Since Bishop David P. Talley’s announcement of Clergy Appointments on May 1, 2026, and effective July 1, 2026, there have been a few more Clergy changes and additions across our Diocese. Below are those changes and additions.
Priest Assignments
(additions/changes after July 1, 2026)
Catholic Church of the Incarnation
— Father Mateusz Wegrzyn has returned from Poland.
Sacred Heart Catholic Church-Memphis
— Father Anthony Nguyen, S.V.D., is appointed Pastor of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, replacing Father Brandon Nguyen, S.V.D., who was called to a new assignment with the Society of the Divine Word in Chicago.
St. Joseph Catholic Church
— Father Baruch Zinsou, S.V.D., is In-Residence at St. Joseph Catholic Church, where Father Jesus Martinez, S.V.D., is Parochial Administrator.
St. Peter Catholic Church
— Father Carl Joseph Paustian, O.P., is appointed Parochial Vicar of St. Peter Catholic Church where Father Scott O’Brien, O.P., is Pastor.
— Father Nicholas Reynolds, O.P., remains In-Residence at St. Peter Catholic Church and as Chaplain at St. Agnes Academy-St. Dominic School, while he completes his Doctorate in Engineering at the University of Memphis.
New Dean Leadership
Northern Deanery
— Father Carlos Donato, V.F., Pastor, St. Alphonsus Catholic Church and St. John Catholic Church-Brownsville, has been appointed Dean of the Northern Deanery, replacing Father Carl Gregorich, Pastor, Immaculate Conception Catholic Church-Union City and St. Jude Catholic Church-Martin, whose term ended.
Western Deanery
— Father Patrick Gallagher, V.F., Pastor, St. Mary Catholic Church-Memphis, has been appointed Dean of the Western Deanery, replacing Father Mike Werkhoven whose July 1 assignment as Pastor of St. Louis Church moved him outside of the Western Deanery.
Note: With these Dean appointments, Father Donato and Father Gallagher are now ex officio members of the Presbyteral Council. Also, Father Dennis Schenkel, V.F., Pastor, St. Mary Catholic Church-Jackson and Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Mission, remains the Dean of the Southeastern Deanery. Father Joey Kaump, V.F., Pastor, Catholic Church of the Incarnation, remains the Dean of the Central Deanery. He is also the Vicar for Clergy. Father Schenkel and Father Kaump remain ex officio members of the Presbyteral Council.
New Deacon Leadership
— Deacon David Dierkes and Deacon Sergio Fuentes have been appointed Associate Directors of Diaconal Formation. The term of service for Deacon David Woolley and Steve Peterson on the Deacon Leadership Team have ended.
Note: The Deacon Leadership Team also includes Deacon Bill Pettit, Director of the Diaconate, Deacon Rick Martin, Associate Director of the Diaconate, and Deacon Greg Thomas, Director of Diaconal Formation.