February 1, 2008

New pastors announced for several merged parishes

As a result of the Journey in Faith and Grace, more than two dozen area priests have received new appointments. When a parish reconfiguration is announced, the position of pastor in the parishes involved is open for application. If, for example, two parishes merge, the pastor of the new parish may be someone other than either of the two priests who served as pastors of the original parishes.

Bishop Edward U. Kmiec made the following announcements over the past few weeks.

All appointments as pastor are for a term of six years. Some appointments are already in effect; others, where noted, take place over the next several months.

In Erie County, Bishop Kmiec announced five pastoral appointments.

Father Lawrence F. Cobel was named pastor of St. Aloysius, Springville, and St. John the Baptist, West Valley. The two parishes linked as part of the Journey in Faith and Grace.

Father Paul D. Seil was named pastor of St. Bernadette Parish, Orchard Park. Also the host of Our Daily Bread, a cooking show produced locally by Daybreak TV Productions, Father Seil was formerly director of the diocesan Office of Worship and pastor of St. Lawrence Parish, Buffalo.

Father Paul P. Sabo, who previously was pastor at Visitation Parish, Buffalo, was named senior parochial vicar at St. Benedict Parish, Eggertsville.

Father Czeslaw M. Krysa, pastor of St. Mary Parish, Arcade, has been given the additional responsibility as part-time director of the diocesan Office of Worship for a term of three years.

Father Norman P. McTigue has been given the additional responsibility as part-time Catholic chaplain at Roswell Park Cancer Institute; he will continue as chaplain at the Buffalo Psychiatric Center. Father McTigue is also pastor of Our Lady of Loretto Parish, Buffalo, which will merge with Annunciation and Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary parishes, both in Buffalo.

Father Daniel P. Walsh was reappointed pastor of St. Joseph Parish, Gowanda, with oversight and sacramental ministry also at St Mary Parish, Cattaraugus.

In Cattaraugus County, Father Piotr F. Zaczynki was named pastor of Our Lady of Peace Parish, Salamanca. Our Lady of Peace is the parish formed by the merger of St. Patrick and Holy Cross parishes in Salamanca.

Changes in Niagara County include several new pastors in Niagara Falls.

Father Duane R. Klizek was named pastor of the new parishes formed by the merger of St. Joseph and Our Lady of Mount Carmel parishes in Niagara Falls, effective July 1.

Father Jacek P. Mazur was named pastor of Divine Mercy Parish, Niagara Falls, as of March 8. Divine Mercy, a merged parish, consists of the former St. Stanislaus, Holy Trinity, St. George, Our Lady of the Rosary and Our Lady of Lebanon parishes in Niagara Falls.

Father Ivan Skenderovic was named pastor of St. Teresa of the Infant Jesus Parish, Niagara Falls. St. Teresa and Sacred Heart Parish (Niagara Falls) merged as a result of the Journey in Faith and Grace. Father Skenderovic’s new assignment is effective April 13.

Father Stewart M. Lindsay, OSFS, was appointed parochial vicar at the new parish formed by the merger of St. Joseph and Our Lady of Mount Carmel, both in Niagara Falls, effective July 1.

Father Edward F. Jost was named pastor of St. Albert the Great Parish in North Tonawanda. He previously was pastor of Ascension Parish, North Tonawanda. The two parishes merged in late 2007 and the Ascension site is no longer being utilized.

Father Louis S. Dolinic was named pastor of Our Lady of Czestochowa Parish in North Tonawanda, effective June 22. He currently is pastor of St. Joseph Parish, North Tonawanda. Those two parishes will merge as part of the Journey in Faith and Grace.

Father Robert A. Wozniak was appointed pastor of the new parish formed by the merger of St. Bridget, Newfane; St. Charles Borromeo, Olcott; and Our Lady of the Rosary, Wilson. Prior to this appointment, Father Wozniak had served as pastor at St. Edmund Parish, Tonawanda.

Father James A. Waite was named pastor of St. John the Baptist Parish, Lockport. He had previously served as administrator at the parish. As part of the Journey in Faith and Grace, St. Mary Parish, Gasport, will merge into St. John the Baptist. Father Waite’s assignment is effective June 21.

In addition to his current duties as pastor of St. Bonaventure and St. William parishes in West Seneca, Father James R. Bastian was named part-time chaplain of the Niagara Falls Air Base.

Father Joseph E. Vatter was named pastor of the merged parish that was formed with two parishes in Niagara County and one in Orleans County. Effective July 12, he will be pastor of the new community formed from St. Mary Parish and Sacred Heart of Jesus parishes, both in Medina, and St. Stephen Parish, Middleport.

Effective March 31, Father James F. Hassett will be the pastor at St. Patrick Parish, Barker, and St. Joseph Parish, Lyndonville, parishes in Niagara and Orleans counties, respectively. The two parishes will link for a year and then merge.

Also in Orleans County, Father Richard A. Csizmar was named pastor of Holy Family Parish, Albion. Holy Family Parish is the result of the merger between St. Joseph, and St. Mary Assumption parishes in Albion.

Father Arthur E. Mattulke was named pastor of St. Cecilia Parish, Oakfield, and Our Lady of Fatima Parish, Elba, in Genesee County. St. Patrick Mission, Wheatville, merged with St. Cecilia, while St. Cecilia and Our Lady of Fatima linked in anticipation of merging at a later date. Father Mattulke, who will take on his new assignment on March 31, currently is pastor of St. Cecilia and St. Patrick.

Effective March 31, Father Eugene P. Slomba will be the pastor of the new parish formed by the merger of St. Anthony and Sacred Heart parishes in Batavia.

Father Ivan R. Trujillo was named parochial vicar at the merged parish formed by St. Mary and St. Joseph parishes, Batavia.

Father Joseph A. Fiore was named pastor of the newly merged parish formed by Our Lady of Good Counsel, Darien Center, and Sacred Heart of Jesus, Bennington Center.

In Chautauqua County, Father Dennis G. Riter was appointed pastor of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Dunkirk, effective February 9. Father Riter had been pastor at St. Mary, Batavia.

For current parish changes with respect to the Journey in Faith and Grace, visit www.buffalodiocese.org/directory.

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