Bishop Martino Announces Diocesan
Appointments
His Excellency, Bishop Martino, announces
the following appointments, effective July
15 or as noted:
REGIONAL EPISCOPAL VICARS
Reverend Mark G. Balczeniuk,
from Pastor, Transfiguration Parish, West
Hazleton, to Episcopal Vicar, Eastern
Pastoral Region. Father Balczeniuk will
reside at the Villa of Our Lady Retreat
House, Mount Pocono.
Reverend John V. Polednak,
from Pastor, Saint Eulalia Parish, Elmhurst,
to Episcopal Vicar, Southern Pastoral
Region. Father Polednak will reside at
Sacred Heart of Jesus Rectory, Dupont.
PASTOR EMERITI
Monsignor Francis J. Beeda,
from Pastor, Saint Joseph and Saint
Stanislaus Parishes, Hazleton, to Pastor
Emeritus, Saint Joseph and Saint Stanislaus
Parishes, Hazleton.
Reverend William R. Culnane,
from Pastor, Saint Dominic Parish,
Wilkes-Barre, to Pastor Emeritus, Saint
Dominic Parish, Wilkes-Barre.
Monsignor Philip A. Gray,
from Pastor, Saint Francis of Assisi Parish,
Scranton, to Pastor Emeritus, Saint Francis
of Assisi Parish, Scranton.
Reverend John J. Kilpatrick,
from Pastor, Our Lady of the Abingtons
Parish, Dalton, to Pastor Emeritus, Our Lady
of the Abingtons Parish, Dalton.
Reverend Vincent F. Langan,
from Pastor, Saint John the Evangelist
Parish, South Waverly, and Saint Joseph
Parish, Athens, to Pastor Emeritus, Saint
John the Evangelist Parish, South Waverly,
and Saint Joseph Parish, Athens.
Reverend William J. McCawley,
from Pastor, Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish,
Brodheadsville, to Pastor Emeritus, Our Lady
Queen of Peace Parish, Brodheadsville.
Reverend Albert E. Oldfield,
from Chaplain, Holy Family Residence,
Scranton, to Pastor Emeritus, Saint Mary of
Czestochowa Parish, Scranton (Greenwood).
Reverend Theodore L. Obaza,
from Pastor, Holy Trinity Parish,
Wilkes-Barre, and Saint Joseph Parish,
Wilkes-Barre Township, to Pastor Emeritus,
Holy Trinity Parish, Wilkes-Barre, and Saint
Joseph Parish, Wilkes-Barre Township.
Monsignor Constantine V. Siconolfi,
from Pastor, Holy Family Parish, Scranton,
to Pastor Emeritus, Holy Family Parish,
Scranton.
PASTORS AND ADMINISTRATORS
Reverend David R. Betts,
from Residence, Sacred Heart of Jesus –
Saint John and Saint Stanislaus Kostka
Parishes, Wilkes-Barre, to Administrator,
Transfiguration and Saint Francis of Assisi
Parishes, West Hazleton.
Monsignor David Bohr,
to Pastor, Holy Family Parish, Scranton.
Monsignor Bohr will continue as Pastor,
Saint Peter Cathedral Parish, Scranton.
Reverend Martin M. Boylan,
from Pastor, Saint John the Evangelist and
Saint Mary Magdalen Parishes, Honesdale, to
Pastor, Saints Peter and Paul Parish,
Towanda, Saint Michael Parish, Canton, Saint
John Nepomucene Parish, Troy, and Saint
Aloysius Parish, Ralston.
Reverend Michael M. Bryant,
from Administrator, Nativity of Our Lord
Parish, Scranton, to Pastor, Nativity of Our
Lord Parish, Scranton.
Reverend John J. Chmil,
from Administrator, Saint Peter Parish,
Wellsboro, to Pastor, Saint Peter Parish,
Wellsboro.
Reverend Richard J. Cirba,
from Pastor, Holy Trinity Parish,
Swoyersville, to Pastor, Saint Joseph and
Saint Stanislaus Parishes, Hazleton.
Reverend David W. Cramer,
from Pastor, Saint Bernadette Parish,
Canadensis, to Pastor, Saint John the
Evangelist Parish, Susquehanna, Saint
Lawrence Parish, Great Bend, and Saint
Martin of Tours Parish, Jackson.
Reverend Charles J. Cummings,
from Pastor, Ascension Parish, Williamsport,
and Administrator, Holy Rosary Parish,
Williamsport, to Pastor, Immaculate
Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Parish, Bastress (Williamsport), and Saint
Luke Parish, Jersey Shore.
