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 changes are effective Sept. 1, 2017, unless noted.
Pastor
Rev. Ariel Cortes assigned as Pastor of St. Michael Parish in Mt. Pleasant (from Pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Diboll).
Rev. Jonathon Frels, PhD, assigned as Pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Palestine (from Parish Administrator of St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Frankston).
Rev. Tim Kelly, STL, assigned as Pastor of St. Jude Parish in Gun Barrel City (from Pastor of St. Mary Magdalene in Flint).
Rev. James Rowland, JCL, assigned as Pastor of St. Mary Magdalene Parish in Flint (from full-time academic studies at Catholic University of America). Also appointed Judge of the Diocesan Tribunal and Defender of the Bond ad casam.
Rev. Matthew Stehling assigned as Pastor of Holy Family Parish in Lindale (from Parish Administrator of St. Leo the Great Parish in Centerville).
Administrator
Rev. Luis Arroyave assigned as Parish Administrator of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Diboll (from Parochial Vicar at St. Joseph Parish in Marshall).
Very Rev. Gary Rottman assigned as Parish Administrator of St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Frankston. He will remain diocesan Director of Prison Ministry.
Rev. Kevin Young assigned as Parish Administrator of St. Leo the Great Parish in Centerville and Priest-in-Charge of St. Thomas More Mission in Hilltop Lakes (Father Young served as Parochial Vicar of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, and after August 1, 2017, he was temporarily helping in the pastoral care of Sacred Heart of Jesus Mission in Rusk and Ven. Antonio Margil Mission in Alto).
Priest-in-Charge
Rev. Bernard Boteju assigned as Priest-in-Charge of St. Lawrence of Brindisi Mission in Waskom (from Priest-in-Charge pro tempore of the same mission). Effective August 1, 2017.
Rev. Jorge Dinguis assigned as Priest-in-Charge of Sacred Heart of Jesus Mission in Rusk and Ven. Antonio Margil Mission in Alto (from Pastor of St. Michael Parish in Mt. Pleasant). Effective August 15, 2017.
Chaplain
Rev. George Elliott, STL, assigned as Chaplain of St. Mary Catholic Campus Ministry at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches (from Parochial Vicar of St. Michael Parish in Mt. Pleasant).
Parochial Vicar
Rev. Victor Hamon assigned as Parochial Vicar of Sacred Heart Parish in Palestine (from Parochial Vicar of St. Joseph Parish in Marshall).
Rev. John Robinson Thason assigned as Parochial Vicar of St. Anthony Parish in Longview and pastoral care of Our Lady Queen of Angels Mission in Overton (from Diocese of Kottar in India). Effective August 4, 2017.
Other
Very Rev. Mark Kusmirek, Pastor of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Madisonville, appointed Dean of the Southwest Deanery
Rev. Rajain Mathias, MSFS, assigned to assist with diocesan prison ministry (from Parish Administrator of Sacred Heart Parish in Palestine).
Rev. Peter McGrath returns to active ministry as Pastor of St. Francis of the Tejas Parish in Crockett. Effective August 4, 2017.
Rev. Anthony McLaughlin, JCD, assigned as Vice Rector and professor of Canon Law at Holy Apostles College and Seminary in Cromwell, Conn.
Rev. Joby Thomas assigned to assist in pastoral care at St. Francis of the Tejas Parish in Crockett (from administrator pro tempore of the same parish). Effective August 4, 2017.
Very Rev. Lawrence Rasaian, JCD, currently Judicial Vicar and Pastor of Holy Family Parish in Lindale, will now serve as Judicial Vicar full-time.
Rev. Matias Rodriguez assigned as Priest-in-Residence at St. Joseph Parish in Marshall (from Priest-in-Residence at Sacred Heart Parish in Palestine).
Mr. Cristian Casado Carmona, JCL, appointed Judge of the Diocesan Tribunal and Defender of the Bond ad casam.
A new pastor will be assigned to St. Leo the Great Parish in Centerville and St. Thomas More Mission in Hilltop Lakes later this summer.
Retirement
Rev. Dan Daugherty granted early retirement from active priestly ministry (from Pastor of St. Jude Parish in Gun Barrel City). Effective August 1, 2017.
