May 8, 2007

New pastor named for St. Casimir Parish

Bishop Edward U. Kmiec has appointed Father Gary J. Szczepankiewicz pastor of St. Casimir Parish in Buffalo. Msgr. Matthew S. Kopacz previously had served as the church’s pastor until his retirement in February 2007.

Born in Buffalo, Father Szczepankiewicz was ordained in Allentown, Pa., in 1975 and was assigned to a parish there until he returned to Buffalo in 1976. His assignments in the Buffalo diocese have been at St. Rose of Lima, Buffalo; St. Josaphat and Resurrection, both in Cheektowaga; St. Leo the Great, Amherst; St. Isaac Jogues, Sherman; St. Thomas More, Ripley; St. Mary, Mayville; and Ascension, North Tonawanda.

When Father Joseph D. Porpiglia was named pastor at St. Benedict Parish, Eggertsville, openings were created at Holy Cross and St. Patrick parishes in Salamanca. Bishop Kmiec recently named Father Piotr F. Zaczynski administrator of the parishes to fill those openings. Father Zaczynski had been parochial vicar at St. Gregory the Great Parish, Williamsville, since his ordination in 2004. Another recently ordained priest, Father Darrell G. Duffy, was called on to take the vacant position as parochial vicar at St. Gregory the Great. Following his ordination in 2005, Father Duffy was named parochial vicar at Queen of Heaven Parish, West Seneca, and held that position until his recent appointment at St. Gregory the Great.

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