Reverend Vincent H. Dang,
from Pastor, Holy Family Parish, Sugar
Notch, to Pastor, Saint Frances X. Cabrini
Parish, Carverton.
Reverend Joseph J. Evanko,
from Pastor, Saint John Bosco, Conyngham,
and Good Shepherd Parish, Drums, to Pastor,
Saint Jude Parish, Mountaintop.
Reverend Gregory T. Finn, O.S.J.,
from Pastor, Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Parish, Pittston, to Pastor, Sacred Heart of
Jesus Parish, Harleigh, Saint Gabriel
Parish, Hazleton, Saint Nazarius Parish,
Pardeesville, and Saint Mary Parish,
Lattimer.
Reverend Paul C. Fontanella,
from Administrator, Saint Ann Parish,
Williamsport, to Pastor, Saint Ann Parish,
Williamsport.
Reverend Richard E. Fox,
from Pastor, Holy Family Parish, Luzerne, to
Pastor, Saint Eulalia, Parish, Elmhurst.
Reverend J. Duane Gavitt,
from Pastor, Saint Aloysius and Saint
Casimir Parishes, Wilkes-Barre, to Pastor,
Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception
Parish, Freeland.
Reverend Anthony J. Generose,
from further studies, Rome, to
Administrator, Saint Catherine of Siena
Parish, Moscow.
Reverend Dennis M. Gordon, F.S.S.P.,
from Assistant Pastor, Saint Michael Parish,
Scranton, to Pastor, Saint Michael Parish,
Scranton, effective July 1, 2009.
Reverend Louis A. Grippe,
from Pastor, Holy Name/Saint Mary Parish,
Swoyersville, to Pastor, Most Precious Blood
Parish, Hazleton.
Reverend Joseph R. Hornick,
from Administrator, Saint Basil the Great
Parish, Dushore, and Saint Francis of Assisi
Parish, Mildred, to Pastor, Saint Basil the
Great Parish, Dushore, and Saint Francis of
Assisi Parish, Mildred.
Reverend Joseph R. Kakareka,
from Administrator, Saints Peter and Paul
Parish, Avoca, to Pastor, Holy Family
Parish, Sugar Notch.
Reverend William J. Karle,
from Pastor, Holy Saviour Parish,
Wilkes-Barre, to Pastor, Holy Name/Saint
Mary and Holy Trinity Parishes,
Swoyersville.
Reverend Joseph A. Kearney,
to Pastor, Saint Dominic Parish,
Wilkes-Barre. Father Kearney will continue
as Pastor, Blessed Sacrament, Saint Francis
and Saint John the Baptist Parishes,
Wilkes-Barre (Miners Mills).
Reverend Shane L. Kirby,
from Administrator, Immaculate Conception of
the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish, Bastress
(Williamsport), and Saint Luke Parish,
Jersey Shore, to Pastor, Saint Joseph the
Worker Parish, Williamsport. Saint Joseph
the Worker Parish is a consolidation of the
following parishes: Annunciation, Ascension,
Holy Rosary, and Mater Dolorosa,
Williamsport. Father Kirby will reside at
Saint Joseph the Worker Rectory (formerly
Mater Dolorosa Rectory), Williamsport.
Reverend John M. Kita,
from Administrator, Saint Thomas the Apostle
Parish, Elkland, to Pastor, Saint Thomas the
Apostle Parish, Elkland.
Reverend Joseph R. Kopacz, V.G.,
to Pastor, Saint Ann Parish, Tobyhanna.
Father Kopacz will continue as Pastor, Saint
Mary of the Mount Parish, Mount Pocono, and
Coordinator of Hispanic Ministry in Monroe
County.
Reverend John C. Lambert,
from Pastor, Saint John Parish, East
Stroudsburg, to Pastor, Saint John Bosco
Parish, Conyngham, and Good Shepherd Parish,
Drums.
Reverend William J. P. Langan,
from Pastor, Saint Francis of Assisi and
Saint Joseph Parishes, Nanticoke, to Pastor,
Saint John the Evangelist and Saint Mary
Magdalen Parishes, Honesdale.
Reverend Joseph J. Manarchuck,
from Administrator, Saint Joachim Parish,
Meshoppen, to Pastor, Saint Joachim Parish,
Meshoppen. Father Manarchuck continues as
Pastor, Saint Mary of the Assumption Parish,
Wyalusing.
