Clergy Appointments Effective July 1, 2021
The Most Reverend David P. Talley, M.S.W., J.C.D., met with the Clergy Personnel Board throughout the year to outline the needs for 2021 priest assignments. Moves were necessary because of several changes. With the permission and blessing of Bishop David, Reverend Jacek Kowal has accepted the position of Vice Rector at Sts. Cyril and Methodius Seminary in Orchard Lake, MI and will be assigned outside the diocese for a 3-year term. Other changes include, the retirement from active ministry of both Reverends Bryan Timby and Johnnie Smith, the addition of two newly ordained priests and as always, the continued desire to provide different experiences for the priests in parish ministry. With these principles in mind, Bishop Talley announces the following clergy appointments, effective July 1, 2021:
- Reverend Tojan Abraham, M.C.B.S., currently Parochial Vicar of St. Mary Church, Jackson, St. John, Brownsville and Our Lady of Guadalupe Mission is appointed Parochial Vicar of Church of the Holy Spirit, Memphis.
- Reverend Rob Ballman, currently Parochial Administrator of St. Alphonsus, Covington and Ave Maria, Ripley is appointed Pastor.
- Reverend Carlos Donato da Silva, currently in residence at Church of the Nativity, is appointed Parochial Vicar of St. Francis of Assisi Church, Cordova with one day a week in the Tribunal.
- Reverend Carl Gregorich, currently Parochial Administrator of Immaculate Conception Church, Union City, is appointed Pastor.
- Reverend Yoelvis Gonzalez, currently Parochial Administrator of Blessed Sacrament Church, is appointed Pastor.
- Reverend Ajesh Joseph, currently Parochial Vicar of Church of the Holy Spirit is appointed Parochial Vicar of Incarnation Church, Collierville.
- Reverend Carmen Mele, currently Parochial Vicar of St. Peter Church, Memphis, will also assist Fr. Bruce Cinquegrani with Spanish Mass at St. Anne Church, Memphis.
- Reverend Dexter Noblefranca, currently Chaplain of St. Benedict at Auburndale High School, Cordova is also appointed Co-Chaplain of University of Memphis and Rhodes College, with Fr. Dennis Schenkel as part of the diocesan Youth, Campus, and Young Adult Ministry.
- Reverend Fausta Odinwankpa, currently Parochial Administrator of St. John, the Evangelist Church, Memphis, is appointed Pastor.
- Reverend Michael Okata, currently Parochial Vicar of Holy Rosary Church, Memphis is appointed Parochial Vicar of St. Louis Church, Memphis.
- Reverend Jonathan Perez-Leon, on being ordained priest this June, will be appointed Parochial Vicar of St. Mary Church, Jackson, St. John, Brownsville and Our Lady of Guadalupe Mission.
- Reverend Jeo Poulose, M.C.B.S., currently Parochial Vicar of St. Louis Church, Memphis, is appointed Parochial Vicar of Holy Rosary Church, Memphis.
- Reverend Chris Rusin, currently Parochial Vicar of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, Germantown will also assist Fr. Mike Werkhoven with Spanish Mass at Incarnation Church, Collierville.
- Reverend Joseph Sax, currently In Residence at St. Michael Church, Memphis is appointed Parochial Vicar of St. Louis Church, Memphis.
- Reverend Dennis Schenkel, currently Pastor of Ascension Church, Memphis, is also appointed Co-Chaplain of University of Memphis and Rhodes College, with Fr. Dexter Noblefranca as part of the diocesan Youth, Campus, and Young Adult Ministry.
- Reverend Johnnie Smith, currently Senior Priest at St. Francis of Assisi Church is granted permission to retire from active ministry effective May 31.
- Reverend Bryan Timby, currently Pastor of Our Lady of Sorrows Church is granted permission to retire from active ministry.
- Reverend Rubén Villalon, currently Parochial Vicar of the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, Memphis is appointed Parochial Administrator of Our Lady of Sorrows Church, Memphis.
- Reverend Casey Weber, on being ordained priest this June, will be appointed Parochial Vicar of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Memphis.
- Reverend José Cruz Zapata, currently Parochial Vicar of Incarnation Church, Collierville is appointed Parochial Administrator of Church of the Nativity, Bartlett.
- Anna Lynn, currently a judge in the Tribunal is also appointed Vice-Chancellor
