Greensburg diocese announces new pastoral assignments
Several Roman Catholic churches in Fayette County are receiving new pastors and new Mass schedules as recently announced by Bishop Lawrence E. Brandt of the Diocese of Greensburg.
The decisions, which follow a parish restructuring, will become effective June 25.
The new interim weekend Mass schedules will be subject to review and possible modification after a six-month trial period, according to information from the Greensburg diocese, which includes Fayette, Westmoreland, Armstrong and Indiana counties.
The pastoral appointments include:
The Rev. William G. Berkey will become pastor of St. Francis of Assisi, the new parish in western Fayette County that includes the merger of six parishes: All Saints in Masontown, Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Leckrone, Holy Rosary in Republic, Madonna of Czestochowa in Cardale, St. Procopius in New Salem and St. Thomas in Footedale. Worship sites will be in Masontown and Footedale. Berkey comes from Holy Cross in Youngwood.
In addition, the Rev. James F. Petrovsky is named senior priest active with pastoral responsibilities at St. Francis of Assisi while continuing pastoral responsibilities at St. Peter Parish in Brownsville and St. Cecilia Parish in Grindstone, with residence at St. Cecilia Parish rectory in Grindstone. Currently, Petrovsky also serves as senior priest active at St. John the Baptist in Perryopolis and St. Hedwig in Smock.
The weekend Mass schedule for St. Francis is as follows: 4 p.m. at the Masontown worship site and 6 p.m. at the Footedale worship site on Saturday; 7:30 a.m. and noon at Masontown, and 9:45 a.m. at Footedale on Sunday.
The pastors now serving these merging parishes and their new assignments include: the Rev. John M. Butler, current pastor of All Saints and administrator of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, will become pastor at St. Patrick Parish in Brady’s Bend. The Rev. William C. McGuirk, current pastor of Holy Rosary in Republic and administrator of Madonna of Czestochowa, will become pastor of Holy Cross Parish in Youngwood. The Rev. Peter L. Peretti, a Brownsville native and current pastor of St. Thomas and administrator of St. Procopius, will become pastor of St. Mary (Nativity) in Uniontown.
The Rev. Stephen Bugay, current pastor of St. Mary (Nativity), will become pastor of Ss. Simon and Jude Parish in Blairsville.
The Rev. Andrew M. Kawecki, current pastor of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Fairchance and administrator of St. Hubert in Point Marion, will become pastor of St. John the Baptist in Scottdale and administrator of St. Joseph Parish in Everson, which became partner parishes in the restructuring.
There is a new Mass schedule for Scottdale and Everson: 4 p.m. at St. John the Baptist on Saturday and 8:30 a.m. at St. Joseph and 10:30 a.m. at St. John the Baptist on Sunday.
The Rev. Jaime Sullan Ozoa, now parochial vicar at Mother of Sorrows in Murrysville, will take Kawecki’s current positions in Fairchance and Point Marion. The Region 10 Sunday Evening Regional Mass now will be celebrated at 7 p.m. at Ss.Cyril and Methodius.
The Rev. John A. Sedlak, a native of Fayette City and current pastor of St. Joseph in Everson, will become pastor of St. Florian Parish in United while continuing as diocesan spiritual director for the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. The Rev. E. George Saletrik, a Uniontown native and current pastor of St. John the Baptist, will become pastor of the Church of the Resurrection Parish in northern Indiana County while continuing as chaplain for the Catholic Boy and Girl Scouts.
St. Hedwig in Smock is closing and all of its records, liabilities and assets are being assumed by St. John the Baptist in Perryopolis. The Rev. Anthony W. Ditto remains as pastor of St. John the Baptist in Perryopolis and was administrator of St. Hedwig. Masses will be celebrated at St. John the Baptist at 4:30 p.m. Saturday and at 8 and 10 a.m. on Sunday.
In addition, the Rev. Gerardo Juarez will become part-time chaplain to Frick Community Health Center and Harmon House in Mount Pleasant and Highlands Hospital and Health Center in Connellsville while continuing in residence at St. Rita Parish in Connellsville and parochial vicar of the parishes of Immaculate Conception, St. John the Evangelist and St. Rita in Connellsville.
Other Fayette County natives receiving new assignments include: The Rev. Daniel L. Blout of Masontown becomes pastor of Our Lady of Grace Parish in Greensburg and administrator of St. Benedict Parish, Marguerite, in Greensburg while continuing as diocesan chaplain of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas. The Rev. Douglas E. Dorula of Uniontown will become pastor of St. Mary, Our Lady of Guadalupe in Kittanning and administrator of St. Mary, Mother of God in Yatesboro. The Rev. John M. Foriska of Fairchance is becoming pastor of Holy Trinity Parish in Ligonier. The Rev. Alan W. Grote of Uniontown will become regional chaplain for pastoral care and clergy assistance for northern Armstrong County with residence in St. Lawrence Parish rectory in Cadogan.The Rev. Richard Kosisko of Connellsville is becoming regional clergy moderator for Region IX. The Rev. Lawrence Manchas of Redstone Township is becoming pastor of St. Paul and administrator of St. Bruno, both in Greensburg.
The diocese is announcing the retirement of three priests, including Monsignor William G. Charnoki, a native of Nemacolin in Greene County; the Rev. William Kiel, who was working in Indiana and formerly served in Fayette County; as well as the Rev. Chester J. Raimer, who also was working in Indiana County.
The bishop ordained three men as priests on Saturday, including the Rev. Tyler J. Bandura, the Rev. Matthew J. Morelli and the Rev. Daniel J. Ulishney, who all received assignments in Westmoreland County.