Numerous changes for priests and parishes in the diocese this summer include a different rector for St. Paul Cathedral Parish and priests leading multiple parishes. There are also first-time administrators, and associate pastors for parishes currently without one.
Several moves have been triggered by retirements. All changes except one retirement are effective July 1.
Father Hugo A. Cano has been named rector of St. Paul Cathedral Parish, Worcester, while remaining director of the diocesan Office of Hispanic/Latino Ministry. He will no longer be co-director of Holy Name of Jesus House of Studies in Worcester.
As rector, Father Cano succeeds Msgr. James P. Moroney, who is becoming pastor of St. Cecilia Parish, Leominster, while remaining director of the diocesan Office for Divine Worship.
St. Cecilia’s former pastor, Father Robert D. Bruso, died last July. Since then, Father José A. Rodríguez has been administrator. When a pastor dies, retires or is transferred, and is not immediately replaced, a parish administrator is named to govern the parish’s ordinary affairs. Father Rodríguez continues as pastor of Holy Family of Nazareth Parish and chaplain of Holy Trinity Chapel, both in Leominster.
Jesuit Father Paul J. Shaughnessy, a Worcester native who has been living and working at St. Paul Parish in Blackstone, is to serve as St. Cecilia’s associate pastor. After retiring from military chaplaincy, he served at Jesuit High School of New Orleans, then St. George Parish in Worcester.
At St. Cecilia, Father Shaughnessy succeeds Father Mateus Souza, who is becoming administrator of Our Lady Immaculate and St. Francis of Assisi parishes, both in Athol, and St. Peter Parish in Petersham.
The pastor of those parishes, Father Edwin Montaña, is becoming pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish, Worcester, succeeding Father Walter J. Riley.
Father Riley is becoming pastor of St. Luke the Evangelist Parish in Westborough, whose pastor, Msgr. Michael G. Foley, is retiring.
St. Luke’s associate pastor, Father Joseph D. Rice, is becoming administrator of three parishes: St. Joseph, North Brookfield; St. John the Baptist, East Brookfield; and Our Lady of the Sacred Heart in West Brookfield. The pastor of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Father Chester J. Misiewicz, is retiring.
The current administrator of St. Joseph’s and St. John the Baptist, Father William Schipper, will continue as pastor of Mary, Queen of the Rosary Parish in Spencer. Father Donald C. Ouellette will stay on as associate pastor of St. Joseph’s and St. John the Baptist.
The retirement of Father William F. Sanders, pastor of St. Louis Parish in Webster, means that St. Louis will now have an administrator. Father Javier Julio, who has been associate pastor of St. Mary Parish, Shrewsbury, has been assigned to that role. Succeeding him as St. Mary’s associate pastor is the newly ordained Father José F. Carvajal.
Father John J. Foley, the pastor of St. Anne, the other Shrewsbury parish, is retiring. Succeeding him as administrator is St. Anne’s associate pastor, Father Andres A. Araque.
Another retiree is Father James A. Houston, longtime pastor of St. Rose of Lima Parish in Northborough. Succeeding him is Father Juan D. Escudero, pastor of St. Denis Parish in Douglas.
Father Nelson J. Rivera, pastor of St. Joan of Arc Parish in Worcester, will succeed Father Escudero as pastor of St. Denis.
St. Joan of Arc will have an administrator, Father Wilmar J. Ramos, who is now associate pastor of St. John Paul II Parish, Southbridge. Father Carlos F. Ardila, newly ordained, is becoming St. John Paul II’s associate pastor.
Father Anthony J. Mpagi, pastor of St. Boniface Parish in Lunenburg, is becoming pastor of St. James Parish in South Grafton, where Father David M. Engo has been administrator since February 2020. Father Engo will continue in ministry in the Diocese of Helena, Montana.
Father Charles P. O. Omolo, associate at St. Joseph Parish in Charlton, is becoming administrator of St. Boniface and chaplain to Fitchburg State University. No one has yet been named to replace him.
Father Nicholas Desimone, pastor of St. Mary Parish in Uxbridge, will also be administrator of Good Shepherd Parish in the Linwood section of Uxbridge, St. Augustine Parish in Millville and St. Paul Parish in Blackstone.
Father Desimone, working with Father Thien X. Nguyen, pastor of St. Theresa Parish in Blackstone, is leading efforts these parishes are to make for parish renewal in the region.
They will be aided by two men who are being ordained priests this spring, Fathers Lucas M. LaRoche and John L. Larochelle. Fathers LaRoche and Larochelle are becoming associate pastors of St. Mary’s, Good Shepherd Parish, St. Augustine and St. Paul.
St. Paul’s pastor, Father D. Timothy O’Mara, died in March. Father Dennis J. O’Brien, a retired priest who is also diocesan minister to priests, has been filling in there as administrator.
The present administrator of Good Shepherd and St. Augustine parishes, Father Victor Sierra, is becoming associate pastor of St. Mary of the Assumption Parish, Milford, which currently doesn’t have an associate.
Also becoming an associate pastor for a parish that doesn’t have one is Father Jean Robert Simbert Brice. He has been an assisting priest at St. John Parish, Worcester, and will now be its associate pastor.
One associate pastor is changing parishes. Father Thiago DaSilva, associate pastor of St. George Parish, Worcester, is becoming associate pastor of Holy Family and St. Stephen parishes, Worcester.
One pastor is adding a specialized ministry. Father Jonathan J. Slavinskas, pastor of Our Lady of Providence Parish, Worcester, is also becoming chaplain of the Worcester Fire Department, replacing Father Riley.
Priests who have had special ministries are retiring.
Father Francis J. Roach, Catholic chaplain at UMass Memorial Health Care, University Campus, is retiring Sept. 1.
Father John F. Hamm, in diocesan sacramental ministry, is retiring on July 1.