March 5, 2007

Successor Named for Position of Pastor at Basilica

Bishop Edward U. Kmiec has announced several clergy appointments including the successor to Msgr. Robert C. Wurtz at Our Lady of Victory Basilica.

Msgr. Paul J. E. Burkard stepped into big shoes in mid-February when he became the new pastor at Our Lady of Victory Basilica, Lackawanna. In addition to the parish duties, Msgr. Burkard now serves as executive vice president of Our Lady of Victory Homes of Charity and president of the board of Baker Victory Services. His new assignment is for a term of six years.

Msgr. Burkard previously served as pastor of Our Lady of Sacred Heart Parish, Orchard Park. His other assignments over the years have included serving as parochial vicar at Annunciation Parish, Buffalo; assistant professor, dean of students and vice rector at Wadhams Hall Seminary College, Ogdensburg; vice rector and director of formation at Christ the King Seminary, East Aurora; and assistant to the bishop for vocations and priestly formation. At the basilica, Our Lady of Victory Homes of Charity and Baker Victory Services, Msgr. Burkard succeeds Msgr. Wurtz who died in December 2006 and had been involved with Our Lady of Victory for more than 30 years.

Father Dennis W. Mende has been named the new episcopal vicar for the southern Chautauqua vicariate for a term of three years. Msgr. Antoine P. Attea previously held that position until his sudden death in early January. Father Mende will continue as pastor of SS. Peter and Paul Parish, Jamestown.

In Williamsville, Father Frederick M. Hinton will become the full-time chaplain in residence at the Pilgrims Landing Senior Living Community beginning March 15. The position is for a term of five years. Father Hinton had been administrator of St. Mary Parish, Pavilion, since 2003 and was named pastor there in 2006.

Two area pastors have been reappointed to another six-year term at their current parishes. Father Richard A. Csizmar is in his third term at St. Joseph and St. Mary Assumption parishes in Albion and Father Gary R. Kibler is in his second term at St. Mary Parish in Lockport.

Father J. Gregory Brennan, OFM, pastor of St. Pacificus Mission in Humphrey and manager of fixed assets and reprographics at St. Bonaventure University, has been given the additional responsibility as canonical administrator of Southern Tier Catholic School in Olean for a term of three years. The former canonical administrator was Father Joseph D. Porpiglia who was named pastor of St. Benedict Parish, Eggertsville, in February.

Finally, at St Lawrence Parish on Buffalo’s East Side, Deacon Paul F. Weisenburger and his wife, Mary C. Weisenburger, have been named pastoral administrators. The former pastor, Father Paul D. Seil is on sabbatical in Rome and the Weisenburgers, both with several years of leadership in parish and diocesan life, have been entrusted with the pastoral care of the parish. Pastoral administrators are supervised by a priest moderator; Father Robert L. Gebhard, episcopal vicar of the central Buffalo vicariate and pastor of St. James Parish, Buffalo, will oversee the pastoral care of the parish provided by the pastoral administrators.

-30-