Bishop announces priest transfers and assignments

Several pastors in the diocese are to change parishes this summer, and some other priests are getting new assignments. Bishop McManus did not announce any retirements, but two pastors are becoming senior priests.
All changes are effective July 1.
On the diocesan level, Father Alfredo R. Porras is to become director of the Office for Divine Worship, succeeding Msgr. James P. Moroney, who will be a consultant to the office and remain pastor of St. Cecilia Parish in Leominster. Father Porras will remain diocesan master of ceremonies and Catholic chaplain at Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
On the parish level, Father Michael J. Roy, pastor of St. Roch Parish in Oxford and St. Ann Parish in North Oxford, is becoming senior priest in residence at St. Anne Parish in Southborough. Succeeding him as pastor of the Oxford parishes is their associate pastor, Father James J. Boulette. Their new associate pastor is Father David W. Cotter, pastor of St. Columba Parish in Paxton.
Succeeding Father Cotter as St. Columba’s pastor is Father Stephen E. Lundrigan, pastor of Annunciation Parish in Gardner. He is also becoming Catholic chaplain of Anna Maria College in Paxton, a position Father Cotter also held.
Annunciation’s new pastor is Father Victor A. Sierra, associate pastor of St. Mary of the Assumption Parish in Milford. Father Adriano Lessa, who has been doing ministry to Portuguese-speaking communities, is becoming associate pastor of St. Mary of the Assumption, which has parishioners who speak Portuguese, as well as ones who speak Spanish or English.
In another set of changes, Father Thomas H. Hultquist, pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish in Lancaster, is becoming senior priest in residence at St. George Parish in Worcester. Succeeding him as Immaculate Conception’s pastor is Father C. Michael Broderick, pastor of Our Lady of the Lake Parish in Leominster.
Our Lady of the Lake’s new pastor is Father Kenneth R. Cardinale, pastor of St. John Paul II Parish in Southbridge. Father Carlos F. Ardila, who was associate pastor of St. John Paul II, is the new pastor. Also, newly ordained Father Peter P. Bui is becoming St. John Paul II’s associate pastor.
Father Nelson J. Rivera, pastor of St. Denis Parish in Douglas, is taking a personal leave of absence. Father Miguel A. Pagan, associate pastor of St. George Parish in Worcester, is becoming St. Denis’ pastor.
Father Enoch K. Kyeremateng, chaplain for African Ministry in the diocese and temporary administrator of St. Joan of Arc Parish in Worcester, is becoming the parish’s administrator, while remaining chaplain of the African Ministry. St. Joan of Arc, which did not have an associate pastor, is receiving one – newly ordained Father Gustavo A. Correa.
St. Luke the Evangelist Parish in Westborough is also getting an associate pastor – Father Vijaya Sagar Gundiga, associate pastor of St. Gabriel the Archangel Parish in Upton.
St. Gabriel’s new associate pastor is Father Lucas M. LaRoche, who is returning from graduate studies in Rome, Italy. He is now in the process of finishing his licentiate in sacred theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University.
Father Michael D. Hoye is also returning from graduate studies in Rome and becoming associate pastor of St. Mary Parish in Uxbridge. He served there as a seminarian and as a newly ordained priest, before returning to Rome to complete his licentiate in sacred theology at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas.

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