Category: Clerical Appointments

 

His Excellency, Bishop Joseph C. Bambera, announces the following appointments: 

Effective May 5, 2025: 

Reverend Kevin M. Miller, to Pastor Holy Name of Jesus Parish, West Hazleton.  Father will continue to serve as Pastor of Annunciation Parish, Hazleton.

Deacon Vincent M. Oberto, from Parish Life Coordinator, Holy Name of Jesus Parish, West Hazleton.  Deacon will continue to serve as Parish Life Coordinator, Holy Rosary Parish, Hazleton.

Reverend Connell A. McHugh, from Sacramental Minister, Holy Name of Jesus Parish, West Hazleton.  Father will continue to serve as Sacramental Minister, Holy Rosary Parish, Hazleton.

Reverend Michael J. Piccola, V.F., from Priest Moderator, Holy Name of Jesus Parish, West Hazleton.  Father will continue to serve as Priest Moderator, Holy Rosary Parish, Hazleton, and Pastor, SS. Cyril and Methodius Parish, Hazleton, and as Dean of the Hazleton Deanery. 

Effective July 1, 2025: 

Reverend Joseph P. Elston, V.F., to Pastor, Our Lady of the Eucharist Parish, Pittston.  Father will continue to serve as Pastor, St. John the Evangelist Parish, Pittston, and St Joseph Marello Parish, Pittston, and as Dean of the Pittston Deanery.

Reverend Jackson Pinhero, O.S.J., to Parochial Vicar, Our Lady of the Eucharist Parish, Pittston.  Father will continue to serve as Parochial Vicar, St. John the Evangelist Parish, Pittston, and St Joseph Marello Parish, Pittston.

Sister Mary Ann Cody, IHM, from Parish Life Coordinator, Our Lady of the Eucharist Parish, Pittston.  Sister will transition to Pastoral Associate at Our Lady of the Eucharist Parish, Pittston, St. John the Evangelist Parish, Pittston, and St. Joseph Marello Parish, Pittston.

Reverend Joseph J. Evanko, V.E., from Priest Moderator, Our Lady of the Eucharist Parish, Pittston.  Father will continue to serve as Pastor, St. Jude Parish Mountaintop, and our Lady Help of Christians Parish, Dorrance, and as Episcopal Vicar of the Southern Pastoral Region.

 

His Excellency, Bishop Joseph C. Bambera, announces the following appointments, effective July 1, 2025: 

Reverend Andrew Amankwaa, from Administrator pro tem, St. John Vianney Parish, Montdale, to continued service in the Diocese of Scranton.

PASTOR:

Reverend Walter Jenkins, C.S.C., from Sacramental Minister, Our Lady of the Eucharist Parish, Pittston, to Pastor, Prince of Peace Parish, Old Forge.

Reverend Thomas J. Petro, J.C.L., to Pastor, Queen of the Apostles Parish, Avoca.  Father will continue to serve as Pastor, Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, Dupont, and Judge, the Diocesan Tribunal.

Reverend August A. Ricciardi, from Pastor, Prince of Peace Parish, Old Forge, to Pastor, St. John Vianney Parish, Montdale.

RETIREMENT:

Reverend Phillip J. Sladicka, from Pastor, Queen of the Apostles Parish, Avoca, to Pastor Emeritus, Queen of the Apostles Parish, Avoca.

His Excellency, Bishop Joseph C. Bambera, announces the following appointments, effective July 1, 2025: 

Reverend John V. Polednak, V.E., from Episcopal Vicar for Clergy to retirement.

Reverend Seth D. Wasnock, V.F., to Episcopal Vicar for Clergy.  Father Wasnock will remain Pastor, Our Lady of the Rosary Parish, Carbondale.

His Excellency, Bishop Joseph C. Bambera, announces the following appointments:

Reverend David W. Bechtel, to Chaplain, Saint John Neumann High School Williamsport.  Father will remain Pastor, Saint Joseph the Worker Parish, Williamsport, effective February 17, 2025. 

Reverend William D. Corcoran, from Retirement, to Administrator, Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish, Williamsport, and Saint Luke’s Parish, Jersey Shore, effective February 17, 2025. 

Reverend Bert S. Kozen, V.F., from Pastor, Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish, Williamsport, and Saint Luke’s Parish, Jersey Shore, to Leave of Absence for Reasons of Health, effective February 17, 2025.

