Pastoral Assignments for 2014-2015

Pastoral Assignments for 2014-2015

It's many months since the new directors (and re-appointments) for the coming pastoral year (July 1, 2014-June 30, 2015) were announced. A few changes were announced about a month ago, such as Fr. Richard Alejunas's taking up priestly service within the archdiocese of New York (on Staten Island, specifically), and the "permanent" assignment to the provincial house of the two priests who moved up here from Birmingham at the beginning of February.  Fr. Ken Germaine is now the province's archivist.

Fr. Ken Germaine in the archival library

On July 6 Fr. Tom Dunne announced more assignments. Most of them concern the confreres in formation.

After they make their first profession of vows on Aug. 16 (God willing!), Brothers-to-be Rafael Vargas of our province and Benita Guerrero of the Western Province will join the postnovitiate community in Orange, N.J., and take up studies at Seton Hall University.

Bro. John Langan

Two confreres who've just finished at Seton Hall and the immediate postnovitiate period, Bro. John Langan and Bro. Steve DeMaio, will start their practical training.  Bro. John is assigned to Abp. Shaw HS in Marrero (and in fact is already there for summer camp) and Bro. Steve to Salesian HS here in New Rochelle.

Bro. Steve DeMaio

By the grace of God, we're sending five men to the novitiate in Rosemead, Calif., next month--our current batch of prenovices, Ron Chauca, Branden Gordon, Josh Sciullo, Simon Song, and Fr. Derek Van Daniker.

We have two young men starting the candidacy program.  Since they already have college degrees, they'll be posted to Don Bosco Prep in Ramsey rather than the formation community in Orange. (Fr. Jim Heuser, the director at DBP, is a former master of novices as well as former provincial and knows a bit about the formation of candidates.)

Fr. Ken Rodes, who's been here in N.R., will take up the administrative position of Bro. Kevin Connolly at the SDB retirement home in Tampa, and Bro. Kevin will come up here to join our community.

Fr. Paul Grauls

Fr. Paul Grauls leaves Nativity Church in Washington, from which the SDBs are withdrawing, and will go to Mary Help of Christians Center in Tampa as part of the pastoral team there (parish, youth center, retreat center).

Fr. Tom assures us that there will be more assignments, especially after some of the necessary arrangements with dioceses have been made (for parish postings).