DIOCESE ANNOUNCES PASTORAL CHANGES AT AREA CHURCHES

The Catholic Diocese of Greensburg yesterday announced the reassignment of priests, including several in our area.

On July 1^st, Father Andy Gumangan will leave Saint Thomas More in Indiana and the Our Lady of the Assumption parishes in Coral and Lucernemines.  He will return to his homeland of the Philippines, having completed his term in the Diocesan International Priests’ Program.

Bishop Edward Malesic says that effective July 8^th, the Very Reverend Thomas Federline will move from Saint Bernard of Clairvaux to become pastor of St. Pious X in Mount Pleasant and Saint Raymond Mountains Parish in Donegal.  The Reverend Richard Owens will become pastor of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux and of the Saint Thomas More parish in Indiana, assisted at both churches by Parochial Vicar Tage A. Danielson.  Also, Reverend John A. Pavlick will become pastor of Our Lady of the Assumption parish in Coral and Lucernemines.

Pavlik, Owens, and Danielson are all part of a Capuchin Community and new Friary in Indiana, with residence at Saint Bernard’s rectory. Brother Thomas Choi will also be in residence at the Friary.

The Reverend Rodolfo Mejia will leave Our Lady of the Assumption in Coral and Lucernemines for the Church of the Resurrection Parish in Northern Indiana County while remaining as Chaplain to Indiana Regional Medical Center.

Finally, Father Willie Lechnar, who presents his Messages of Hope on WCCS each week, will become the Pastor at Holy Family Parish in nearby Seward.  Prior to health issues that had him sidelined for a while, Father Willie had served as pastor at St. Thomas More University Parish in Indiana and Church of the Good Shepherd in Kent.