After due consultation and prayerful reflection, and in order to provide for the proper care of souls entrusted to him, Bishop Joseph E. Strickland is pleased to announce the following pastoral assignments and appointments for the Diocese of Tyler.
All assignments are effective July 1, 2020, unless otherwise noted.
PASTOR
Rev. Ambrose Chinnappa assigned as pastor of St. Luke Parish in Wills Point (from pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Clarksville).
Rev. Mark Dunne assigned as pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Mt. Vernon (from pastor of St. Theresa Parish in Gladewater and St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Gilmer).
Rev. Guillermo Gabriel-Maisonet assigned as pastor of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Madisonville (from pastor of St. Andrew Parish and St. Patrick Parish in Lufkin).
Rev. Timothy Kelly assigned as pastor of St. Andrew Parish in Lufkin (from faculty of St. Mary’s Seminary in Houston).
Rev. Mark Kusmirek assigned as pastor of St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Frankston (from pastor of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Madisonville).
Rev. Jay Lucas assigned as pastor Our Lady of Sorrows Parish in Jacksonville (from pastor of St. Anthony Parish in Longview).
Rev. Juan Carlos Sardinas assigned as pastor of St. Bernard of Clairvaux Parish in Fairfield and priest-in-charge of St. Mary Mission in Teague (from pastor of St. James Parish in Sulphur Springs).
Rev. Selvaraj Sinnappan assigned as pastor of St. James Parish in Sulphur Springs (from pastor of St. Therese Parish in Canton).
Rev. Jesudoss Thomas assigned as pastor of St. Therese Parish in Canton (from faculty of Holy Trinity Seminary in Irving).
Rev. Gavin Vaverek assigned as pastor of Our Lady of Victory Parish in Paris and St. Joseph Parish in Clarksville (from pastor of St. Luke Parish in Wills Point).
Rev. Jose Luis Vidarte assigned as pastor of St. Anthony Parish in Longview (from parochial vicar of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Tyler).
Rev. Denzil Vithanage assigned as pastor of St. Patrick Parish in Lufkin (from pastor of Our Lady of Victory Parish in Paris).
ADMINISTRATOR TO PASTOR
Rev. Luis Arroyave, currently parochial administrator of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Diboll, appointed pastor of the same parish.
Rev. Stephen Duyka, currently parochial administrator of St. Catherine of Sienna Parish in Atlanta, appointed pastor of the same parish.
Rev. John Henao, currently parochial administrator of Christ the King Parish in Kilgore, appointed pastor of the same parish.
Rev. Joseph Lourdusamy, currently parochial administrator of St. Leo Parish in Centerville, appointed pastor of the same parish.
Rev. Nelson Munoz, currently parochial administrator of St. Therese of Lisieux Parish in Center, appointed pastor of the same parish.
Rev. Luis Roncancio, currently parochial administrator of St. Kateri Tekakwitha Parish in Buffalo, appointed pastor of the same parish.
Rev. Joby Thomas, currently parochial administrator of St. Francis of the Tejas Parish in Crockett, appointed pastor of the same parish. Father Thomas will also continue as parochial administrator of Most Holy Trinity Parish in Trinity.
PAROCHIAL ADMINISTRATOR
Rev. Emmanuel Akpobolokemi assigned as parochial administrator of St. Lawrence of Brindisi Mission in Waskom (from parochial vicar of St. Joseph Parish in Marshall).
Rev. Freddy Celano assigned as parochial administrator of Our Lady of Guadalupe Mission in New Summerfield and parochial vicar of Our Lady of Sorrows Parish in Jacksonville (from parochial administrator of Sacred Heart Parish in Mt. Vernon).
Rev. John Robinson Thason assigned as parochial administrator of St. Theresa Parish in Gladewater (from parochial vicar of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Tyler). Father Thason will also continue as priest-in-charge of Our Lady, Queen of Angels Mission in Overton.
Rev. Cristian Zelaya assigned as parochial administrator of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Gilmer (from parochial vicar of the same parish). Father Zelaya also assigned as parochial vicar of St. Matthew Parish in Longview.
PAROCHIAL VICAR
Rev. Roselio Fuentes assigned as parochial vicar of Sacred Heart Parish in Nacogdoches (from parochial vicar of St. Joseph Parish in Marshall and Immaculate Conception Parish in Jefferson).
Rev. Raymundo Garcia assigned as parochial vicar of Our Lady of Victory Parish in Paris and St. Joseph Parish in Clarksville (from parochial vicar of St. Andrew Parish and St. Patrick Parish in Lufkin).
Rev. Jose Marin assigned as parochial vicar of St. Andrew Parish and St. Patrick Parish in Lufkin (from parochial vicar of Our Lady of Sorrows Parish in Jacksonville).
Rev. Luis Carlos Pena assigned as parochial vicar of St. Joseph Parish in Marshall and Immaculate Conception Parish in Jefferson (from parochial vicar of Sacred Heart in Palestine).
OTHER
Rev. Zachary Dominguez, LC assigned as chaplain of Bishop Gorman Catholic School in Tyler (from parochial vicar of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Tyler). Father Dominguez will also provide priestly ministry at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Tyler.
Rev. John Gomez assigned as priest-in-residence at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Tyler (from pastor of St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Frankston). Father Gomez will continue as vicar general.
Rev. Patrick Hartnett granted a personal leave of absence to assist family (from pastor of Our Lady of Sorrows Parish in Jacksonville).
Rev. Joshua Neu assigned to temporary ministry at Sacred Heart Mission in Rusk and Ven. Antonio Margil Mission in Alto. Father Neu will continue as chaplain of St. John Paul II Campus Ministry in Tyler and diocesan vocations director.
Rev. Carlos Rangel granted a personal leave of absence (from parochial vicar of Sacred Heart Parish, Nacogdoches).
Rev. Kevin Young assignment pending (from parochial vicar of Sacred Heart Parish in Palestine).
DEANS
Rev. Mark Dunne appointed dean of the Northwest Deanery.
Rev. Denzil Vithanage appointed dean of the Southeast Deanery.
