Official Decree of Appointments

CLICK HERE to see the original document in PDF form. 

The Most Reverend W. Shawn McKnight, Bishop of Jefferson City, makes the following appointments:

*** RETIREMENTS *** 

Reverend John W. Groner, acceptance of resignation from Pastor of St. Jude Parish, Richland and St. Robert Bellarmine Parish, St. Robert, to retirement at his personal residence.

Reverend Joseph Hoi, acceptance of resignation from Pastor of St. Theresa Parish, Dixon and St. Cornelius Parish, Crocker, to medical retirement at his personal residence.

These retirements are effective June 30, 2021.

Deacon Fred F. Schmitz, acceptance of resignation from Parish Life Collaborator at St. Margaret of Antioch Parish, Osage Bend, to retirement, effective from December 31, 2020.

*** DIOCESAN APPOINTMENTS ***

Deans

Very Reverend Joseph S. Corel, VF as Dean of the new Southwest Deanery for a five-year term.

Very Reverend Matthew J. Flatley, VF as Dean of the new North Deanery for a five-year term.

Very Reverend Gregory C. Meystrik, VF as Dean of the new Southeast Deanery for a five-year term.

Very Reverend Louis M. Nelen, VF as Dean of the new See City Deanery for a five-year term.

Very Reverend P. Gregory Oligschlaeger, VF as Dean of the new Central Deanery for a five-year term.

These appointments are effective July 1, 2021.

Marriage Tribunal

Reverend Brad T. Berhorst, upon completion of studies in canon law at The Catholic University of America, as Assessor in the Marriage Tribunal, effective June 1, 2021.

Bishop’s Master of Ceremonies

Reverend Brad T. Berhorst, as Assistant Master of Ceremonies to the Bishop, effective June 1, 2021.

Reverend Mr. Derek J. Hooper, as Assistant Master of Ceremonies to the Bishop, effective immediately.

Diocesan Pastoral Council

The following are appointed to the Diocesan Pastoral Council for a three-year term, effective July 1, 2021:

Sister Mary Essner SSND, Holy Family Parish, Hannibal, North Deanery

Ms. Barbara Garvey, Immaculate Conception Parish, Brookfield, North Deanery

Mr. Kent Kortas, St. Vincent de Paul Parish, Sedalia, Southwest Deanery

Mr. Russell Kremer, Our Lady Help of Christians Parish, Frankenstein, Southeast Deanery

Mr. Rick Nichols, St. Pius X Parish, Moberly, Central Deanery

Mr. Earl Pabst, St. Andrew Parish, Holt Summit, See City Deanery

Mrs. Lisa Reinkemeyer, St. Andrew Parish, Tipton, Southwest Deanery

Ms. Sarah Robinson, St. Clement Parish, St. Clement, Central Deanery

Reverend Jeremy A. Secrist, Diocesan Priests Representative

Deacon John Schwartze, Cathedral of St. Joseph, Jefferson City, See City Deanery

Mrs. Carol Schwartze, Cathedral of St. Joseph, Jefferson City, See City Deanery

Mrs. Sheri Stormer, Visitation Parish, Vienna, Southeast Deanery

The following are appointed to the Diocesan Pastoral Council as Newman Center representatives for a two-year term, effective July 1, 2021:

Ms. Michelle E. Woodley, Rolla Newman Center

Ms. Megan Barnes, Kirksville Newman Center

*** PASTORS/ADMINISTRATORS ***

Reverend Monsignor David D. Cox, from Pastor of Mary Immaculate Parish, Kirksville, the Kirksville Newman Center, and the Mission of St. Rose of Lima, Novinger; to Pastor of St. Stanislaus Parish, Wardsville, and St. Margaret of Antioch Parish, Osage Bend.

Reverend Francis W. Doyle, from Pastor of Sacred Heart Parish, Columbia; to Pastor of St. Peter Parish, Marshall, St. Joseph Parish, Slater, and the Mission of Holy Family, Sweet Springs.

Reverend Alexius Ekka, from Pastor of St. Ann Parish, Warsaw, the Mission of SS. Peter and Paul, Cole Camp, and sacramental ministry at St. Bernadette Parish, Hermitage; to Pastor of Sacred Heart Parish, Eldon and Our Lady of Snows Parish, Mary’s Home.

Reverend Paul M. Hartley, to Pastor of Church of the Resurrection Parish, Wellsville, and to continue as Pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish, Montgomery City and St. Patrick Parish, Jonesburg.

Reverend Monsignor Gregory L. Higley, from Pastor of St. George Parish, Hermann, Church of the Risen Savior Parish, Rhineland, and Rector of the Diocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Sorrows and St. Martin Chapel, Starkenburg; to Pastor of Sacred Heart Parish, Columbia.

