Archdiocese Local

New priest assignments announced 2023

Father John A. Riley, vicar general – chancellor, announces the following appointments made by Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann, effective July 1, unless otherwise noted.

Retirements

Father William Porter, from pastor of St. Agnes Parish, Roeland Park, to retirement from parish administration effective Dec. 31. 

Sabbaticals

Father John Pilcher, from pastor of Mater Dei Parish, Topeka, to priestly sabbatical effective July 1, then, effective Jan. 1, 2024, to a parish assignment to be determined. 

Father Patrick Sullivan, from pastor of Sacred Heart of Jesus, Shawnee, to priestly sabbatical; and effective Jan. 1, 2024, to pastor of St. Agnes Parish, Roeland Park.

Pastors

Father Bruce Ansems, returning from priestly sabbatical and continuing as pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish, Louisburg, and Adjutant Judicial Vicar.

Father Nicholas Ashmore, from pastor of St. Joseph Parish, Olpe, to chaplain/director of Didde Catholic Campus Center, Emporia, and continuing as pastor of St. Catherine Parish, Emporia. 

Father William Dun-Dery, from parochial vicar for St. Patrick Parish, Kansas City, Kansas, to pastor of St. Joseph Parish, Nortonville; Immaculate Conception Parish, Valley Falls; and Corpus Christi Parish, Mooney Creek.

Father Mathew Francis, from pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Onaga, St. Patrick Parish in Corning and St. Bede Parish in Kelly, to pastor of St. Michael Parish, Axtell, and Holy Family Parish, Summerfield.

Father Joel Haug, from parochial vicar for St. Joseph Parish, Shawnee, and chaplain of Bishop Ward High School, Kansas City, Kansas, to pastor of Sacred Heart Parish, Sabetha; St. Augustine Parish, Fidelity; and St. James Parish, Wetmore.

Father Raymond May, from parochial vicar for Holy Cross Church, Overland Park, and chaplain of Donnelly College, Kansas City, Kansas, to pastor of St. Patrick Parish, Osage City, and St. Patrick Parish, Scranton, effective May 30. 

Father Matthew Nagle, from chaplain/director of Didde Catholic Campus Center, Emporia, and pastor of St. Mary Parish, Hartford, to pastor of Mater Dei Parish, Topeka.

Father Viet Nguyen, from parochial vicar for Church of the Ascension Parish, Overland Park, to pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Parish, Onaga; St. Patrick Parish, Corning; and St. Bede Parish, Kelly. 

Father Jaime Zarse, from pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Sabetha, St. Augustine Parish in Fidelity and St. James Parish, Wetmore, to pastor of Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, Shawnee.

Parochial administrators

Father Mohana Rao Bathineni, from parochial vicar at Curé of Ars, Leawood, to parochial administrator of St. Joseph Parish, Olpe, and St. Mary Parish, Hartford.

Parochial vicars

Father Andrew Gaffney, from co-chaplain of St. Thomas Aquinas High School, Overland Park, to continuing as parochial vicar for Prince of Peace Parish, Olathe.

Father Wilson Garnica Rodriguez (Diocese of Zipaquirá, Columbia), from ministry outside of the archdiocese, to parochial vicar for Blessed Sacrament Parish, Kansas City, Kansas, and Our Lady of Unity, Kansas City, Kansas. 

Father Michael Kantanka (Archdiocese of Kumasi, Ghana), from ministry outside of the archdiocese, to parochial vicar for Holy Trinity Parish, Lenexa.

Deacon Colm Larkin, from completion of seminary formation and ordination to the priesthood of Jesus Christ, to parochial vicar for Church of the Ascension Parish, Overland Park, and chaplain of St. Thomas Aquinas High School, Overland Park.

Father Travis Mecum, from parochial vicar for Holy Trinity Parish, Lenexa, to parochial vicar for St. Joseph Parish, Shawnee.

Deacon George Rhodes, from completion of seminary formation and ordination to the priesthood of Jesus Christ, to parochial vicar for Most Pure Heart of Mary, Topeka, and chaplain of Washburn Catholic Campus Center, Topeka.

Deacon Timothy Skoch, from completion of seminary formation and ordination to the priesthood of Jesus Christ to parochial vicar for St. Patrick Parish, Kansas City, Kansas, and chaplain of Bishop Ward High School, Kansas City, Kansas.

Father Brent Stull, from co-chaplain of St. Thomas Aquinas High School, Overland Park, to continuing as parochial vicar for Church of the Ascension Parish, Overland Park.

Other

Father Francis Bakyor, from parochial administrator of Immaculate Conception Parish, Louisburg, to retiring from parish administration and returning to priestly ministry in the Diocese of Wa (Ghana). 

Father Lazar Carasala, from parochial administrator of St. Joseph Parish in Nortonville, Immaculate Conception Parish in Valley Falls and Corpus Christi Parish, Mooney Creek, to returning to priestly ministry in the Diocese of Nellore (India).

Father Salvador Llamas Diaz, MNM (Missionary Fathers of the Nativity of Mary), from parochial vicar for St. Mary-St. Anthony Parish, Kansas City, Kansas, to reassignment by his religious community to priestly ministry outside of the archdiocese.   

Father Agustin Martinez, beginning summer and remote study program for canon law at Catholic University of America, Washington, and continuing as parochial vicar for St. Paul Parish, Olathe.

Father Daniel Morris, from in-residence sacramental assistance to St. Lawrence Catholic Campus Center to in-residence sacramental assistance to Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, Shawnee, and continuing as vocation director.

Father Konda Reddy Nusi, MSFS (Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales), from parochial administrator of St. Patrick Parish, Osage City, and St. Patrick Parish, Scranton, to reassignment by his religious community to priestly ministry outside of the archdiocese, effective May 30.

Father Fredy Hernán Pinzón Palacio, from parochial vicar for Blessed Sacrament Parish, Kansas City, Kansas, and Our Lady of Unity Parish, Kansas City, Kansas, to returning to priestly ministry in the Diocese of Zipaquirá (Colombia). 

Father John Riley, from sacramental assistance to Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, Shawnee, to providing sacramental assistance to St. Agnes Parish, Roeland Park, and continuing as vicar general – chancellor. 

Father Carter Zielinski, beginning summer and remote study program for canon law at Catholic University of America, Washington, and continuing as pastor of Sacred Heart Parish, Emporia.

Permanent deacons

Deacon Joseph Allen, to state chaplain, Daughters of Isabella, effective May 1, while continuing as chaplain of Catholic Community Hospice, Lenexa, and in diaconal ministry at St. John Paul II Parish, Olathe.

Deacon Keith Geary, from leave of absence from diaconal ministry at Our Lady of Unity Parish, Kansas City, Kansas, to retirement from diaconal ministry, effective May 3.

Deacon Ralph Schramp, from diaconal ministry at Church of the Nativity Parish, Leawood, to retired status, effective February 22, 2023.

Deacon Stanley Sluder, from diaconate ordination (Archdiocese of Santa Fe), to diaconal ministry at St. Benedict Parish, Atchison.

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The Leaven

The Leaven is the official newspaper of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas.

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  • In order to provide coverage for the other parishes in the Diocese, a significant number of priests have been transferred to new assignments and duties. Parameters for implementing the new structure will be developed with the help of ongoing consultations.