Parish communities across the diocese are bidding farewell to their current pastors and preparing to welcome new ones! Some of our priests are entering senior ministry. Many of these changes in pastoral leadership are taking place on July 1. Newly ordained priests, Father Charlie Leidel, Father Logan McGahan and Father Hunter Ostapowicz will begin their first parish assignments. See below for the list of pastoral appointments announced by Bishop Walkowiak this spring and other assignment changes:
Looking for concrete ways to welcome and embrace your parish priest?
Read “How can we support our parish priests?” (July/August 2022 FAITHGR magazine, p.11)
The following are pastoral appointments announced by Bishop Walkowiak this spring:
Reverend Roberto Alvarado, CR. Theatine
Is appointed parochial vicar of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish. His appointment as parochial vicar of the Shrine of Saint Francis Xavier & Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish will conclude on June 30, 2026.
Reverend Andrew M. Ayers
Presently pastor of St. Joseph Parish, Wright, St. Francis Xavier Parish, Conklin, and St. Catherine Parish, Ravenna, is appointed pastor of St. Charles Parish, Greenville, and St. Joseph-St. Mary Parish, Belding. His assignment as pastor of St. Joseph Parish, Wright, St. Francis Xavier Parish, Conklin, and St. Catherine Parish, Ravenna, will conclude on June 30, 2026.
Reverend Nicholas R. Baker
Presently parochial vicar of Holy Spirit Parish, Grand Rapids, is appointed canonical administrator of St. Joseph Parish, Wright, St. Francis Xavier Parish, Conklin, and St. Catherine Parish, Ravenna. This appointment is in addition to his assignments as Associate Director for Priestly Vocations and chaplain of West Catholic High School. His assignment as parochial vicar of Holy Spirit Parish will conclude on June 30, 2026.
Reverend Matthew J. Barnum
Is appointed pastor of St. John Cantius Parish, Free Soil, effective July 1, 2026. This appointment is in addition to his assignments as pastor of St. Ann-St. Ignatius Parish, Baldwin, and St. Bernard Parish, Irons.
Reverend Eugene T. Batungbacal
Presently canonical administrator of Ss. Peter & Paul Parish, Ionia, and St. Edward Parish, Lake Odessa, is appointed pastor of Ss. Peter & Paul Parish, Ionia, and St. Edward Parish, Lake Odessa.
Reverend David A. Jameson
Presently canonical administrator of Sacred Heart Parish, Evart, St. Agnes Parish, Marion, and St. Philip Neri Parish, Reed City, is appointed pastor of Sacred Heart Parish, Evart, St. Agnes Parish, Marion, and St. Philip Neri Parish, Reed City.
Reverend Lam T. Le
Will conclude his assignment as Director of Continuing Formation for Priests, effective April 30, 2026. I am very grateful to Fr. Lam for his good work in service to his brother priests over the last four years.
Reverend Charles W. Leidel
Ordained June 20, 2026, is appointed parochial vicar of the Shrine of Saint Francis Xavier & Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish and Our Lady of Sorrows Parish.
Reverend Logan M. McGahan
Ordained June 20, 2026, is appointed parochial vicar of Our Lady of Consolation Parish.
Reverend Hunter D. Ostapowicz
Ordained June 20, 2026, is appointed parochial vicar of the Parish of the Holy Spirit.
Reverend David J. Sacha
Presently canonical administrator of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Parish, Muskegon, and St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, Muskegon, is appointed pastor of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Parish, Muskegon, and St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, Muskegon.
Reverend Logan C. Weber
Presently canonical administrator of St. Patrick Parish, Portland, is appointed pastor of St. Patrick Parish, Portland. Associate Director of the Office of Continuing Formation for Priests is appointed Director of the Office of Continuing Formation for Priests, effective May 1, 2026. This appointment is addition to his assignment as pastor of St. Patrick Parish, Portland.
Reverend Wayne B. Wheeler Jr.
I have accepted the resignation of Father Wheeler as pastor of St. Simon Parish, Ludington, effective June 30, 2026. I wish to express my sincere gratitude to Father Wheeler for his 47 years of priestly ministry, and for his 20 years as pastor of St. Simon Parish.
Reverend James Wyse, pastor of St. Charles Borromeo Parish, Greenville, and St. Mary-St. Joseph Parish, Belding, has been granted senior priest status effective June 30, 2026. I wish to express my sincere gratitude to Father Wyse for his 39 years of faithful priestly ministry.
Reverend Jacob M. Zemaitis
Presently canonical administrator of St. Mary-St. Jerome Parish, Custer, and St. John Cantius Parish, Free Soil, is appointed pastor of St. Simon Parish, Ludington, and St. Mary-St. Jerome Parish, Custer, effective July 1, 2026. His appointment as canonical administrator of St. John Cantius Parish, Free Soil, will conclude on June 30, 2026.
Please continue to pray for our priests and seminarians in formation for priesthood. (Prayer for Priests, USCCB)