June 18, 2010
Clergy appointments announced for five parishes
By PAUL R. LEINGANG (Message editor)
Father Thomas Kessler has been named pastor of St. Matthew Church in Mount Vernon and of Holy Angels Church in New Harmony, while continuing to serve as pastor of St. Philip Church in Posey County. Deacon Tom Evans and Deacon Joe Stofleth have also been assigned to the three parishes, with all three appointments effective July 7.
Father Chris Forler, associate pastor at Holy Redeemer Church in Evansville, is being assigned as associate pastor at Christ the King, also in Evansville.
The appointments, made by Bishop Gerald A. Gettelfinger, were announced at the affected parishes last weekend.
Father Thomas Kessler
Father Kessler is no stranger to serving multiple parishes. In 1997, he was appointed pastor of St. Joseph Church in Bramble and St. Martin Church in Whitfield. At that time he was working together with Father Leo Kiesel, who was pastor of St. John Church in Loogootee and St. Mary Church in Shoals. In January of 2003, Father Kessler was named pastor of those four parishes in Martin County.
Father Kessler also served as pastor of St. Peter Celestine Church in Celestine and St. Raphael Church in Dubois, from January 2004 until November 2008, when he was appointed pastor of St. Philip Church in Posey County.
Father Kessler, 60, was ordained June 7, 1975. His early assignments included associate pastor of St. Joseph Church in Jasper, chaplain of Memorial High School in Evansville, and pastor of Holy Spirit Church in Evansville.
St. Philip Church has 679 families, according to the 2010 edition of the Diocesan Yearbook and Directory. St. Matthew Church has 390 families; Holy Angels, 68. St Philip and St. Matthew both have parish schools.
Deacon Thomas Evans
Deacon Thomas and Irene Evans reside in Mount Vernon. Irene Evans is the pastoral associate, director of religious education and head of the RCIA program at St. Matthew Church. She also serves as pastoral associate and DRE at Holy Angels.
Deacon Tom was ordained for the permanent diaconate on Aug. 15, 2009, and assigned to St. Matthew Church and Holy Angels Church. In his new assignment, he will continue to serve those two parishes, with added responsibilities at St. Philip Church in Posey County.
Deacon Joseph Stofleth
Deacon Joseph and Margaret Stofleth live in Evansville. Deacon Joe was ordained July 9, 2005, and has served at several parishes, including St. Nicholas Church in Santa Claus, St. Joseph Church in Dale and St. Mary Church in Evansville.
His current assignment is St. Philip Church in Posey County, where he will continue to serve while taking on additional responsibilities in Mount Vernon and New Harmony.
Father Christopher Forler
Father Christopher Forler will be leaving Holy Redeeemer Church in Evansville for a new assignment as associate pastor of Christ the King Church, also in Evansville. The appointment is effective July 7.
Father Forler, 31, was or-dained May 31, 2008. Holy Redeemer was his first assignment, with Father Paul Ferguson as pastor.
Father Ferguson, 47, was ordained May 25, 2002, and has served as pastor of Holy Redeemer Church since July 2006.
Msgr. Knapp, 73, has served as pastor of Christ the King since 1995. Msgr. Knapp has served in diocesan and deanery leadership posts for many years and continues as Vicar General.
Holy Redeemer has 1,003 families; Christ the King, 472. Both have parish schools.