Reverend Philip M. Kane, from Pastor of St. Joseph Parish, Pilot Grove, with St. John the Baptist Chapel, Clear Creek, and St. Joseph Chapel, Clifton City; to Pastor of St. Joseph Parish, Martinsburg, the Mission of St. John, Laddonia, and Sacred Heart Parish, Vandalia.

Reverend William L. Korte, from Administrator of St. Joseph Parish, Louisiana and the Mission of Mary Queen of Peace, Clarksville; to Pastor of St. Lawrence Parish, St. Elizabeth, and Administrator of St. Anthony of Padua Parish, St. Anthony.

Reverend Monsignor Marion J. Makarewicz, from Pastor of Our Lady of the Lake Parish, Lake Ozark; to Pastor of Mary Immaculate Parish, Kirksville, the Kirksville Newman Center, and the Mission of St. Rose of Lima, Novinger.

Reverend Ignazio C. Medina, from Pastor of St. Stanislaus Parish, Wardsville, and St. Margaret of Antioch Parish, Osage Bend; to Pastor of Our Lady of the Lake Parish, Lake Ozark.

Reverend Michael P. Murphy, from Pastor of St. Joseph Parish, Salisbury and St. Mary of the Angels Parish, Wien; to Pastor of St. Theresa Parish, Dixon, St. Cornelius Parish, Crocker, St. Robert Bellarmine Parish, St. Robert, and St. Jude Parish, Richland.

Reverend Philip E. Niekamp, from Pastor of St. Pius X Parish, Moberly; to Pastor of St. George Parish, Hermann, Church of the Risen Savior Parish, Rhineland, and as Rector of the Diocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Sorrows and St. Martin Chapel, Starkenburg.

Reverend Benjamin E. Nwosu, from Pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish, Macon, the Mission of Sacred Heart, Bevier, St. Mary Parish, Shelbina, and St. Patrick Parish, Clarence; to Pastor of St. Ann Parish, Warsaw, St. Bernadette Parish, Hermitage, and the Mission of SS. Peter and Paul, Cole Camp.

Reverend Boniface K. Nzabonimpa, from Administrator of the Mission of St. Joseph, Hurricane Branch, and St. Raphael Parish, Indian Grove; to Pastor of St. Boniface Parish, Brunswick, St. Joseph Parish, Salisbury, and St. Mary of the Angels Parish, Wien.

Reverend Augustine A. Okoli, from Pastor of St. Joseph Parish, Martinsburg and Church of the Resurrection Parish, Wellsville; to service in the Diocese of Aba, Nigeria.

Reverend R. William Peckman, from Pastor of SS. Peter and Paul Parish, Boonville; to Pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish, Macon, the Mission of Sacred Heart, Bevier, St. Mary Parish, Shelbina, and St. Patrick Parish, Clarence.

Reverend Mark S. Smith, JCL, from Administrator of St. Peter Parish, Marshall, St. Joseph Parish, Slater, and the Mission of Holy Family, Sweet Springs; to Pastor of SS. Peter and Paul Parish, Boonville, and St. Joseph Parish, Pilot Grove, with St. John the Baptist Chapel, Clear Creek, and St. Joseph Chapel, Clifton City.

Reverend Basil Tigga, from Administrator to Pastor of St. Aloysius Parish, Argyle, with St. Boniface Chapel, Koeltztown, and Visitation Parish, Vienna, and to continue as Administrator of Holy Guardian Angels Parish, Brinktown.

Reverend Joby P. Thomas, from Administrator of St. Lawrence Parish, St. Elizabeth and St. Anthony of Padua Parish, St. Anthony; to Pastor of St. Pius X Parish, Moberly.

Reverend Henry Ussher, from Administrator of Sacred Heart Parish, Vandalia and the Mission of St. John, Laddonia; to Pastor of St. Clement Parish, St. Clement, St. Joseph Parish, Louisiana and the Mission of Mary Queen of Peace, Clarksville.

Reverend Kelechi M. Uzuegbu, to Pastor of St. Bonaventure Parish, Marceline, and as Administrator of the Mission of St. Joseph, Hurricane Branch, and St. Raphael Parish, Indian Grove, and to continue as sacramental minister at Immaculate Conception Parish, Brookfield.

These appointments are effective July 1, 2021.

Reverend Callistus C. Okoroji, from Pastor of Sacred Heart Parish, Eldon and Our Lady of Snows Parish, Mary’s Home, effective June 30, 2021; to Pastor of St. Joseph Parish, Canton and Queen of Peace Parish, Ewing, effective August 15, 2021.

*** ASSOCIATE PASTORS ***

Reverend Benedict T. Chagula, from Parochial Vicar of Immaculate Conception Parish, Jefferson City; to service in the Diocese of Geita, Tanzania.

