Bishop Alfred Schlert has announced new assignments for diocesan priests.
Every year the Bishop works with the Priest Personnel Board, an advisory body made up of experienced priests who are representative of the Diocese and its many regions and ministries, to make decisions on new assignments.
New assignments are designed to meet the needs of the faithful in the Diocese’s 80 parishes, as well as fulfilling pastoral needs at college campuses, at hospitals, and at diocesan high schools.
Priests can be reassigned for a number of reasons, including openings due to retirements, requests from clergy members, professional development of priests, and the need for a specific skill or talent that is a good match for a certain ministry.
The following assignments are effective June 15, 2021, unless otherwise noted.
Pastors Emeriti
Honorary title granted by the Bishop to a Pastor for exemplary service to the local Church.
Reverend Stephen L. Maco, Pastor, Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish, Bangor to Pastor Emeritus, Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish, Bangor.
Reverend Monsignor John J. Martin, Pastor, Saint Peter Parish, Coplay to Pastor Emeritus, Saint Peter Parish, Coplay.
Reverend Monsignor John P. Murphy, Pastor, Saint Thomas More Parish, Allentown to Pastor Emeritus, Saint Thomas More, Parish, Allentown.
Reverend Monsignor Edward J. O’Connor, Pastor, Saint Patrick Parish, Pottsville to Pastor Emeritus, Saint Patrick Parish, Pottsville.
Reverend Monsignor Edward R. Sacks, Pastor, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Bethlehem to Pastor Emeritus, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Bethlehem.
Reverend Monsignor Walter T. Scheaffer, Pastor, Saint Mary Parish, Kutztown to Pastor Emeritus, Saint Mary Parish, Kutztown.
Reverend Monsignor Francis P. Schoenauer, Pastor, Cathedral of Saint Catharine of Siena Parish, Allentown to Pastor Emeritus, Cathedral of Saint Catharine of Siena Parish, Allentown.
Reverend James J. Ward, Pastor, Immaculate Conception Parish, Jim Thorpe to Pastor Emeritus, Immaculate Conception Parish, Jim Thorpe.
Reverend Monsignor Robert J. Wargo, Pastor, Saint Joseph the Worker Parish, Orefield to Pastor Emeritus, Saint Joseph the Worker Parish, Orefield.
Pastors
Exercises the pastoral care of the local community committed to him under the authority of the diocesan bishop in whose ministry of Christ he has been called to share.
Reverend Monsignor William F. Baver, Pastor, Saint Simon and Jude Parish, Bethlehem also to Pastor, Our Lady Help of Christians Parish, Allentown, while remaining Director, Catholic Cemeteries of the Diocese of Allentown.
Very Reverend Thomas P. Bortz, V.F., Pastor, Saint Ignatius of Loyola Parish, Sinking Spring also to Pastor, Saint Francis de Sales Parish, Robesonia.
Reverend Richard C. Brensinger, Parochial Administrator, Our Lady Help of Christians Parish, Allentown to Pastor, Saint Francis of Assisi Parish, Allentown.
Reverend Donald W. Cieniewicz, Pastor, Saint Mary Parish, Hamburg to Pastor, Cathedral of Saint Catharine of Siena Parish, Allentown.
Reverend Richard Clement, Pastor, Saint John Baptist de la Salle Parish, Shillington to Pastor, Saint Columbkill Parish, Boyertown.
Reverend Edward J. Essig, Pastor, Saint Francis de Sales Parish, Robesonia to Pastor, Saint John Baptist de la Salle Parish, Shillington.
Reverend Monsignor Victor F. Finelli, V.J., Pastor, Saint Francis of Assisi Parish, Allentown to Pastor, Saint Joseph the Worker Parish, Orefield, while remaining Judicial Vicar of the Diocese of Allentown.
Reverend Robert T. Finlan, Pastor, Holy Guardian Angels Parish, Reading to Pastor, Saint John XXIII Parish, Tamaqua and Pastor, Saint Richard Parish, Barnesville.
Reverend John A. Frink, Pastor, Saint John XXIII Parish, Tamaqua to Pastor, Saint Benedict Parish, Mohnton.
