November 5, 2007

Pastor named for newly-merged parish

A pastor has been named for the community formed when three parishes in the Lovejoy section of Buffalo merged this fall. Bishop Edward U. Kmiec named Father James M. Monaco pastor of St. Katherine Drexel Parish, which is comprised of the former St. Francis of Assisi, St. Agnes and Visitation parishes and is located at the St. Francis of Assisi site.

Father Monaco, ordained in 1985, has served at several parishes throughout the diocese. He was parochial vicar at Queen of Heaven Parish, West Seneca and St. Aloysius Gonzaga and Immaculate Heart of Mary, both in Buffalo, before studying at St. Bonaventure University where he earned his masters degree in Franciscan theology and spirituality. He then joined the faculty at Turner-Carroll High School, Buffalo. Father Monaco also served at St. Benedict the Moor, Buffalo; St. Francis of Assisi, Tonawanda, and St. John the Baptist, Buffalo. He was named pastor of St. Francis Xavier, Buffalo, in 2006.

Father William R. Bigelow has been appointed administrator of St. Mary of the Lake Parish, Hamburg. He previously was pastor of Holy Family Parish in Buffalo. A priest for more than 40 years, Father Bigelow began his career as a priest at St. Helen Parish in Hinsdale. He was an assistant pastor at St. John the Evangelist, Sinclairville; SS. Peter and Paul, Hamburg; St. Peter, LeRoy; and St. James Buffalo. His first pastorate was at St. Michael, Warsaw, followed by an assignment as moderator and member of the team ministry at St. Joseph University, Buffalo, and campus ministry at the State University of New York at Buffalo. In 1994, he was named pastor of St. Amelia Parish, Tonawanda, and in 1996, he was named pastor at Holy Family, Buffalo.

In North Tonawanda, Father Edward F. Jost, pastor of Ascension Parish, has taken on the additional responsibility as administrator of another North Tonawanda parish, St. Albert the Great, replacing Msgr. Edward T. Fisher who retired earlier this year. Father Jost was ordained in 1996 and has served as parochial vicar at St. Vincent de Paul, Springbrook; St. Christopher, Tonawanda; Our Lady of Victory Basilica, Lackawanna; and Fourteen Holy Helpers, West Seneca. He was named pastor at Ascension in 2006. Father Jost also founded and directs the Parable Players, a theatrical group of Catholic teenagers who perform at parishes and other diocesan events.

Bishop Kmiec named three religious order priests canonical administrators at local Catholic Schools for a term of three years each. Father Joseph C. Dumphrey, OSFS, Father Michael R. Rock, OdeM, and Father William M. Allegretto, CM, are charged with creating an environment where the Catholic school can thrive at DeSales Catholic School, Lockport, Holy Family School, LeRoy, and Catholic Academy of Niagara Falls, respectively.

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