New assignments to bring changes throughout diocese

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A time for new leadership and for other changes is about to begin in many parishes in the Jefferson City diocese.

Bishop W. Shawn McKnight has issued a decree appointing 16 priests to new assignments, and granting retirement status to three others.

Most of the changes take effect July 1, with a few exceptions.

The decree reflects the bishop’s and his advisors’ best efforts to build up the Church and promote the sacramental life throughout these 38 counties, in light of ongoing demographic changes and an increasingly limited number of available priests.

Three priests, having reached or surpassed 70 years of age, are retiring from full-time parish work.

Four parishes or groups of parishes — Cathedral of St. Joseph Parish in Jefferson City; Ss. Peter and Paul Parish in Boonville and St. Joseph Parish in Pilot Grove; St. Peter Parish in Marshall, St. Joseph Parish in Slater and the Mission of the Holy Family in Sweet Springs; and St. Patrick Parish in Rolla, Immaculate Conception Parish in St. James and St. Anthony Parish in Rosati — will no longer have associate pastors.

One missionary priest from Uganda will join the other 17 missionary priests from overseas who are serving here.

Priests who are taking up new assignments announced the news to their parishioners at Mass the weekend of May 14-15.

A season of change

Father Donald J. Antweiler, formerly pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish in Jefferson City; Father Brendan Griffey, formerly associate pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish in St. James and St. Anthony Parish in Rosati; and Father Ignazio C. Medina, formerly pastor of Our Lady of the Lake Parish in Lake Ozark, will retire from active ministry.

Succeeding Fr. Antweiler as pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish in Jefferson City will be Father Matthew Flatley, formerly pastor of Holy Family Parish in Hannibal and St. Joseph Parish in Palmyra. He will continue as Diocesan Moderator of Spiritual Formation.

Father Alexander Gabriel, formerly pastor of St. Andrew Parish in Tipton and Annunciation Parish in California, will become pastor of Holy Family Parish in Hannibal and St. Joseph Parish in Palmyra.

Succeeding Fr. Gabriel as pastor in Tipton and California will be Father Anthony J. Viviano, formerly pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Westphalia and St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Folk. He will continue as Moderator of Pro-Life Ministry.

Father Dylan Schrader, PhD, formerly pastor of St. Brendan Parish in Mexico, will succeed Fr. Viviano as pastor of the Westphalia and Folk parishes. He will continue as Chancery Latinist, Censor Librorum, Moderator of Religious Education, and Bishop’s Delegate for the celebration of the Mass according to the 1962 Missale Romanum.

Succeeding Fr. Schrader as pastor in Mexico will be Father David J. Veit, formerly pastor in solidum of St. Vincent de Paul Parish of Pettis County.

Father Cesar A. Anicama, a priest of the diocese who has been serving in the missions, will become associate pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Parish.

More changes

Father Michael W. Penn, formerly pastor of St. Francis Xavier Parish in Taos, will succeed Fr. Medina as pastor of Our Lady of the Lake Parish in Lake Ozark and will continue as the Bishop’s Delegate for the Cause for Canonization of Fr. Tolton.

Succeeding Fr. Penn as pastor in Taos will be Father Kelechi M. Uzuegbu, formerly pastor of St. Bonaventure Parish in Marceline, parochial administrator of St. Raphael Parish in Indian Grove and the Mission of St. Joseph in Hurricane Branch, and sacramental minister of Immaculate Conception Parish in Brookfield.

Father Paschal C. Ihediohamma, formerly associate pastor of St. Peter Parish in Jefferson City, will succeed Fr. Uzuegbu, serving as parochial administrator of the Marceline and Indian Grove parishes,  the Hurricane Branch mission and as sacramental minister of the Brookfield parish.

Father Christopher M. Aubuchon, formerly associate pastor of St. Peter Parish in Marshall, St. Joseph Parish in Slater and the Mission of Holy Family in Sweet Springs, will become parochial administrator of St. Lawrence Parish in St. Elizabeth and St. Anthony of Padua Parish in St. Anthony.

Father Brad T. Berhorst JCL, formerly associate pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Columbia, will become associate pastor of St. Peter Parish in Jefferson City on Aug. 1. He will begin at that time a three-year term as adjutant judicial vicar in the diocesan Matrimonial Tribunal and will serve as Head Master of Ceremonies for the bishop.

