Twenty-Four Parishes to Get New Priests this Summer

Twenty-Four Catholic Parishes to Get New Priests this Summer

Many Catholic churches in the Diocese of London are getting new priests this summer. The changes are part of a normal rotation of priests as well as sabbaticals and retirements. The Diocese of London covers nine counties in Southwestern Ontario, serving 450,000 Catholics. Changes are effective July 3 unless noted otherwise. Additional changes may be announced at a later date.

London Area (including Aylmer, Woodstock and Stratford):

St. Peter’s Cathedral Basilica, London: Fr. Steny Marcarendas, O.C.D., from India, will replace Fr. Vijay Martin, O.C.D., as associate pastor. Fr. Martin has been transferred by his religious order to St. Aloysius, Kitchener.

St. George, London: Fr. John Jasica will replace Fr. John Pirt as pastor. Fr. Pirt will be the new Director of Vocations.

St. Michael, London: associate pastor Fr. Biju John, who returned to his home Diocese of Changancherry in India, will be replaced, part-time, by Fr. Peter Amszej, currently faculty member of St. Peter’s Seminary.

St. Martin of Tours, London: Fr. Maurice Charbonneau will serve as administrator until September 1. Current pastor, Fr. Francis Thekkumkatill, C.S.T., is on a health leave.

Holy Angels, St. Thomas: Fr. Brian McColl, from the Diocese of Peterborough, will replace current pastor, Fr. Adam Gabriel, C.S.M.A. who has been transferred by his religious order to St. Teresa, Toronto.

Holy Trinity, Woodstock: Fr. Antoine (Tony) Laforet will Fr. Slawomir Szwargzyk as associate pastor. Fr. Slawomir Szwargzyk will be pastor at Sacred Heart, Langton and St. Michael Church, Walsh.

Immaculate Conception and St. Joseph, Stratford: Fr. Antony Kolenchery, C.S.T., will replace Fr. Karol Maciejewski as associate pastor. Fr. Maciejewski is returning to his home Diocese of Gniezno, Poland.

St. Peter’s Seminary, London: Fr. Pio Beorchia, currently on study leave in Rome, has been appointed part-time faculty member while completing his Licentiate thesis.

Michaelite Retreat House, Melrose (London area): Current director, Fr. Andrzej Kowalczyk, C.S.M.A., has been appointed to serve in the Archdiocese of Detroit. Fr. Jan Burczyk, C.S.M.A., current pastor of St. Teresa, Toronto, has been appointed the new director.

Windsor/Essex County:

Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Windsor: Fr. Maurice Charbonneau will replace Fr. Nelson Cabral pastor effective September 1, 2012. Fr. Cabral has been granted a six-month sabbatical.

St. Alphonsus, Windsor: Fr. Richard Cartier will serve as administrator while current pastor, Fr. Frank LaPrairie, is on a health leave.

Blessed Sacrament, Windsor: Fr. Joseph Langlois, pastor, will retire when the church closes this summer.

Good Shepherd, Emeryville: Fr. Henryk Chibowski will replace Fr. David Butler as associate pastor. Fr. Butler will be associate pastor at Sacred Heart, Sarnia and St. Michael, Brights Grove.

St. John the Baptist, Amherstburg: Newly ordained Fr. Christopher Pietraszko will replace Fr. Nichola Mauro Iko, OFM, as associate pastor. Fr. Iko’s appointment will be announced at a later date.

St. Michael, Leamington: Fr. Benjamin Huyge will replace Fr. Henry Chibowski as associate pastor. Fr. Chibowski will be associate pastor at Good Shepherd, Emeryville.

Kent County:

Holy Family and Our Lady Help of Christians, Wallaceburg and Sacred Heart, Port Lambton: Fr. Jacek Kokosa, C.S.M.A., currently residing at Michaelite Fathers, London, replaces Fr. Benjamin Huyge as associate pastor. Fr. Huyge will be associate pastor at St. Michael, Leamington.

North American Martyrs, Thamesville: Fr. Raymond Lawhead, pastor of St. Francis Xavier, Tilbury; St. Patrick, Merlin and St. Peter, Tilbury replaces Fr. John Johnson as pastor. Fr. Johnson will be pastor of the parishes Fr. Lawhead was taking care of.

St. Francis Xavier, Tilbury; St. Patrick, Merlin and St. Peter, Tilbury: Fr. John Johnson replaces Fr. Lawhead as pastor. Fr. Lawhead will be pastor of North American Martyrs, Thamesville.

Sarnia/Lambton County:

Our Lady of Mercy and St. Benedict, Sarnia: Fr. Raju Allumpurath, M.S.T. will replace Fr. Antoine (Tony) Laforet as associate pastor. Fr. Laforet will be associate pastor at Holy Trinity, Woodstock.

Sacred Heart, Sarnia and St. Michael, Brights Grove: Fr. David Butler will replace Fr. Antony Kolenchery, C.S.T., as associate pastor. Fr. Kolenchery will be associate pastor at Immaculate Conception and St. Joseph, Stratford.

Norfolk County:

Sacred Heart, Langton: Fr. Slawmor Szwargzyk will replace Fr. Maurice Charbonneau as pastor. Fr. Charbonneau will be pastor at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Windsor.

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