His Excellency, Bishop Joseph C. Bambera, announces the following appointments, effective January 8, 2025: 

SENIOR PRIEST 

Reverend Binesh Joseph Kanjirakattu, from Parochial Vicar, Good Shepherd Parish Drums, and Immaculate Conception Parish, Freeland, to Senior Priest, St. Ann Parish, Shohola, St. John Neumann Parish, Hawley, and St. Vincent de Paul Parish, Milford. 

Reverend Kenneth M. Seegar, from Sacramental Minister, Our Lady of the Eucharist Parish, Pittston, to Senior Priest, Good Shepherd Parish Drums, and Immaculate Conception Parish, Freeland. 

SACRAMENTAL MINISTER 

Reverend Joseph P. Elston, V.F., to Sacramental Minister, Our Lady of the Eucharist Parish, Pittston. Fr. Elston will remain Pastor, St. John the Evangelist Parish, Pittston, and St. Joseph Marello Parish, Pittston. 

Reverend Jackson Pinhero, O.S.J., to Sacramental Minister, Our Lady of the Eucharist Parish, Pittston. Fr. Pinhero will remain Assistant Pastor, St. John the Evangelist Parish, Pittston, and St. Joseph Marello Parish, Pittston.

 

December 3, 2024 

His Excellency, Bishop Joseph C. Bambera, announces the following appointments, effective January 8, 2025: 

Reverend Benito Hierro Aquino, CSMA, from Parochial Vicar, St. Nicholas-St. Mary Parish, Wilkes-Barre, to Parochial Vicar, Holy Name of Jesus Parish, West Hazleton and Holy Rosary Parish, Hazleton.  Fr. Hierro Aquino will reside at Annunciation Rectory, Hazleton.

Reverend Sergio Leon Pamplona Henao, from Parochial Vicar, Holy Name of Jesus Parish, West Hazleton and Holy Rosary Parish, Hazleton to Parochial Vicar, St. Matthew Parish, East Stroudsburg and Most Holy Trinity Parish, Cresco.  Fr. Pamplona Henao will reside at St. Matthew’s Rectory, East Stroudsburg.

Reverend Jaime Perez Restrepo, from Parochial Vicar, St. Matthew Parish, East Stroudsburg and Most Holy Trinity Parish, Cresco, to Senior Priest, St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish, Scranton and Hispanic Ministry Coordinator for Northern Pastoral Region and Western Pastoral Region.

His Excellency, Bishop Joseph C. Bambera, announces the following appointments, effective as indicated:

Reverend Sudhir Toppo, from Parochial Vicar, Saint Ann Parish, Shohola; Saint John Neumann Parish, Hawley; and Saint Vincent DePaul Parish, Milford; to Administrator, Most Holy Trinity Parish, Susquehanna, effective September 11, 2024. 

Reverend John C. Ruth, from Pastor, Most Holy Trinity Parish, Susquehanna, to Administrative Leave of Absence, effective September 5, 2024.

 

His Excellency, Bishop Joseph C. Bambera, announces the following appointment, effective as indicated:

Reverend Scott P. Sterowski, to Diocesan Coordinator for Ecumenism and Interfaith Relations, effective September 1, 2024.  Father Sterowski will continue to serve as Pastor, Blessed Sacrament Parish, Throop, and Holy Cross Parish, Olyphant.

His Excellency, Bishop Joseph C. Bambera, announces the following appointments, effective August 8, 2024:

Reverend Christopher Mahowald, FSSP, from Pastor, Saint Michael the Archangel Church, Scranton to ministry with the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter North American Province. 

Reverend Anthony Dorsa, FSSP, from Parochial Vicar, Saint Michael the Archangel Church, Scranton, to Pastor, Saint Michael the Archangel Church, Scranton. 

Reverend Matthew Kane, FSSP, from ministry with the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter North American Province, to, Parochial Vicar, Saint Michael the Archangel Church, Scranton.

 

His Excellency, Bishop Joseph C. Bambera, announces the following appointment, effective July 5, 2024:

Reverend William A. Asinari, to Parochial Vicar, Saint Jude Parish, Mountain Top, and Our Lady Help of Christians Parish, Dorrance.