With gratitude for the work of the Clergy Personnel Committee, I am pleased to announce the following appointments in the Archdiocese of Edmonton, which take effect on July 12, 2023 (unless otherwise noted).
To all the priests serving our Archdiocesan Church, may God bless you abundantly as you continue your ministry with dedication, generosity and joy.
We extend profound gratitude to those priests who are departing from the Archdiocese. Each one of you has enriched the lives of the faithful of our Archdiocese, and we will hold you in our prayers.
With great thanksgiving, we welcome all those priests and clergy who will be assuming new responsibilities. You have responded to the needs of the Archdiocese with generous spirits. We ask the people in parishes where changes are taking place to extend a warm welcome to their new pastoral leaders.
Finally, let us all join together as an Archdiocese and pray for vocations to the priesthood.
✠ Archbishop Richard Smith
Changes In Parish Pastors
- Rev. Roger Niedzielski,as Pastor of Resurrection and Assumption Parishes, Edmonton, replacing Rev. Philip Creurer.
- Rev. Liju Jose, as Pastor of St. Stephen Parish, Lacombe and St. Augustine Parish, Ponoka, replacing Rev. Simmy Joseph, CMI.
- Rev. Rambabu Kanaparthi, CFIC, as Pastor of Christ-King Parish, Stettler, Our Lady of Grace Parish, Castor, and Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, Bashaw, replacing Rev. Roger Niedzielski.
- Rev. Tomasz Krzesik, OMI, as Pastor of Holy Rosary Parish, Edmonton, replacing Rev. Mieczysław “Mitch” Burdzy, OMI.
- Rev. Matija Žugaj, as Pastor of Nativity of Mary Croatian Parish, Edmonton, replacing Rev. Tomislav Fridl.
- Rev. Jinu Rajan, as Pastor of St. Edmund Parish, Edmonton, replacing Rev. Maria Villaraza, SDB.
- Rev. Martin Carroll, as Temporary Parochial Administrator* of St. Dominic Savio Parish (effective May 20, 2023), until the arrival of Rev. Henry Daniel Ambrose Savarinathan, SDB, who will serve as full-time Parochial Administrator* of St. Dominic Savio Parish, Edmonton, replacing Rev. Sagayaraj Devadoss, SDB.
- Rev. Thomas Puthupparampil, as Dominical Vicar* of St. Rose of Lima Parish, Onoway, St. Joseph Parish, Wabamun-Duffield and Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Lac La Nonne, replacing Rev. Liju Jose.
*Note: The terms parochial administrator and dominical vicar are essentially the same or similar to the role as a pastor, but with slight differences to internal parish/administrative pastoral responsibilities. Please contact the Archdiocesan Chancery Office with any questions regarding these terms.
Changes With Associate Pastor(s)*
*These appointments are subject to change depending on their arrival from their country of origin. Priority will be to fulfill a vacancy at an essential parish in need.
- Rev. Josephin Raj Muthuswamy and Rev. Chinnapparaj Desam Balraj, SDB, as Associate Pastors of St. Joseph’s Basilica, Edmonton, assisting Rev. Joseph Vadassery, Rector.
- Rev. Mario Villaraza, SDB, and Rev. Abraham Kuylil Durai, SAC, as Associate Pastors of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Sherwood Park, assisting Rev. Jim Corrigan, Pastor.
- Rev. Vadakedath Aipe, CMI, as Associate Pastor of St. Thomas More Parish, Edmonton, assisting Rev. Mark McGee, Pastor.
- Rev. Marreddy Udumala, SAC, as Associate Pastor of Our Lady of the Foothills Parish, Hinton, Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Jasper, and Holy Cross Parish, Grande Cache, assisting Rev. Anthony Narisetty, SAC, Pastor.
- Rev. Avinash Francis, SAC, as Associate Pastor of Holy Family, St. Albert, assisting Rev. Antony Cruz Michael, SAC, Pastor.
- Rev. Alex Joseph, as Associate Pastor of Our Lady of the Angels Parish, Fort Saskatchewan (and associated parishes), assisting Rev. Carlos Nunez, Pastor.
- Rev. Varkey Ouseph Kummananchery, CMI, as Associate Pastor of St. Anthony Parish, Lloydminster, assisting Rev. Arun Rodrigues, SAC, Pastor.
- Rev. Benoj Makkolil, CMI, to serve as a Priest Chaplain for hospital ministry in Edmonton.
Other Appointments
- Rev. Philip Creurer, JCD will continue to serve as Judicial Vicar of The Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton and the Interdiocesan Tribunal of Edmonton.
- Rev. Eamonn McNerney, currently serving as a Priest Chaplain in hospital ministry, is on study leave in Rome for two academic years.
- Rev. Geoffrey Young, of the Diocese of Saskatoon, is joining us to serve as a member of the formation team at St. Joseph’s Seminary (effective August 1, 2023).
- Rev. Weldu Rkab Tesfazghi, will serve as Pastor of the Ge’ez Rite Eritrean Community at Sacred Heart Church of the First Peoples, Edmonton (pending his arrival).
- Rev. Josephin Raj Muthuswamy, will also serve as Pastor of the Syro-Malankara Community at St. John the Evangelist Parish, Edmonton (pending his arrival).
Departures
- Rev. Sagayaraj Devadoss, SDB, Pastor of St. Dominic Savio, Edmonton, is transferred by his Superior to a new assignment in India (May 20, 2023).
- Rev. Simmy Joseph, CMI, Pastor of St. Stephen Parish, Lacombe and St. Augustine Parish, Ponoka, is transferred by his Superior to a new assignment in the Diocese of Peterborough, ON.
- Rev. Mieczysław “Mitch” Burdzy, OMI, Pastor of Holy Rosary Parish, Edmonton, is granted a sabbatical year by his Superior. Upon the end of his sabbatical, he will be reassigned to another diocese.
- Rev. Tomislav Fridl, Pastor of Nativity of Mary Parish, Edmonton, returns to his home diocese in Croatia to a new assignment from his Ordinary.
- Rev. Blair Bernard, from Madonna House Apostolate, receives a new assignment from his community (May 28, 2023).
- Rev. Vincent Anthony Samy, SDB, Associate Pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Sherwood Park, is transferred by his Superior to a new assignment.
- Rev. Tomasz Latawiec, Associate Pastor of Our Lady of the Angels Parish, Fort Saskatchewan, returns to his home diocese in Poland to a new assignment from his Ordinary.
Diaconate Appointments*
*Effective July 8, 2023, unless otherwise listed
- (Transitional) Deacon Jake Mullin (ordained May 26, 2023) to serve at Resurrection and Assumption Parishes, Edmonton for weekend ministry (effective September 2023).
- Deacon Dan Richie ,from the Archdiocese of Vancouver to serve at St. Vital Parish, Beaumont (effective April 1, 2023).
- Deacon James Eidem to serve at Sacred Heart Parish, Red Deer.
- Deacon Arden Playford to serve at Corpus Christi, Edmonton.
- Deacon Rene Mella to serve at St. Theresa Parish, Edmonton.