Reverend Robert J. George, Pastor, Sacred Heart Parish, Bethlehem to Pastor, Saint Joseph Parish, Summit Hill and Rector, Shrine of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, Nesquehoning.
Reverend John M. Gibbons, Pastor, Sacred Heart Parish, Allentown and Parochial Administrator, Immaculate Conception Parish, Allentown to Pastor, Immaculate Conception Parish, Allentown; while remaining Pastor, Sacred Heart Parish, Allentown.
Reverend Monsignor William F. Glosser, V.F., Pastor, Saint Clare of Assisi Parish, Saint Clair also to Pastor, Holy Cross Parish, New Philadelphia.
Reverend Allen J. Hoffa, Pastor, Saint Joseph Parish, Summit Hill, Rector, Shrine of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, Nesquehoning, and interim Head of School, Marian High School, Tamaqua to Pastor, Holy Guardian Angels Parish, Reading.
Reverend Monsignor David L. James, V.G., Vicar General of the Diocese of Allentown also to Pastor, Saint Peter Parish, Coplay.
Reverend Richard W. James, Parochial Administrator, Most Blessed Sacrament Parish, Bally to Pastor, Most Blessed Sacrament Parish, Bally.
Reverend Kiaieta Joseph Kanimea, M.S.C., Pastor, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Roseto also to Pastor, Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish, Bangor.
Reverend Martin F. Kern, Pastor, Saint Columbkill Parish, Boyertown to Pastor, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Bethlehem.
Reverend G. Jose Kochuparambil, Parochial Administrator, Most Blessed Trinity Parish, Tremont to Pastor, Most Blessed Trinity Parish, Tremont.
Reverend Dr. John A. Krivak, Pastor, Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish, Catasauqua to Pastor, Saint Theresa of the Child Jesus Parish, Hellertown.
Reverend Keith R. Laskowski, Pastor, Our Lady of Mercy Parish, Easton also to Pastor, Saint Anthony of Padua Parish, Easton.
Reverend David J. Loeper, Pastor, Saint John the Baptist Parish, Pottsville and Chaplain, Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary High School, Pottsville to Pastor, Saint Mary Parish, Hamburg.
Reverend Ronald J. Minner, Pastor, Holy Cross Parish, New Philadelphia to Pastor, Immaculate Conception Parish, Jim Thorpe.
Reverend Stanley M. Moczydlowski, Pastor, Saint Anthony of Padua Parish, Easton to Pastor, Saint Elizabeth of Hungary Parish, Whitehall.
Reverend John S. Pendzick, Pastor, Saint Elizabeth of Hungary Parish, Whitehall to Pastor, Saint Thomas More Parish, Allentown.
Reverend Dominic Thao Pham, Parochial Administrator, Saint Mary Parish, Ringtown and Parochial Administrator, Saint Joseph Parish, Sheppton to Pastor, Saint Mary Parish, Ringtown and Pastor, Saint Joseph Parish, Sheppton.
Reverend Philip F. Rodgers, Pastor, Saint Benedict Parish, Mohnton to Pastor, Saint Patrick Parish, Pottsville.
Parochial Administrators
Diocesan policy states that a priest being entrusted with the pastoral care of a parish for the first time be appointed a parochial administrator for at least one year.
Reverend Frans J. Berkhout, Chaplain, Saint Luke’s University Health Network, Fountain Hill and Chaplain, Saint Luke’s Hospice House, Bethlehem with Residence, Saint Anne Church, Bethlehem to Parochial Administrator, Sacred Heart Parish, Bethlehem.
Reverend Kevin J. Bobbin, Parochial Vicar, Notre Dame of Bethlehem Parish, Bethlehem to Parochial Administrator, Saint John the Baptist Parish, Pottsville and Chaplain, Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary High School, Pottsville.
Reverend John C. Maria, Parochial Vicar, Saint Thomas More Parish, Allentown to Parochial Administrator, Saint Mary Parish, Kutztown and Sacramental Ministry, Saint Christopher Catholic Newman Center, Kutztown University, Kutztown.
Reverend Eric N. Tolentino, Parochial Administrator, Saint Richard Parish, Barnesville to Parochial Administrator, Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish, Catasauqua.
