, St. Fidelis and St. Casimir, Mahanoy City to pastor, St. Clare of Assisi, St. Clair.

The Rev. Dominic P. Kalata to pastor, Annunciation BVM and St. Ann, Frackville to pastor, Most Blessed Trinity, Tremont.

The Rev. Joseph J. Kweder from pastor, St. Anthony of Padua, Cumbola and Sacred Heart and Holy Family, New Philadelphia to pastor, Holy Cross, New Philadelphia.

The Rev. Leo J. Maletz from pastor, St. Stanislaus Minersville and St. Mary, Star of the Sea, Branchdale to pastor, St. Matthew, Minersville.

The Rev. Deogratias Rwegasira, A.J.,
from assistant pastor, St. Joseph, St. Bernard and St. Michael, Easton to pastor, Our Lady of Mercy, Easton.

The Rev. Adam C. Sedar from pastor, St. Joseph and St. Mauritius, Ashland and Administrator, Our Lady of Good Counsel, Gordon to pastor, St. Michael the Archangel, Minersville.

Pastors remaining in consolidated parishes

The Rev. James C. Bechtel from administrator, St. Jerome, Tamaqua to pastor, St. Jerome, Tamaqua, Consolidated with St. Bartholomew, Brockton and St. Bertha, Tuscarora.

The Rev. James J. Burdess from pastor, St. Joseph and St. Stanislaus, Summit Hill to pastor, St. Joseph, Summit Hill, Consolidated with St. Stanislaus, Summit Hill.

The Rev. Msgr. John J. Grabish from pastor, Sacred Heart, Allentown to pastor, Sacred Heart, Allentown, Consolidated with Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Allentown.

The Rev. Msgr. Edward J. O'Connor
from pastor, St. Patrick, Pottsville to pastor St. Patrick, Pottsville, Consolidated with St. Joseph, St. Francis de Sales, and Mary Queen of Peace.

The Rev. Msgr. Vincent P. York from pastor, St. Elizabeth, Pen Argyl and St. Roch, West Bangor to pastor, St. Elizabeth, Pen Argyl, Consolidated with St. Roch, West Bangor.

Priests Assigned to Non-Restructured Parishes

The Rev. Michael E. Ahrensfield from pastor, Immaculate Conception, Tremont, and SS. Peter and Paul, Tower City to pastor, SS. Peter and Paul, Lehighton.

The Rev. John W. Bambrick from pastor, Mary Queen of Peace, Pottsville to pastor, St. Joseph, St. Mauritius, Ashland; Our Lady of Good Counsel, Gordon.

The Rev. J. Michael Beers from special ministry outside diocese to pastor, St. Joseph, Frackville.

The Rev. Msgr. Albert J. Byrne from pastor, Annunciation BVM, Catasauqua to pastor, Immaculate Conception, Allentown.

The Rev. Edward B. Connolly from pastor, St. Joseph, Pottsville and St. Francis de Sales, Mount Carbon to pastor, St. Joseph and St. Vincent de Paul, Girardville.

The Rev. Msgr. Edward R. Domin from pastor, Our Lady Help of Christians, Allentown to pastor, St. Catharine of Siena, Mount Penn.

The Rev. Edward J. Essig from pastor, SS. Peter and Paul, Lehighton to pastor, Annunciation and St. Ann, Frackville.

The Rev. Msgr. Victor F. Finelli, judge, Diocesan Tribunal, Diocese of Allentown, also to administrator, Annunciation BVM, Catasauqua.

The Rev. Robert J. George from director of spiritual activities, Notre Dame High School, Bethlehem Township, Pa., and resident, Sacred Heart, Miller Heights to pastor, Sacred Heart, Miller Heights and chaplain, Notre Dame High School.

The Rev. Eric J. Gruber from pastor, St. Vincent de Paul and Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Minersville, and St. Kieran, Heckscherville, to administrator, St. Lawrence and St. Andrew, Catasauqua.

The Rev. David W. Karns from pastor, St. Joseph and Our Lady of Siluva, Frackville to pastor, St. Stephen, Port Carbon.

The Rev. Wayne E. Killian, director, Newman Center, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, also to pastor, Holy Ghost, Bethlehem.

The Rev. Msgr. John S. Mraz from pastor, Assumption BVM, Northampton to pastor, St. Ann, Emmaus.

The Rev. John S. Pendzick from assistant pastor, St. Jane Frances de Chantal, Palmer Township, to pastor, Our Lady Help of Christians, Allentown.

The Rev. Msgr. Alfred A. Schlert, J.C.L., V.G., vicar general, Diocese of Allentown, also to pastor, St. Theresa of the Child Jesus, Hellertown.

The Rev. Raymond P. Slezak from pastor, St. Joseph and St. Stanislaus, Bethlehem to administrator, SS. Peter and Paul, Allentown.

The Rev. Francis P. Straka from pastor, Holy Ghost, Bethlehem to pastor, Assumption BVM, Northampton.

The Rev. Joseph T. Whalen from chaplain, State Correctional Facility, Frackville to pastor, St. Richard, Barnesville.

The Rev. Msgr. Edward S. Zemanik from pastor, St. Patrick, St. Kunegunda, Immaculate Conception, St. Mary, McAdoo and Immaculate Conception, Kelayres to pastor, St. Anthony of Padua, Easton.

Assistant Pastor Assignments

The Rev. Eric R. Arnout from administrator, Sacred Heart, Miller Heights to assistant pastor, Cathedral of St. Catharine of Siena, Allentown.

The Rev. Thomas P. Bortz from assistant pastor, St. Ignatius Loyola, Sinking Spring to assistant pastor, Cathedral of St. Catharine of Siena, Allentown.