Reverend John K. Manno,
from Pastor, Annunciation Parish,
Williamsport, to Pastor, Our Lady of Lourdes
Parish, Montoursville.
Reverend Michael H. Marchetti,
from Pastor, Our Lady of Lourdes Parish,
Montoursville, to Pastor, Our Lady of
Sorrows Parish, West Wyoming, and Saint
Joseph Parish, Wyoming.
Monsignor Stephen D. McGough,
to Pastor, Saint Lawrence Parish, South
Williamsport. Monsignor McGough will
continue as Pastor, Saint Boniface Parish,
Williamsport.
Reverend Edward L. Michelini,
from Administrator, Mater Dolorosa Parish,
Williamsport, and Chaplain, Saint John
Neumann Regional Academy High School,
Williamsport, to Administrator, Saint
Bernadette Parish, Canadensis.
Reverend Kevin P. Mulhern,
from Pastor, Gate of Heaven Parish, Dallas,
to Pastor, Our Lady of the Abingtons Parish,
Dalton.
Reverend James R. Nash,
to Pastor, Saint Francis of Assisi and Saint
Joseph Parishes, Nanticoke. Father Nash will
continue as Pastor, Holy Trinity, Holy
Child, Saint Mary of Czestochowa and Saint
Stanislaus Parishes, Nanticoke.
Reverend Peter J. O’Rourke,
from Pastor, Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish,
Harleigh, Saint Gabriel Parish, Hazleton,
Saint Nazarius Parish, Pardeesville, and
Saint Mary Parish, Lattimer, to Pastor,
Saint Patrick Parish, Scranton.
Reverend Paul J. Pudhota,
from Administrator, Exaltation of the Holy
Cross Parish, Hanover Township, to
Administrator, Holy Trinity Parish,
Wilkes-Barre, and Saint Joseph Parish,
Wilkes-Barre Township.
Reverend Michael F. Quinnan, V.E.,
from Episcopal Vicar, Southern Pastoral
Region, and Administrator, Saint Jude
Parish, Mountaintop, to Pastor, Our Lady
Queen of Peace Parish, Brodheadsville.
Reverend John C. Ruth,
from Pastor, Saint Francis of Assisi Parish,
West Hazleton, to Administrator, Saint Mary
of the Assumption and Holy Name of Jesus
Parishes, Scranton.
Reverend Daniel L. Schwebs, O.S.J.,
to Administrator, Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Parish, Pittston. Father Schwebs will
continue as Pastor, Saint Rocco Parish,
Pittston.
Reverend Kenneth M. Seegar,
from Pastor, Saint Martin of Tours Parish,
Jackson, to Administrator, Holy Saviour
Parish, Wilkes-Barre.
Reverend Andrew R. Sinnott, V.E.,
from Episcopal Vicar, Eastern Pastoral
Region and Administrator, Saint Joseph and
Saint Stanislaus Parishes, Hazleton, to
Pastor, Saint Aloysius and Saint Casimir
Parishes, Wilkes-Barre, and Exaltation of
the Holy Cross Parish, Hanover Township.
Reverend Phillip J. Sladicka,
to Pastor, Saints Peter and Paul Parish,
Avoca. Father Sladicka will continue as
Pastor, Saint Mary Parish, Avoca.
Reverend James B. Shimsky,
from Administrator, Saint Frances X. Cabrini
Parish, Carverton, to Pastor, Corpus Christi
Parish, Montdale, and Saint Pius X Parish,
Royal.
Reverend Daniel A. Toomey,
from Administrator, Corpus Christi Parish,
Montdale, to Pastor, Gate of Heaven Parish,
Dallas, and Our Lady of Victory Parish,
Harveys Lake.
Monsignor David L. Tressler,
from Pastor, Saint Patrick Parish, Scranton,
to Pastor, Saint Rose of Lima Parish,
Carbondale.
Reverend Alfred J. Vito,
from Pastor, Saint Lawrence Parish, Great
Bend, to Pastor, Saint John Parish, East
Stroudsburg.
Reverend James J. Walsh,
from Pastor, Our Lady of Sorrows Parish,
West Wyoming, and Saint Joseph Parish,
Wyoming, to Administrator, Saint Francis of
Assisi Parish, Scranton.
Reverend Michael J. Zipay,
from Pastor, Saint Lawrence Parish, South
Williamsport, to Pastor, Holy Family Parish,
Luzerne.
