July 16, 2010
Recap: Clergy appointments in parish, diocese in 2010
By PAUL R. LEINGANG (Message editor)
A new parish assignment and a new diocesan vocations director were among clergy appointments announced during the first days of the new year. Appointments have been announced throughout the first half of the year.
Good Shepherd, Evansville
Father Zach Etienne moved from St. Mary Church in Ireland, Jan. 20, to become pastor of Good Shepherd Church in Evansville.
Good Shepherd Church has been under the leadership of Deacon Ed Wilkerson as pastoral life coordinator, and Father Attila Fröhlich as resident sacramental minister, from September 2006 until late in 2009.
The parish has 774 families, and includes a K-8 school with 327 students. The parish has sustained rapid growth since its establishment “in the bean patch” in 1955.
Ireland
Father Ronald Kreilein was named pastor of St. Mary Church in Ireland, effective June 2. Father Kreilein had previously served as pastor of St. Peter Celestine Church in Celestine and St. Raphael Church in Dubois.
St. Mary Church, established in 1891, has 1,031 families, or 2,716 individuals, according to the 2010 Diocesan Yearbook and Directory.
Celestine and Dubois
Father Attila Fröhlich was appointed pastor of the two parishes in Celestine and Dubois, also efffective June 2.
Father Fröhlich is a native of Hungary, who became a new citizen of the United States June 17.
Deacon Michael Seibert is assigned to the two parishes. St. Peter Celestine has 469 families, or 1,327 total persons, according to the 2010 Diocesan Yearbook and Directory. St. Raphael has 319 families, or 873 total persons. Both parishes are in the Jasper Deanery.
Vocations
Father Alex Zenthoefer added duties as the diocesan director of vocations to his list of responsibilities. He succeeded Father Bernie Etienne, who was vocations director for more than 14 years.
Father Zenthoefer continues as associate pastor of Holy Rosary Church in Evansville, and as chaplain of Memorial High School in Evansville. He wrapped up his service as chaplain at Mater Dei High School in Evansville at the end of the 2009-2010 school year.
Father Bernie Etienne continues in his current assignment as pastor of Holy Rosary Church in Evansville and dean of the Evansville East Deanery. Deacon Chris Borowiecki is assigned to the parish.
Holy Rosary Church in Evansville, was founded in 1950 in an area that saw rapid growth in population. The parish currently has 1,317 families and operates a preK-8 school with an enrollment of 420 students.
Resurrection, Evansville
Father John Breidenbach served as sacramental minister of St. Mary Church, Ireland, after the departure of Father Zach Etienne and before the arrival of Father Ron Kreilein.
Father Breidenbach currently serves as Sacramental Minister of Resurrection Church in Evansville, while the pastor, Father Phil Kreilein is on sabbatical.
Father David Nunning is Temporary Administrator of Resurrection, along with his duties as pastor of St. Agnes and Sacred Heart churches in Evansville and dean of the Evansville West Deanery.
Resurrection has 741 families registered in the parish, and had 359 students in the 2009-2010 school year.
Father Kreilein is on sabbatical through Sept. 4, visiting sites in the Holy Land. His blog entries are found at www.philholyland.blogspot.com.
Mount Vernon, New Harmony, St. Philip
Father Thomas Kess-ler 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 Kenneth Steckler has been pastor of the parishes in Mount Vernon and New Harmony; he is currently on health leave.
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. School enrollment at St. Philip was 216; at St. Matthew, 90 students.
Deacon Joseph Stofleth, currently serving St. Philip Church in Posey County, will take on additional responsibilities in Mount Vernon and New Harmony.
Deacon Thomas Evans, currently assigned at St. Matthew Church in Mount Vernon and Holy Angels Church in New Harmony, will also serve St. Philip Church and take on a new assignment as Assistant Director of the Permanent Diaconate, with Father Jean Vogler, director.
Deacon David Seibert, assistant director since June 2005, continues as pastoral life coordinator of St. Theresa Church in Evansville.
Holy Redeemer, Christ the King, Evansville
Father Chris Forler, associate pastor at Holy Redeemer Church in Evansville, is assigned as associate pastor at Christ the King, also in Evansville.
Holy Redeemer has 1,003 families; Christ the King, 472. Both parishes have Catholic elementary schools, with enrollment at Holy Redeemer at 237, and 206 at Christ the King.
Father Paul Ferguson is pastor of Holy Redeemer; Deacons Robert Hayden and David Mayer are on the parish staff.
Msgr. Kennth R. Knapp, vicar general, is pastor of Christ the King. Deacons Vince Bernardin and Francis Hillenbrand are on the parish staff.
Gibson County, Vincennes
Father John Sasse is now associate pastor of St. John the Baptist Church and St. Vincent de Paul Church, both in Vincennes; he formerly served as associate pastor with Father Tony Ernst at three parishes in Gibson County. Father Sasse will also continue to serve as sacramental minister for the Spanish Speaking Ministry of the Diocese of Evansville.
In Gibson County, Sts. Peter and Paul has 646 families; Holy Cross, 345, and St. Bernard, 129. Sts. Peter and Paul and Holy Cross both have Catholic elementary schools, with enrollments of 169 and 142 students respectively. Deacon William Brandle is assigned to Sts. Peter and Paul; Deacon Stephen Hall Jr. is assigned to the parishes in Fort Branch and Snake Run.
In Vincennes, St. John Church has 719 families; St. Vincent, 131.
Cannelburg, Montgomery, Petersburg
Father Ryan Hilderbrand will be returning in September to Mundelein Seminary near Chicago to complete his Licentiate in Sacred Theology. He currently serves as associate pastor with Father Jim Koressel as pastor, of St. Peter Church in Montgomery, All Saints Church in Cannelburg, and Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Petersburg.
All Saints Church has 51 families; St. Peter, 245, and Sts Peter and Paul, 106. Deacon Donald Haag is assigned to the parish in Petersburg; Deacon Michael Jones is on the staff at the parishes in Cannelburg and Montgomery.