Bishop Walkowiak announces the following pastoral appointments, effective July 1, 2023 unless otherwise noted:
Reverend Jordan DeGuire, O.P., is assigned as chaplain at Aquinas College, effective May 20, 2023.
Reverend Steven W. Geerling, is appointed canonical administrator of St. Francis de Sales Parish in Norton Shores and St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Muskegon.
Reverend Charles D. Hall, pastor of St. Francis de Sales Parish in Norton Shores, and St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Muskegon, is granted senior priest status, effective June 30.
Reverend Anthony M. Pelak, pastor of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Belmont is appointed pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Grand Rapids. (Father Mark Przybysz, pastor of St. Anthony of Padua is resigning due to medical reasons and is granted senior priest status, effective June 30. Read the Feb. 9 announcement.)
Reverend Daniel P. Schumaker, is appointed canonical administrator of St. Patrick-St. Anthony Parish in Grand Haven.
Reverend Charles J. Schwartz, pastor of St. Patrick-St. Anthony Parish in Grand Haven is appointed pastor of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Belmont.
Reverend Noah I. Thelen, parochial vicar of St. Francis de Sales Parish in Holland is appointed canonical administrator of St. Bartholomew Parish in Newaygo and St. Joseph Parish in White Cloud.
Deacon Christopher T. Epplett, who will be ordained to the priesthood on June 3, is appointed canonical administrator of St. Alphonsus Parish in Grand Rapids.
Deacon Jacob M. Zemaitis, who will be ordained to the priesthood on June 3, is appointed parochial vicar of St. Paul the Apostle Parish in Grand Rapids.
In addition:
Reverend Bill Edens, CSP, is granted senior priest status by the Paulist Fathers, effective July 30. Father Edens will remain at the Cathedral of Saint Andrew in Grand Rapids as a priest in senior ministry.
Deacon Eric Hernandez, CSP, to be ordained May 20, is appointed associate pastor of the Cathedral of Saint Andrew in Grand Rapids by the Paulist Fathers. Deacon Hernandez completed his internship at the cathedral in the summer of 2019. Father Hernandez will officially join the Cathedral of Saint Andrew staff on July 1.
Please continue to pray for our priests and those men who are being ordained this year. (Prayer for Priests, USCCB)
View previously announced pastoral appointments.
