HARRISBURG, Pa. – Most Reverend Ronald W. Gainer, Bishop of Harrisburg, has announced changes to clergy assignments today. These changes will take effect June 21, 2021. Every year Bishop Gainer works with the Priest Personnel Board to make assignment decisions for the Diocesan clergy in an effort to meet the needs of our parishes and fulfill the mission of the Church.
Priests are selected for assignments based on a variety of factors, including local needs, their skills, experience, availability, and health. Priests within the Diocese of Harrisburg can be reassigned for a number of reasons, including requests from the clergy members, an opening due to a retirement or death, or a clergy member has the skills and talents that are considered a good match for a specific ministry.
The following clergy changes will be effective as of June 21, 2021:
- Reverend Monsignor Robert E. Lawrence – currently Pastor of Saint Columba Parish, Bloomsburg. He has been granted permission to retire.
- Reverend Daniel P. O’Brien – currently on medical leave of absence. He has been granted permission to retire.
- Reverend Ignacio Palomino – currently Hanover Area Hispanic Ministry. He has been granted permission to retire.
- Reverend Anthony Swamy Anthappa, MSFS – currently Pastor of Saint Peter Parish, Columbia. He has been granted permission to return to his Community for assignment.
- Reverend Benedict Faneye, OP – currently assigned outside of the Diocese. At the presentation of his Provincial he has been appointed Hospital Chaplain at Geisinger Medical Center, Danville.
- Reverend Joseph R. Howard – currently Pastor of Saint Joseph Parish, Lancaster. He has been granted medical leave of absence.
- Reverend Monsignor William J. King – currently Pastor of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Mechanicsburg. He has been granted permission to serve as the Vice Rector of Mount Saint Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland.
- Reverend Michael E. Messner – currently on medical leave of absence. He has been appointed to Replacement Ministry.
- Reverend Modestus Ngwu, OP – currently Hospital Chaplain at Penn State Hershey Medical Center. He has been appointed the Supervising Catholic Hospital Chaplain at Penn State Hershey Medical Center.
- Reverend Tiburtius Raja – currently Parochial Vicar at Saint Patrick Parish, Carlisle and Campus Minister at Dickinson College, Carlisle. He has been appointed Campus Minister at Bucknell University.
- Reverend Michael W. Rothan – currently Campus Minister at Bucknell University. He has been appointed to the Hanover Area Hispanic Ministry.
- Reverend William T. Barbee – currently Parochial Vicar at Saint Theresa Parish, New Cumberland. He has been appointed Pastor of Saint Joseph Parish and Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish, Berwick.
- Reverend Augustine Joseph, MSFS – currently assigned outside of the Diocese. At the presentation of his Provincial he has been appointed Pastor of Saint Peter Parish, Columbia.
- Reverend Edward J. Keating – currently Pastor at Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish, Middletown. He has been appointed Pastor of Mary, Mother of the Church Parish, Mount Joy.
- Reverend Matthew R. Larlick – currently Pastor at Saint Joseph Parish and Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish, Berwick. He has been appointed Pastor of Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, Lewisburg and Saint George Mission, Mifflinburg.
- Reverend Richard J. Lyons – currently Parochial Vicar at Corpus Christi Parish, Chambersburg. He has been appointed Pastor of Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish, McSherrystown.
- Reverend Richard J. Mowery – currently Pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Enola. He has been appointed Pastor of Saint Columba Parish, Bloomsburg and Christ the King Mission, Benton.
- Reverend Charles L. Persing – currently Pastor of Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish, McSherrystown. He has been appointed Pastor of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Mechanicsburg.
- Reverend Timothy J. Sahd – currently Parochial Vicar at Saint Joseph Parish, Mechanicsburg and Campus Minister at Trinity High School, Camp Hill. He has been appointed Pastor of Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish, Middletown.
- Reverend Pang S. Tcheou – currently on leave of absence. He has been appointed Pastor of Saint Joseph Parish, Lancaster.
- Reverend Mark T. Wilke – currently Pastor of Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, Lewisburg and Saint George Mission, Mifflinburg. He has been appointed Pastor of Saint John the Baptist Parish, New Freedom.
- Reverend Robert A. Yohe – currently Pastor of Saint John the Baptist Parish, New Freedom. He has been appointed Pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Enola.
- Reverend Jayaseelan Amalanathan – currently Parochial Vicar at Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, Lewistown. He has been appointed Parochial Vicar at Saint Theresa Parish, New Cumberland.
- Reverend Javed Kashif – currently Hospital Chaplain at Geisinger Hospital, Danville. He has been appointed Parochial Vicar at Saint Patrick Parish, Carlisle and Campus Minister at Dickinson College, Carlisle.
- Reverend Kenneth C. Roth – currently Parochial Vicar at Saint Joan of Arc Parish, Hershey. He has been appointed Parochial Vicar at Saint Joseph Parish, Mechanicsburg and Campus Minister at Trinity High School, Camp Hill.
- Reverend Andrew P. St. Hilaire – currently Parochial Vicar at Saint Francis Xavier Parish, Gettysburg and Campus Minister at Gettysburg College. He has been appointed Parochial Vicar at Corpus Christi Parish, Chambersburg.
- Reverend Fidelis Umukoro, OP – currently assigned outside of the Diocese. At the presentation of his Provincial he has been assigned as Parochial Vicar at Saint Catherine Laboure Parish, Harrisburg.
- Reverend Joshua R. Weaver – currently Parochial Vicar at Saint Catherine Laboure Parish, Harrisburg and Chaplain at Bishop McDevitt High School, Harrisburg. He has been appointed Parochial Vicar at Saint Joan of Arc Parish, Hershey and continues ministry at Bishop McDevitt High School, Harrisburg.
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