Reverend Paschal C. Ihediohamma, to Associate Pastor of St. Peter Parish, Jefferson City.

Reverend Anthony N. Onyeihe, to Associate Pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish, Jefferson City.

These appointments are effective May 12, 2021.

Reverend Brad T. Berhorst, to Associate Pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Columbia, effective June 1, 2021.

Reverend Thomas L. Alber, from Associate Pastor of St. Peter Parish, Marshall, the Mission of Holy Family, Sweet Springs, and St. Joseph Parish, Slater; to Senior Associate Pastor of St. Brendan Parish, Mexico, and to Hispanic Ministry in Audrain, Boone, and Pike Counties.

Reverend Christopher M. Aubuchon, from medial leave to Associate Pastor of St. Peter Parish, Marshall, the Mission of Holy Family, Sweet Springs, and St. Joseph Parish, Slater.

Reverend Mr. Derek J. Hooper, after ordination to the Sacred Priesthood, to Associate Pastor of SS. Peter and Paul Parish, Boonville, St. Joseph Parish, Pilot Grove, with St. John the Baptist Chapel, Clear Creek and St. Joseph Chapel, Clifton City.

These appointments are effective July 1, 2021.

***DEACONS***

Deacon Ronald E. Deimeke, from ministry duties at Church of the Resurrection Parish, Wellsville, to assist the Pastor at the Mission of St. John, Laddonia and Sacred Heart Parish, Vandalia, and to continue with ministry at St. Joseph Parish, Martinsburg.

Deacon Mark J. Dobelmann, from ministry duties at the Mission of St. John, Laddonia and Sacred Heart Parish, Vandalia, to assist the Pastor at St. Joseph Parish, Louisiana and the Mission of Mary Queen of Peace, Clarksville, and to continue with ministry at St. Clement Parish, St. Clement, and to continue with Prison Ministry.

Deacon Troy K. Egbert, from ministry duties at St. Joseph Parish, Louisiana and the Mission of Mary Queen of Peace, Clarksville, and to continue with ministry at Holy Family Parish, Hannibal and St. Joseph Parish, Palmyra.

Deacon Chad R. Lewis, from ministry duties at St. Patrick Parish, Rolla, and to continue ministry at Holy Cross Parish, Cuba, St. Francis Caracciolo Parish, Bourbon, and St. Michael Parish, Steelville.

Deacon Larry G. Hildebrand, from ministry duties at Immaculate Conception Parish, Loose Creek, and St. Louis of France Parish, Bonnots Mill, to assist the Pastor at St. Stanislaus Parish, Wardsville, and St. Margaret of Antioch Parish, Osage Bend, and to continue with ministry at the Jefferson City Correctional Center.

Deacon Wayne W. Korte, from ministry duties at Immaculate Conception Parish, Montgomery City, to assist the Pastor at St. Joseph Parish, Louisiana, the Mission of Mary Queen of Peace, Clarksville, and St. Clement Parish, St. Clement.

Deacon Robert A. Leake, from ministry duties at St. Joseph Parish, Louisiana and the Mission of Mary Queen of Peace, Clarksville, and to continue with ministry at Holy Family Parish, Hannibal and St. Joseph Parish, Palmyra.

Deacon Luke G. Mahsman, from ministry duties at St. Joseph Parish, Louisiana and the Mission of Mary Queen of Peace, Clarksville, and to continue with ministry at Holy Family Parish, Hannibal and St. Joseph Parish, Palmyra.

Deacon Stephen H. Schwartze, from ministry duties at St. Aloysius Parish, Argyle, Holy Guardian Angels Parish, Brinktown, and Visitation Parish, Vienna, to assist the Pastor at St. Lawrence Parish, St. Elizabeth and St. Anthony of Padua Parish, St. Anthony.

Deacon John L. Watkins, from ministry duties at St. Joseph Parish, Louisiana and the Mission of Mary Queen of Peace, Clarksville, and to continue with ministry at Holy Family Parish, Hannibal and St. Joseph Parish, Palmyra.

These appointments are effective July 1, 2021.

Deacon Dana Joyce, to serve as Personal Secretary to Bishop Emeritus John R. Gaydos, with continuing ministry at Cathedral of St. Joseph Parish, effective from April 19, 2021.

Deacon Alan Sims, acceptance of resignation from Prison Ministry, Nursing Home Ministry, and as Director of Catholic Cemeteries, effective from January 1, 2021.

Given at the Chancery in Jefferson City, Missouri,

on the 12th day of May in the Year of St. Joseph, 2021.

Most Reverend W. Shawn McKnight, S.T.D.

Bishop of Jefferson City

Mrs. Constance Schepers

Chancellor