New Priest Assignments

LAS VEGAS (May 20, 2024) — Archbishop George Leo Thomas Ph.D. is pleased to announce the following Priest appointments.  (All are effective July 1, 2024 unless indicated otherwise.)
 

• Fr. John Assalone is reappointed Pastor of St. Francis of Assisi.
• Fr. Gerry Grupczynski SChr is reappointed Pastor of Our Lady of Las Vegas.
• Auxiliary Bishop Gregory Gordon is appointed Rector of Guardian Angel Cathedral (in addition to remaining Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia).
• Fr. Mugagga Lule is appointed Parochial Vicar at Guardian Angel Cathedral.
• Fr. Samuel Martinez is appointed Parochial Vicar at Prince of Peace.
• Fr. Roy Kalachalil Kurian O.SS.T is appointed Parochial Administrator of St. Peter.
• Fr. Jonathan Loverita, of the Diocese of Cataman, Northern Samar, Philippines, and coming from the Diocese of St. Petersburg, Florida, is appointed Parochial Vicar at St. John Neumann (beginning August 1).
• Fr. Simine Fernandez O.SS.T is appointed Parochial Vicar at St. Peter.
• Deacon Michael Williams, who will be ordained to the priesthood May 25, is appointed Parochial Vicar at Christ the King.
• Deacon Joseph “AJ” Sales, who will be ordained to the priesthood May 25, is appointed Parochial Vicar at Holy Spirit.
• Fr. Daniel Belanger CSV, a member of the Clerics of St. Viator, and currently serving in the Chicago area, is appointed Parochial Vicar at St. Viator.
• Fr. Fred Wendel, coming from Archdiocese of Atlanta, is appointed Parochial Administrator of St. James (beginning August 1).
• Fr. Joseph Pham, of the Archdiocese of Toronto, is appointed Parochial Vicar at St. Francis of Assisi.
• Fr. Adrian Ladines SSS, of the Congregation of the Most Blessed Sacrament, is appointed Parochial Vicar at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton.
• Fr. Tony Udoh MSP, who is Parochial Administrator of Holy Family, is appointed Pastor of Holy Family.

We thank Fr. Binoy Akkalayil-Lucka O.SS.T for his dedicated Priestly ministry for the past several years at St. James.  Fr. Binoy’s Trinitarian community has appointed him to serve at St. Lawrence Martyr, Hanover, Maryland, in the Archdiocese of Baltimore.

And we bid farewell to Fr. Bob Stoeckig, with prayerful best wishes, as he “retires” to senior status with the Archdiocese, after 30 years of faithful priestly ministry.  Since his ordination in 1994, Father Bob has served at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Christ the King, The Shrine of the Most Holy Redeemer, St. Joseph, Husband of Mary, St. Andrew, and most recently Rector of Guardian Angel Cathedral.  He has also served in various Diocesan leadership positions including Vicar General and Chancellor.  Let us give thanks to God, and to Fr. Bob, for his many years of dedicated service to the Church.    
 
Let us pray for all our priests as they prepare for their new assignments during this time of transition, and for the Parish communities where they will serve.