The Rev. Kevin M. Gualano from assistant pastor, Cathedral of St. Catharine of Siena, Allentown to assistant pastor, St. Joseph the Worker, Orefield.

The Rev. Keith R. Laskowski from assistant pastor, St. Columbkill, Boyertown to Assistant Pastor, St. Jane Frances de Chantal, Palmer Township.

The Rev. Robert J. McConaghy from service outside diocese to assistant pastor, St. Columbkill, Boyertown.

The Rev. Ronald J. Minner from assistant pastor, St. Joseph the Worker, Orefield to assistant pastor, St. Ignatius Loyola, Sinking Spring.

The Rev. Constantine Oduori, A.J., from service outside diocese to assistant pastor, Our Lady of Mercy, Easton.

The Rev. Dominic Thao Pham from assistant pastor, St. Theresa of the Child Jesus, Hellertown to assistant pastor, St. Ann, Emmaus.

The Rev. Quyet A. Pham from assistant pastor, St. Catharine of Siena, Mount Penn to assistant pastor, St. Paul, Reading.

The Rev. Paul L. Rothermel from assistant pastor, Our Lady of Hungary, Northampton to assistant pastor, St. Ignatius Loyola, Sinking Spring.

The Rev. Jerome A. Tauber from assistant pastor, Cathedral of St. Catharine of Siena, Allentown to assistant pastor, St. Theresa of the Child Jesus, Hellertown.

Non-parochial assignments

The Rev. Luis Bonilla Margarito, pastor, St. Joseph, Reading, also to chaplain, Reading Central Catholic High School.

The Rev. Msgr. Michael Chaback from pastor, SS. Cyril and Methodius, Bethlehem to director, Office of the Permanent Diaconate.

The Rev. Robert T. Finlan, president, Bethlehem Catholic High School and resident, St. Anne, Bethlehem, also to chaplain, St. Francis Convent, Monocacy Manor, with residence, Sacred Heart, Miller Heights.

The Rev. Michael E. Mullins from assistant director, Office of Vocations to director, Office of Vocations.

The Rev. Msgr. Francis A. Nave from director, Office of Vocations and pastor, Sacred Heart of Jesus, Bath to pastor, Sacred Heart of Jesus, Bath.

The Rev. Christopher L. Wakefield from pastor, St. Anthony of Padua, Easton to president, Nativity BVM High School, Pottsville and resident, St. Ambrose, Schuylkill Haven.

Non-parochial assignments/special considerations

The Rev. Scott R. Ardinger, president, Allentown Central Catholic High School; director, Office of Worship; and resident, Holy Trinity, Egypt; also to deputy secretary, Secretariat for Catholic Life and Evangelization.

The Rev. William T. Campion from pastor, St. Jerome, Tamaqua to medical leave.

The Rev. Msgr. Paul B. della Pica from pastor, Our Lady of Pompeii, Bethlehem to leave of absence.

The Rev. Ronald V. Jankaitis from pastor, St. Casimir, Immaculate Conception, St. Clair; and Principal, Nativity BVM High School, Pottsville; to medical leave.

The Rev. Gregory R. Karpyn from pastor, St. Joseph and St. Vincent de Paul, Girardville to pastoral ministry, Allentown Hospitals and Nursing Homes, and residence, St. Paul, Allentown.

The Rev. John J. Pavlosky from pastor, SS. Cyril and Methodius, St. John the Baptist, and St. Mary of the Assumption, Coaldale to leave of absence.

The Rev. Thomas G. Shanfelt from pastor, St. Michael and St. Bartholomew, Treskow to rector, St. Francis Villa, Orwigsburg and ministry to Schuylkill County Nursing Homes.

Senior priest

The Rev. Luigi Palmieri from assistant pastor, St. Anthony of Padua, Easton to senior priest.

Retirements

The Rev. Edward C. Bolez from pastor, St. John Capistrano, Bethlehem to pastor emeritus, St. John Capistrano, Bethlehem.

The Rev. Harold F. Dagle from pastor, Immaculate Conception, Allentown to pastor emeritus, Immaculate Conception, Allentown.

The Rev. Ladislaus J. Dudek from pastor, SS. Peter and Paul, Allentown to pastor emeritus, SS. Peter and Paul, Allentown.

The Rev. Stephen J. Halabura from pastor, St. Richard, Barnesville to pastor emeritus, St. Richard, Barnesville.

The Rev. Msgr. Thomas E. Hoban from pastor, St. Ann, Emmaus to pastor Emeritus, St. Ann, Emmaus.

The Rev. John J. McNamara from pastor, St. Stephen, Port Carbon to pastor emeritus, St. Stephen, Port Carbon.

The Rev. Msgr. Raymond F. Merman from pastor, St. Theresa of the Child Jesus, Hellertown to pastor emeritus, St. Theresa of the Child Jesus, Hellertown.

The Rev. James J. Morgan from chaplain, Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center, Pottsville to retirement.

The Rev. Edwin V. Schwartz from pastor, Our Lady of Hungary and St. Michael, Northampton to pastor emeritus, Our Lady of Hungary and St. Michael, Northampton.

The Rev. Msgr. Joseph P.T. Smith from pastor, St. Catharine of Siena, Mount Penn to pastor emeritus, St. Catharine of Siena, Mount Penn.

The Rev. Msgr. Anthony F. Wassel from pastor, St. Joseph, Assumption BVM and Sacred Heart, Mahanoy City to pastor emeritus, St. Joseph, Assumption BVM and Sacred Heart, Mahanoy City.

 
 

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