December 24, 2010
Clergy appointments announced for Newburgh, Vincennes
By PAUL R. LEINGANG (Message editor)
Appointments of two associate pastors were announced at weekend Masses, Dec. 18 and 19, in Newburgh and for two parishes in Vincennes.
Father William Traylor was named associate pastor of St. John the Baptist Church in Newburgh, assisting the pastor, Father Joseph Ziliak. Father Traylor follows Father David Martin, who was associate pastor of St. John Church until his recent appointment as pastor of St. John the Evangelist Church, Daylight.
Father Ryan Hilderbrand was named associate pastor of St. John the Baptist and St. Vincent de Paul churches in Vincennes, assisting the pastor, Father David Fleck.
The appointments, effective on Wednesday, Jan. 5, were made by Bishop Gerald A. Gettelfinger following recommendations from the diocesan Clergy Personnel Board,
Father Traylor, 60, was ordained April 30, 1976. His ministry has included various parish assignments, involvement in the Charismatic Renewal movement and an appointment in the 1990s to the American College of Louvain in Belgium.
St. John the Baptist Church, Newburgh, is one of the largest parishes in the diocese, with five Masses scheduled on weekends for the more than 5,000 parishioners. The pre-k-eight school has 425 students; the parish religious education program has over 400 participants. The pastor, Father Joseph Ziliak, is also dean of the Newburgh Deanery.
Father Hilderbrand, 27, returns to diocesan ministry following completion of graduate studies for his Licentiate in Sacred Theology at Mundelein Seminary near Chicago. After his ordination, June 6, 2009, he was associate pastor of parishes in Montgomery, Cannelburg and Petersburg, assisting the pastor, Father James Koressel.
St. John the Baptist Church, Vincennes, has more than 1,700 parishioners; St. Vincent de Paul Church, about 350. The two parishes are among area churches supporting Flaget Elementary and Rivet Middle and High School. Father David Fleck, pastor of the two parishes, is also Dean of the Vincennes Deanery.