Bishop Kmiec Announces
Clergy Changes
Several priests in the Diocese of
Buffalo have either received new appointments from Bishop Edward U. Kmiec or
have been reappointed to an additional term at their present assignments. These
moves include Father Edward “Ted” Jost Jr. who was named pastor of Ascension Parish in
North Tonawanda. This is Father Jost’s first pastorate.
A graduate of Niagara University, the
University of Southern California and Christ the King Seminary, East Aurora, Father
Jost was ordained in 1996. Since his ordination, he has served as
parochial vicar at St. Vincent de Paul, Springbrook;
St. Christopher, Tonawanda; Our Lady of Victory Basilica, Lackawanna, and, most
recently, at Fourteen Holy Helpers, West Seneca.
Father Jost
is also the founder and director of the Parable Players, a group of teens who perform
in the summer at area churches. Their
45-minute high-energy skits include singing, acting and personal teen witnesses
to their faith. His theatrical background
and master of fine arts degree in drama make Father Jost
uniquely qualified for this special ministry.
In Niagara Falls, Father Jacek P. Mazur, was named
administrator of St. Teresa of the Infant Jesus Parish, where he takes over for
Msgr. Leonard E. Biniszkiewicz who recently
retired. Born and raised in Poland,
Father Mazur came to the United States in 2000 and to Buffalo in 2003. Following his ordination to the priesthood in
2004, he was assigned to St. Paul Parish, Kenmore, where he served as parochial
vicar.
Father
Joseph D. Porpiglia, pastor of Holy Cross and St. Patrick Parishes in
Salamanca, has been given the additional responsibility of canonical
administrator of Southern Tier Catholic School, Olean, for a term of three
years. A canonical administrator, among
other things, is responsible for the Catholicity of the school and creating an
environment where the Catholic school can thrive.
Two
diocesan priests have been reappointed to an additional six-year term at their
current parish. For Msgr. Robert C. Wurtz, it is his third term at Our Lady of Victory
Basilica, Lackawanna, and for Father
Walter P. Grabowski, it is his second term at Immaculate Conception Parish,
East Eden. In addition, the bishop has
reappointed Msgr. W. Jerome Sullivan, pastor of St. Mary of the Lake
Parish, Hamburg, to a second term as coordinator of the priests’ personnel
board for the Diocese of Buffalo. He has
been pastor at St. Mary’s for more than 16 years and was first named coordinator
of the priests’ personnel board in 2003.
Bishop
Kmiec also released announcements concerning religious order priests in the Diocese
of Buffalo. The bishop has extended
faculties to Father Francis Pompei, OFM, who will reside at SS. Rita & Patrick,
Buffalo, and Father Michael Guzik, SJ, who live in the residence at St. Ann Parish,
Buffalo, and will join the faculty at Canisius High
School. In LeRoy, two members of the Mercedarian order have joined St. Peter Parish. Father
Timothy J. Brady, OdeM, has been appointed
parochial vicar at the parish and will also serve as the local superior at Mercygrove in LeRoy. Also, Brother
Matthew J. Levis, OdeM, has joined the staff at
St. Peter Church and Holy Family School, also in LeRoy.
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