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New pastors receive six-year terms

     The new pastors whose appointments were announced by Bishop Braxton on June 19, 2009 are appointed for a term of six years. This is in conformity with the 1983 decree of the American bishops concerning canon 522. Since that decree, the majority of bishops in the United States have appointed pastors for a term of six years, with the possibility of a second six-year appointment. Commenting on the long-standing decree and the new appointments Bishop Braxton said, “This decree, approved by the Holy See, makes it possible for priests to have a variety of experiences as pastors during the course of their ministry. It also makes it possible for the parish communities to benefit from the talents, vision, zeal and spirituality of a variety of pastors. The vast majority of American bishops have been making appointments in accord to this decree for nearly 30 years. Since, in the past, pastors in this Diocese have been appointed for an indefinite period of time, this change does not apply to earlier appointments.”
The background for this decree is explained in the following excerpt from the New Commentary on the Code of Canon Law.

“Canon 522-A Pastor must possess stability and therefore is to be appointed for an indefinite period of time. The Diocesan Bishop can appoint him only for a specific period if the conference of bishops has permitted this by decree.
At its November 1983 meeting, the National Conference of Catholic Bishops approved a decree that Diocesan Bishops may appoint pastors for a limited period of time, with the specific length of the tenure and renewability being left to the former’s determination. This decree was reviewed by the Congregation for Bishops on May 16, 1984 (prot. no. 1887/84/6). A letter from Archbishop Pio Laghi, Apostolic Pro-Nuncio, on September 4, 1984 (prot. no. 3517/84/6) gave as the approved final decree the following:

In accord with canon 522, the National Conference of Catholic Bishops decrees that diocesan bishops may appoint pastors to a six-year term of office. The possibility of renewing this term is left to the discretion of the Diocesan Bishop.

This decree was promulgated by the president of the NCCB/USCC on September 24, 1984. Therefore, in the United States, a Diocesan Bishop may choose to appoint pastors for a six-year period, repeatedly renewable, but he is not bound to do so. He may continue to appoint pastors for an indefinite period.

If a pastor is appointed for a definite term, his office ends not precisely when the six years have passed but when the competent authority communicates to him in writing that the years have passed and the term has ended (see c. 186). If the pastor is not so informed, he retains the office of pastor even though the six years have passed but can be legitimately removed by the competent authority anytime thereafter.

Furthermore, the pastor appointed for a definite term is free to seek a transfer before the term is completed. The Diocesan Bishop is also free to invite him to accept a transfer to another parish. If the pastor refuses, the Diocesan Bishop may use the process for the transfer of an unwilling pastor (cc. 1748-1752).” (New Commentary on the Code of Canon Law, pp. 693-697)

His Excellency, The Most Rev. Edward K. Braxton, Ph.D., S.T.D., Bishop of Belleville, is pleased to announce the following clergy appointments, effective July 14, 2009.

Retirement (canon 538§1)
The Rev. Richard G. Mohr, until now, Pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Marion, is granted retirement status after 42 years of service to the Diocese, since his ordination on May 13, 1967.

The Rev. James A. Voelker, until now, Administrator of St. Michael Parish in Paderborn, is granted retirement status after 40 years of service to the Diocese, since his ordination on June 7, 1969.

Pastors (canon 522)
The Rev. Thomas M. Barrett, until now, Pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish in Bridgeport, St. Lawrence Parish in Lawrenceville and St. Francis Xavier Parish in St. Francisville, is appointed Pastor of St. Paul Parish in Vienna and St. Francis de Sales Parish in Stonefort (canon 526), while providing Ministry to Southern Illinois prisons of Vienna and Shawnee Correctional Centers, Vienna, Illinois.

The Rev. Msgr. James E. Buerster, V.F., is appointed Pastor of St. Lawrence Parish in Sandoval (canon 526) served by Mrs. Cindy Eultgen, Parish Life Coordinator (canon 517§2), while continuing as Pastor of St. Boniface Parish in Germantown.

The Rev. Msgr. Thomas D. Flach, V.F., until now, Pastor of Saints Peter and Paul Parish in Waterloo, is appointed Pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Marion.

The Rev. Federico C. Higuera, until now, Pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Cobden, is appointed Pastor of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Anna.

The Rev. John J. Joyce, until now, Pastor of St. Boniface Parish in Evansville and St. Pius V Parish in Walsh, is appointed Pastor of St. Barbara Parish in Okawville.