ASSISTANT PASTORS
Reverend Wilfredo T. Comellas,
from Administrator, Most Precious Blood
Parish, Hazleton, to Assistant Pastor, Saint
Aloysius and Saint Casimir Parishes,
Wilkes-Barre, and Exaltation of the Holy
Cross Parish, Hanover Township.
Reverend Johnson Kochuparambil, O.S.J.,
from Assistant Pastor, Our Lady of Mount
Carmel Parish, Pittston, to Assistant
Pastor, Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish,
Harleigh, Saint Gabriel Parish, Hazleton,
Saint Nazarius Parish, Pardeesville, and
Saint Mary Parish, Lattimer.
Reverend Victor Leon, O.S.J.,
from Assistant Pastor, Nativity of Our Lord
Parish, Scranton, to Assistant Pastor,
Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, Harleigh,
Saint Gabriel Parish, Hazleton, Saint
Nazarius Parish, Pardeesville, Saint Mary
Parish, Lattimer.
Reverend Sellam J. Paulraj,
from Assistant Pastor, Nativity of the
Blessed Virgin Mary Parish, Tunkhannock, and
Saint Mary of the Lake Parish, Lake Winola,
to Assistant Pastor, Saint Thomas Aquinas
Parish, Archbald, and Saint Mary of
Czestochowa Parish, Eynon.
Reverend Alfhones Perikala,
from Assistant Pastor, Saints Peter and Paul
Parish, Towanda, Saint Michael Parish,
Canton, Saint John Nepomucene Parish, Troy,
and Saint Aloysius Parish, Ralston, to
Assistant Pastor, Saint John the Evangelist
Parish, Susquehanna, Saint Lawrence Parish,
Great Bend, and Saint Martin of Tours
Parish, Jackson.
Reverend Jackson Pinhiero, O.S.J.,
from Vice-Rector, Oblates of Saint Joseph
Seminary, Pittston, to Assistant Pastor, Our
Lady of Mount Carmel and Saint Rocco
Parishes, Pittston.
Reverend Balireddy Ponnapati,
from Assistant Pastor, Saint Nicholas
Parish, Wilkes-Barre, to Assistant Pastor,
Saint Joseph and Saint Stanislaus Parishes,
Hazleton.
Reverend Joseph F. Sica,
from Chaplain, Mercy Hospital, Scranton, to
Assistant Pastor, Immaculate Conception
Parish, Scranton.
Reverend Gregory T. Villaescusa,
from Assistant Pastor, Sacred Heart of Jesus
Parish, Harleigh, Saint Gabriel Parish,
Hazleton, Saint Nazarius Parish,
Pardeesville, and Saint Mary Parish,
Lattimer, to Assistant Pastor, Saints Peter
and Paul Parish, Towanda, Saint Michael
Parish, Canton, Saint John Nepomucene
Parish, Troy, and Saint Aloysius Parish,
Ralston.
Reverend Bryan B. Wright,
from Assistant Pastor, Saint Joseph and
Saint Stanislaus Parishes, Hazleton, to
Assistant Pastor, Saint Mary of the Mount
Parish, Mount Pocono, and Saint Ann Parish,
Tobyhanna.
CHAPLAINS
Reverend Philip A. Altavilla, V.E.,
to Chaplain, Holy Cross High School,
Dunmore. Father Altavilla will continue as
Episcopal Vicar, Northern Pastoral Region.
Reverend David W. Bechtel,
from Assistant Pastor, Saint Matthew Parish,
East Stroudsburg, to Chaplain, Pennsylvania
College of Technology, Williamsport, and
Chaplain, Saint John Neumann Regional
Academy, Williamsport. Father Bechtel will
reside at Saint Joseph the Worker Rectory
(formerly Mater Dolorosa Rectory),
Williamsport.
Reverend Eric L. Bergman,
from Chaplain, Holy Cross High School,
Dunmore, to Chaplain, Mercy Hospital,
Scranton. Father Bergman will continue as
Chaplain, Saint Thomas More Society,
Scranton.
Reverend Richard G. Ghezzi,
from Pastor, Saint Ann Parish, Tobyhanna, to
Chaplain, Little Flower Manor and Saint
Therese Residence, Wilkes-Barre. Father
Ghezzi will reside at Holy Trinity Rectory,
Wilkes-Barre.
Reverend E. Francis Kelly,
from Pastor, Our Lady of Victory Parish,
Harveys Lake, to Chaplain, Holy Family
Residence, Scranton.
Reverend Albert P. Leonard,
from Pastor, Saint John the Evangelist
Parish, Susquehanna, to Chaplain, East
Stroudsburg University, East Stroudsburg.
