Bishop announces 19 pastoral appointments for June

Published: April 9, 2021

Bishop Anthony B. Taylor announced the following pastoral appointments effective June 15.

NEW PRIESTS

Deacon Omar Galván González, to be ordained to the priesthood May 29, appointed associate pastor of St. Raphael Church in Springdale and St. Joseph Church in Tontitown.

Deacon Brian L. Cundall, to be ordained to the priesthood May 29, appointed associate pastor of St. Joseph Church in Conway and St. Oscar Romero Catholic Community in Greenbrier.

Deacon Emmanuel de Jesús Torres Garibay, to be ordained to the priesthood May 29, appointed associate pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in North Little Rock (Marché) and St. Mary Church in North Little Rock.

Deacon Benjamin Riley, to be ordained to the priesthood May 29, appointed associate pastor of Immaculate Conception Church in North Little Rock.

Deacon Alexander Smith, to be ordained to the priesthood May 29, appointed associate pastor of St. Joseph Church in Fayetteville and Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Lincoln.

NEW PASTORS

Msgr. Scott Friend appointed pastor of Blessed Sacrament Church in Jonesboro. He is relieved of his responsibilities as diocesan vocations director, sacramental minister of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in North Little Rock (Marché), St. Mary Church in North Little Rock and St. Edward Church in Little Rock. He remains minister to priests.

Rev. L. Tuyen Ngoc Do appointed from administrator to pastor of St. Anthony Church in Weiner and from associate pastor to pastor of St. John Newman University Parish in Jonesboro. He is relieved of his responsibilities as associate pastor of Blessed Sacrament Church in Jonesboro.

Rev. Reginald Udouj, OSB, appointed from administrator to pastor of St. Joseph Church in Paris and sacramental minister of St. Mary Church in Altus. He is relieved of his responsibilities as sacramental minister of St. Anthony Church in Ratcliff.

NEW ADMINISTRATOR

Rev. Joseph de Orbegozo appointed administrator of the Cathedral of St. Andrew in Little Rock. He is relieved of his responsibilities as associate pastor of St. Joseph Church in Conway and St. Oscar Romero Catholic Community in Greenbrier. He remains part-time teacher of the House of Formation in Little Rock.

NEW ASSOCIATE PASTORS

Rev. Saulo Daniel Ramos Hernández appointed associate pastor of Blessed Sacrament Church in Jonesboro. He is relieved of his responsibilities as associate pastor of St. Raphael Church in Springdale and St. Joseph Church in Tontitown.

Rev. Jayaraju Sure appointed associate pastor of St. Peter the Fisherman Church in Mountain Home and St. Mary Church in Mountain View. He is relieved of his responsibilities as associate pastor of St. Joseph Church in Fayetteville and sacramental minister of Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Lincoln.

NEW DIOCESAN DIRECTOR

Rev. Jeffrey P. Hebert appointed from assistant vocations director to diocesan vocations director. He remains prefect of the House of Formation in Little Rock.

NEW SACRAMENTAL MINISTER

Rev. Norman McFall appointed sacramental minister of St. Anthony Church in Ratcliff. He remains pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Charleston.

NEW DEACONS

Daniel J. Wendel, to be ordained a transitional deacon May 26, appointed to serve as deacon at Immaculate Conception Church in Fort Smith during summer 2021. Effective June 2.

José Jaime Nieto Bautista, to be ordained a transitional deacon May 21, appointed to serve as deacon at Sacred Heart Church in Morrilton and St. Joseph Church in Center Ridge during summer 2021. Effective June 2.

ADDITIONAL ASSIGNMENTS

Rev. Jack Vu relieved of his responsibilities as rector of the Cathedral of St. Andrew in Little Rock. He remains pastor of St. Patrick Church in North Little Rock.

Rev. Aby Abraham, IMS, relieved of his responsibilities as associate pastor of St. Patrick Church in North Little Rock. He remains associate pastor of the Cathedral of St. Andrew in Little Rock.

Rev. Alphonse Gollapalli relieved of his responsibilities as pastor of Blessed Sacrament Church and St. John Newman University Parish in Jonesboro to continue his ministry in his home Diocese of Nellore, India.

Rev. Pius A. Iwu relieved of his responsibilities as sacramental minister of St. Mary Church in Altus to return to his home country, Nigeria. He remains a senior priest of the Diocese of Little Rock.