Pastoral assignments announced

SAGINAW – Archbishop-elect Robert J. Carlson has announced the following changes in pastoral assignments within the Catholic Diocese of Saginaw:

< Father Gerald Balwinski pastor for Our Lady of the Visitation, Bay City, and sacramental minister to St. Maria Goretti, Bay City, is granted senior priest status (retired), effective July 1.

< Father José Maria Cabrera from associate pastor at Blessed Sacrament, Midland, and sacramental minister to St. Brigid of Kildare, Midland, to graduate studies in biblical theology at the in Rome, effective July 1.

< Father Nicholas Coffaro from associate pastor at St. Thomas Aquinas, Saginaw, to associate pastor at Blessed Sacrament, Midland, and sacramental minister to St. Brigid of Kildare, Midland, effective July 1.

< Father Christopher Coman from associate pastor at St. Stanislaus Kostka, Bay City, to administrator for St. Denis, Lexington, and St. Patrick, Croswell, effective July 1.

< Father Donald Eppenbrock pastor for St. Denis, Lexington, and St. Patrick, Croswell, is granted senior priest status (retired) and will serve as sacramental minister to St. Pancratius, Cass City, and St. Agatha, Gagetown, from July 1 to December 31, 2009.

< Father Stephen Fillion from pastor for St. Pancratius, Cass City and sacramental minister to St. Agatha, Gagetown, to pastor for Our Lady of the Visitation, Bay City, effective July 1.

< Father Denis Heames from associate pastor at Sacred Heart, Mt. Pleasant, to graduate studies in canon law in Rome, effective July 1.

< Deacon David Jenuwine to associate pastor at Sacred Heart, Mt. Pleasant, with residence at St. Mary University Parish, Mt. Pleasant, effective July 1 following his ordination to the priesthood on June 5.

< Deacon Thai Hung Nguyan to chaplain at St. Mary’s of Michigan Hospital, Saginaw, and in-residence at Holy Family, Saginaw, and assisting as needed at the St. Francis Home, Shields, effective July 1 following his ordination to the priesthood on June 5.

< Father Peter Nwokoye to administrator at Sts. Peter & Paul, Ruth, and St. Patrick, Palms, in addition to his duties as administrator at St. Mary, Parisville, effective July 1.

< Father Robert Paré from pastor for Sts. Peter & Paul, Ruth, and St. Patrick, Palms, to pastor for St. Roch, Caseville, and St. Felix of Valois, Pinnebog, effective July 1.

< Deacon José Parra to associate pastor at St. Thomas Aquinas, Saginaw, effective July 1 following his ordination to the priesthood on June 5.

< Father Daniel Roa from chaplain at St. Mary’s of Michigan Hospital, Saginaw, to associate pastor at St. Stanislaus Kostka, Bay City, effective July 1.

< Father William Spencer to pastor for St. Anthony of Padua, Helena, in addition to his duties as pastor for Our Lady of Lake Huron, Harbor Beach, effective July 1.

< Father Prentice Tipton from associate pastor at St. Hyacinth, Bay City, to administrator at Sacred Heart, Merrill, and St. Patrick, Ryan, effective July 1.

< Father Kenneth Yaroch pastor for St. Roch, Caseville, and St. Felix of Valois, Pinnebog, is granted senior priest status (retired), effective July 1.

In addition, Father Daniel Anholzer, OFM Cap. has been assigned by his religious community to serve as pastor for St. Joseph, Saginaw, effective May 1.

The Diocese of Saginaw is home to an estimated 119,000 Catholics worshiping in 105 parish communities throughout Arenac, Bay, Clare, Gladwin, Gratiot, Huron, Isabella, Midland, Saginaw, Sanilac, and Tuscola counties.