In the interim, Father Simon Jude Kanyike, newly arrived missionary priest from the Archdiocese of Kampala in Uganda, will serve as associate pastor of St. Peter Parish in Jefferson City until July 31.

Succeeding Fr. Berhorst as associate pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish will be Father Derek J. Hooper, formerly associate pastor of Ss. Peter & Paul Parish in Boonville and St. Joseph Parish in Pilot Grove.

Father Paul J. Clark, formerly associate pastor of St. Thomas More Newman Center Parish in Columbia and chaplain of Fr. Tolton Regional Catholic High School in Columbia, will become chaplain of Helias Catholic High School in Jefferson City and diocesan Director of Seminarians, while continuing as Vocation Director and Moderator of Youth and Young Adult Ministry.

Father Paulinus C. Aneke, PhD, will succeed Fr. Clark as associate pastor of St. Thomas More Newman Center Parish in Columbia.

Father Ignitius Nimwesiga, parochial administrator of the St. Elizabeth and St. Anthony parishes and part-time Chaplain at Helias Catholic High School in Jefferson City, will become chaplain of Fr. Tolton Regional Catholic High School in Columbia, with residence at the St. Thomas More Newman Center.

From administrator to pastor

Bishop McKnight also appointed Father Joshua J. Duncan, already serving as parochial administrator of St. Mary Parish in Glasgow, to be that parish’s pastor while continuing as parochial administrator of St. Joseph Parish in Fayette.

The bishop appointed Father Roberto M. Ike, Phd, already serving as parochial administrator of St. Andrew Parish in Holts Summit, to be that parish’s pastor.

The bishop appointed Father Leonard K. Mukiibi, already serving as parochial administrator of St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in St. Thomas and St. Cecilia Parish in Meta, to be pastor of both parishes.

Diocesan roles

Constance J. Schepers stepped down as chancellor of the Jefferson City diocese on May 11 and will retire from her role as director of Child and Youth Protection on June 30.

Benjamin H. Roodhouse, JD, JCL, succeeds her as chancellor and begins a three-year term as a judge in the diocesan Matrimonial Tribunal while continuing as director of Canonical Services.

A new director of Child and Youth Protection will be hired later this spring.

Deacon Ray L. Purvis will retire as director of Ministry and Life of Permanent Deacons while continuing liturgical ministry at Immaculate Conception Parish in Jefferson City.

Deacon Mike W. Berendzen will succeed Deacon Purvis, while continuing hospital ministry in Columbia and liturgical ministry at St. Francis Xavier Parish in Taos.

Father Christopher L. Cordes will succeed Monsignor Robert A. Kurwicki as vicar for priests while continuing as pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Columbia. This position involves ministry to priests experiencing health issues, coordination of priests’ retreats and the annual Priests’ Institute, other priest-related ministry, and the coordination of weekend coverage for priests who are away from their parishes.

Msgr. Kurwicki was serving temporarily as vicar for priests. This change returns to the bishop’s original plan to have two separate priests serve as vicar general and vicar for priests.

Deacon Pedro J. Almazan and Deacon J. Jaimie Medina will serve as spiritual advisors for the Hispanic Catholic Charismatic Renewal Movement, while continuing diaconal ministry at St. Peter Parish in Marshall, St. Joseph Parish in Slater and the Mission of Holy Family in Sweet Springs, and with Hispanic ministry in the diocese.

Deacon J. Amparo Orozco will serve in diaconal ministry at St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Pettis County, as spiritual advisor for the Hispanic Cursillo Movement, and in Hispanic ministry in the diocese. He formerly served in diaconal ministry at St. Peter Parish in Marshall, St. Joseph Parish in Slater, and the Mission of Holy Family in Sweet Springs.

A time to pray

Bishop McKnight made the appointments following extensive consultation with the diocesan Priests’ Personnel Board and his cabinet of advisors.

His objective was “to provide the most effective pastoral care of the Diocese of Jefferson City.”

He asks for prayers for everyone involved at this time of transition, and for the Lord of the Harvest to make committed, engaged disciples of all who are baptized in the Church.

“I am convinced that when this happens, we will have all the priests we need,” said Bishop McKnight.