Father Leonard will reside at Saint Matthew
Rectory, East Stroudsburg.
Reverend John J. Victoria,
from Assistant Pastor, Immaculate Conception
Parish, Scranton, to Chaplain, Holy Redeemer
High School, Wilkes-Barre, and Chaplain,
Wilkes University, Wilkes-Barre. Father
Victoria will reside at Saint Nicholas
Rectory, Wilkes-Barre.
Reverend Bryan B. Wright,
to Chaplain, Monsignor McHugh Elementary
School, Cresco.
SPECIAL ASSIGNMENTS
Reverend Thomas A. Cappelloni,
to Director, National Shrine of the Sacred
Heart of Jesus, Harleigh. Father Cappelloni
continues as Pastor, Our Lady of Grace
Parish, Hazleton.
Reverend Brian J.T. Clarke,
from Chaplain, Holy Redeemer High School,
Wilkes-Barre, to further studies, Lateran
Pontifical University, Rome.
Reverend Brian J.W. Clarke,
from further studies, Rome, to the Secretary
to the Bishop and Director of the Office for
Canonical Affairs. Father Clarke will
continue as Vice-Chancellor of the Diocese
of Scranton. Father Clarke will reside at
Saint Peter’s Cathedral Rectory, Scranton.
Mr. James B. Earley,
to Diocesan Secretary for Temporalities. Mr.
Earley will continue as Chancellor of the
Diocese.
Reverend Anthony J. Generose,
to Judicial Vicar and Episcopal Vicar for
Consecrated Life.
Reverend Gregory W. Kelly,
from Administrator, Saints Peter and Paul
Parish, Towanda, Saint Michael Parish,
Canton, Saint John Nepomucene Parish, Troy,
and Saint Aloysius Parish, Ralston, to
further studies, Gregorian Pontifical
University, Rome.
Reverend John E. Melnick,
from Pastor, Our Lady of the Immaculate
Conception, Freeland, to Society of Saint
Augustine, Archdiocese of Kansas City,
Kansas.
Reverend Thomas J. Petro,
to Resident, Sacred Heart – Saint John and
Saint Stanislaus Kostka Parishes,
Wilkes-Barre. Father Petro will return to
Rome in the fall to continue graduate
studies.
Monsignor Joseph G. Quinn,
from Pastor, Saint Rose of Lima Parish,
Carbondale, and Administrator, Saint Pius X
Parish, Royal, to Vice President for
University Mission and Ministry, Fordham
University, New York.
Reverend Gregory A. Reichlen,
from Assistant Pastor, Saint Thomas Aquinas
Parish, Archbald, and Saint Mary of
Czestochowa Parish, Eynon, to further
studies, Pontifical Biblical Institute,
Rome.
Monsignor Dale R. Rupert,
from Pastor, Saint Mary of the Assumption
and Holy Name of Jesus Parishes, Scranton,
to further studies, The Liturgical
Institute, the University of Saint Mary of
the Lake/Mundelein Seminary, Mundelein,
Illinois.
Reverend John C. Ruth,
to Coordinator of Hispanic Ministry in
Lackawanna County.
Reverend Christopher S. Sahd,
from Director, Office for Divine Worship,
and from Assistant Director, Office for
Vocations, to further studies, Sant’ Anselmo
Pontifical University, Rome.
Reverend Robert J. Simon,
to further studies, The Liturgical
Institute, the University of Saint Mary of
the Lake/Mundelein Seminary, Mundelein,
Illinois, effective June 8, 2009. Father
Simon will continue as Pastor, Saint
Catherine of Siena Parish, Moscow.
Reverend Christopher T. Washington,
from Secretary to the Bishop and Assistant
Director of the Office for Divine Worship,
to Director of the Office for Divine Worship
and Director of the Office for Vocations.
Father Washington will continue as
Vice-Chancellor pro tem until August
30.
Reverend Jeffrey J. Walsh,
to Diocesan Deputy Secretary for Catholic
Human Services. Father Walsh will continue
his studies at Marywood University,
Scranton.
NEWLY-ORDAINED
Reverend Sean G. Carpenter,
to Assistant Pastor, Our Lady Queen of Peace
Parish, Brodheadsville.
Reverend Gerald W. Shantillo,
to Assistant Pastor, Nativity of the Blessed
Virgin Mary Parish, Tunkhannock, and Saint
Mary of the Lake Parish, Lake Winola. Father
Shantillo will return to Rome in the fall
for continuing studies.