Parochial Vicars
Assists the pastor in the entire parochial ministry by reason of his office. A Parochial Vicar is commonly referred to as an Assistant Pastor.
Reverend Jojappa Adagatla, M.S.C., Parochial Vicar, Saint Elizabeth of Hungary Parish, Whitehall to Parochial Vicar, Saint Thomas More Parish, Allentown.
Reverend Remy Coly, M.S.C., Parochial Vicar, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Roseto also to Parochial Vicar, Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish, Bangor.
Reverend Giuseppe C. Esposito, Parochial Vicar, Saint Anne Parish, Bethlehem to Parochial Vicar, Saint Thomas More Parish, Allentown and Chaplain, Allentown Central Catholic High School, Allentown.
Reverend Bernard J. Ezaki, Parochial Vicar, Saint Jane Frances de Chantal Parish, Easton to Parochial Vicar, Notre Dame of Bethlehem Parish, Bethlehem; while remaining Chaplain, Kolbe Academy, Bethlehem.
Reverend Jaya Kumar Francis, M.S.C., Parochial Vicar, Saint Ann Parish, Emmaus to Parochial Vicar, Saint Jane Frances de Chantal Parish, Easton.
Reverend Joseph S. Ganser, Parochial Vicar, Saint Paul Parish, Reading; Parochial Vicar, Saint Joseph Parish, Reading; and Chaplain, Penn State Health – Saint Joseph Medical Center, Reading to Parochial Vicar, Sacred Heart Parish, West Reading; Parochial Vicar, Holy Rosary Parish, Reading; and Chaplain, Tower Health – Reading Hospital, Reading.
Reverend Abraham Ha, Parochial Vicar, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Bethlehem to Parochial Vicar, Saint Ann Parish, Emmaus.
Reverend John A. Hutta, Parochial Vicar, Sacred Heart Parish, West Reading; Parochial Vicar, Holy Rosary Parish, Reading; and Chaplain, Tower Health – Reading Hospital, Reading, to Parochial Vicar, Saint Paul Parish, Reading; Parochial Vicar, Saint Joseph Parish, Reading; and Chaplain, Penn State Health – Saint Joseph Medical Center, Reading.
Reverend Guency Isaac, Parochial Vicar, Saint Ignatius of Loyola Parish, Sinking Spring to Parochial Vicar, Saint Jane Frances de Chantal Parish, Easton.
Reverend Stephan A. Isaac, Parochial Vicar, Saint Ignatius of Loyola Parish, Sinking Spring to Parochial Vicar, Saint Catharine of Siena Parish, Reading; while remaining Chaplain, Berks Catholic High School, Reading.
Reverend Zachary R. Wehr, Parochial Vicar, Saint Catharine of Siena Parish, Reading to Parochial Vicar, Saint Ignatius of Loyola Parish, Sinking Spring, and Parochial Vicar, Saint Francis de Sales Parish, Robesonia.
Specialized Ministry
A priest to whom is entrusted in a stable manner the pastoral care, at least in part, of some community or particular group of the Christian faithful.
Reverend Daniel E. Kravatz, Sacramental Ministry, Newman Center, Lehigh University, Bethlehem to Sacramental Ministry, Newman Center, Lafayette College, Easton; while remaining Chaplain, Bethlehem Catholic High School, Bethlehem and Chaplain, Notre Dame High School, Easton, and remaining Resident, Saint Anne Rectory, Bethlehem.
Reverend Mark R. Searles, Chaplain, Allentown Central Catholic High School, Allentown and Director, Office of Vocations Promotion, with Residence, Saint Thomas More Parish, Allentown to Director of Vocations of the Diocese of Allentown and Chaplain, Newman Center, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, with Residence, Holy Infancy Rectory, Bethlehem.
Reverend Jerome A. Tauber, Pastor, Saint Theresa of the Child Jesus Parish, Hellertown to Chaplain, Saint Luke’s University Health Network, Fountain Hill and Chaplain, Saint Luke’s Hospice House, Bethlehem with Residence, Saint Anne Rectory, Bethlehem.
Leave of Absence
Reverend John F. Rother, Parochial Vicar, Saint Jane Frances de Chantal Parish, Easton to Leave of Absence at his own request, effective 3 May 2021.