The Rev. Daniel J. Jurek is appointed Pastor of St. Leo Parish in Modoc (canon 526), while continuing as Pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Prairie du Rocher.

The Rev. Thomas Stout, until now, Pastor of St. John the Baptist Parish, Red Bud, St. Leo Parish in Modoc and St. Patrick Parish in Ruma, is appointed Pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Du Quoin.

The Rev. Msgr. Dennis R. Schaefer, until now, Pastor of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Anna, is appointed Pastor of St. John the Baptist Parish Red Bud and St. Patrick Parish in Ruma.

The Rev. Kenneth J. York, until now, Pastor of St. Barbara Parish in Okawville, is appointed Pastor of St. Henry Parish in Belleville, while continuing as Chancellor for Canonical Affairs of the Diocese.

The Rev. Msgr. Marvin C. Volk is appointed Pastor of St. Michael Parish in Paderborn (canon 526), while continuing as Pastor of St. James Parish in Millstadt.

Parochial Administrators (canon 539)
The Rev. Osang Idagbo, C.M., until now, providing Pastoral Ministry to Saints Peter and Paul Parish in Waterloo, is appointed Administrator of the same parish.

The Rev. John C. Iffert is appointed Administrator of St. Theresa of Avila Parish in Salem and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Kinmundy (canon 526) served by Mr. Darren Eultgen, Parish Life Coordinator (canon 517§2),, while remaining Administrator of St. Mary Parish in Mt. Vernon.

The Rev. Rafi Kuttukaran, until now, Sacramental Minister at St. Theresa of Avila Parish in Salem and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Kinmundy, and Chaplain at Good Samaritan Hospital, is appointed Administrator of St. Boniface Parish in Evansville.

The Rev. Lawrence Mariasoosai, O.M.I., is appointed Administrator of St. Pius V Parish in Walsh, while remaining Administrator of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Sparta.

The Rev. Bernadine Nganzi, until now, providing Pastoral Ministry at Sacred Heart Parish in Du Quoin, is appointed Administrator of Immaculate Conception Parish in Bridgeport, St. Lawrence Parish in Lawrenceville, and St. Francis Xavier Parish in St. Francisville.

The Rev. Martin Edward Ohajunwa, a Fidei Donum priest on loan from The Most Reverend Anthony J. Obinna, Archbishop of Owerri, Nigeria, is appointed Administrator of St. Stephen Parish in Flora.

The Rev. Patrick Okwumuo, until now, Administrator of St. Stephen Parish in Flora, is appointed Administrator of St. Augustine of Canterbury Parish, Belleville, with joint responsibility with The Reverend Monsignor William P. McGhee for St. Mary-St. Augustine School, Belleville. With this appointment, St. Augustine of Canterbury Parish is separated from the jurisdiction of St. Mary Parish.

The Rev. Uriel Salamanca Cipaguata, until now, providing Pastoral Ministry at St. Joseph Parish in Cobden, is appointed Administrator of the same parish.

Parochial Vicars (Associate Pastors) (canon 547)
The Rev. Jose Ancheril, until now, Pastor of St. Paul Parish in Vienna and St. Francis de Sales Parish in Stonefort, is appointed Associate Pastor of St. Henry Parish in Belleville and Chaplain at Althoff Catholic High School.

The Rev. Stanley J. Konieczny, until now, Associate Pastor of St. Mary Parish and St. Augustine of Canterbury Parish in Belleville, is appointed Associate Pastor of Saints Peter and Paul Parish in Waterloo.

Sacramental Ministers
The Rev. Lawrence M. Nickels, O.F.M., active priest from the Archdiocese of Saint Louis through the Sacred Heart Province, is appointed, with the approval of his Provinicial, The Very Reverend Michael Perry, O.F.M., as Sacramental Minister at Saint Teresa of Avila Parish in Marydale and Saint Felicitas Parish in Beaver Prairie.

The Rev. Lt. Col. James T. Thomas, a priest of the Diocese of Allentown and retired military chaplain of the Archdiocese for Military Services, USA, is appointed Sacramental Minister at St. Teresa of Avila Parish in Salem and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Kinmundy.

Given from the Diocesan Curia on the 19th day of June, in the year of Our Lord 2009, the Feast of The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, the First Day of the Papal Year for Priests.