Allentown Diocese announces retirements, reassignments

John E. Usalis, Republican & Herald, Pottsville, Pa.
·3 min read

May 11—ALLENTOWN — The retirement of nine senior pastors next month has prompted the Roman Catholic Diocese of Allentown to reassign many priests to fill the gaps in pastoral service.

The nine pastors have served a total of 448 years, according to a media release from diocesan Communication Director Paul Wirth. Each pastor will be named pastor emeritus of his current parish, an honorary title recognizing their faithful service.

The Most Rev. Alfred A. Schlert, bishop of Allentown, expressed his gratitude for centuries of service to the people of the diocese.

"I am extremely proud of these men, and I thank them from the bottom of my heart for their remarkable records of selfless service in our diocese," Schlert said. "The retirement of such fine priests must spur us to beg the Lord to open the hearts of young men to answer the call to the priesthood. Encouraging vocations will be one focus of the Year of the Real Presence here in the diocese."

The number of priests retiring are far more than those being ordained this year. One new priest — the Rev. Juan E. Rodriguez — has been ordained so far this year, and one more — the Rev. Mr. Philip J. Maas — is scheduled to be ordained June 5.

Retiring pastors

The retiring pastors, and the parishes where each will be a pastor emeritus, are:

—The Rev. Stephen Maco, 75, Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish, Bangor.

—Monsignor John J. Martin, 74, St. Peter Parish, Coplay.

—Monsignor John P. Murphy, 83, St. Thomas More Parish, Allentown.

—Monsignor Edward J. O'Connor, 65, St. Patrick Parish, Pottsville.

—Monsignor Edward R. Sacks, 83, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Bethlehem.

—Monsignor Walter T. Scheaffer, 82, St. Mary Parish, Kutztown.

—Monsignor Francis Schoenauer, 75, Cathedral of St. Catharine of Siena Parish, Allentown.

—The Rev. James J. Ward, 75, Immaculate Conception Parish, Jim Thorpe.

—Monsignor Robert J. Wargo, 74, St. Joseph the Worker Parish, Orefield.

Schlert also announced 54 new assignments, including those who are retiring. The assignments are to meet the needs of the faithful in the diocese's 80 parishes, as well as fulfilling pastoral needs at college campuses, at hospitals and at diocesan high schools.

New assignments

The assignments are effective June 15. The following are serving or will serve in Schuylkill County:

The Rev. Robert T. Finlan, pastor, Holy Guardian Angels Parish, Reading, to pastor, St. John XXIII Parish, Tamaqua, and pastor, St. Richard of Chichester Parish, Barnesville.

The Rev. John A. Frink, pastor, St. John XXIII Parish, Tamaqua, to pastor, St. Benedict Parish, Mohnton.

Monsignor William F. Glosser, V.F., pastor, St. Clare of Assisi Parish, Saint Clair, also to pastor, Holy Cross Parish, New Philadelphia.

The Rev. Allen J. Hoffa, pastor, St. Joseph Parish, Summit Hill; rector, Shrine of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Nesquehoning; and interim head of school, Marian High School, Hometown; to pastor, Holy Guardian Angels Parish, Reading.

The Rev. G. Jose Kochuparambil, parochial administrator, Most Blessed Trinity Parish, Tremont, to pastor, Most Blessed Trinity Parish.

The Rev. David J. Loeper, pastor, St. John the Baptist Parish, Pottsville, and chaplain, Nativity BVM High School, Pottsville, to pastor, St. Mary Parish, Hamburg.

The Rev. Ronald J. Minner, pastor, Holy Cross Parish, New Philadelphia, to pastor, Immaculate Conception Parish, Jim Thorpe.

The Rev. Dominic Thao Pham, parochial administrator, St. Mary Parish, Ringtown, and parochial administrator, St. Joseph Parish, Sheppton, to pastor, St. Mary Parish, and pastor, St. Joseph Parish, Sheppton.

The Rev. Philip F. Rodgers, pastor, St. Benedict Parish, Mohnton, to pastor, St. Patrick Parish, Pottsville.

Parochial administrators

Diocesan policy states that a priest being entrusted with the pastoral care of a parish for the first time be appointed a parochial administrator for at least one year. The following are serving or will serve in Schuylkill County:

The Rev. Kevin J. Bobbin, parochial vicar, Notre Dame of Bethlehem Parish, Bethlehem, to parochial administrator, St. John the Baptist Parish, Pottsville, and chaplain, Nativity BVM High School, Pottsville.

The Rev. Eric N. Tolentino, parochial administrator, St. Richard Parish, Barnesville, to parochial administrator, Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish, Catasauqua.

Contact the writer: jusalis@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6023