Gulf Pine Catholic

Gulf Pine Catholic • May 26, 2023 18 Diocesan Appointments From page 1 The Moderator of the Curia is responsible for the pastoral programs of the Diocese and works closely with the Diocesan Chancellor to insure that the admin- istrative functions of the local Church are carried out in accord with prescribed norms and in a manner consis- tent with the Church’s mission and the Bishop’s vision. Father Urbaniak will relinquish the role of Director of Vocations. Father Braxton Necaise, who currently serves as Assistant Director for Vocations, will step up to replace Father Urbaniak, while continuing to serve as parochial vicar of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, Hattiesburg. Father Vincent O. Ajayi is appointed Episcopal Vicar for Temporal Matters. He will retain his appoint- ment as Parochial Vicar of St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, Long Beach. His responsibilities will include the oversight of financial matters (budgets, invest- ments, grants, etc.), health and property insurance, personnel and priests’ pensions and benefits, facilities, construction, etc. The aforementioned appointments are effective May 15. The following appointments are effective June 15: Father Cuthbert O’Connell is appointed Pastor of St. Ann Parish, Lizana, and Our Lady of Chartres Mission in the Delmas Community, and hospital minis- try at Singing River Gulfport Hospital. At the same time he is released from his appointment as pastor of St. Thomas the Apostle Parish. Father Satish Adhav is appointed Pastor of St. Thomas theApostle Parish, Long Beach, and is released from his appointment as pastor of St. John the Evangelist Parish. Father David Milton Maria Augustin, H.G.N., is appointed Pastor of St. Joseph the Worker Parish, Moss Point, and St. Ann Mission, Hurley, and is released of his appointment as pastor of St. Ann Parish and Our Lady of Chartres Mission. Effective August 16, 2023, Father Peter Varghese, C.M.I., is appointed Pastor of Our Mother of Sorrows Parish, Biloxi. He is released from his appointment as pastor of St. Joseph the Worker Parish and St. Ann Mission, effective June 15, 2023. Also effective August 16, 2023, Fr. Varghese is appointed to priestly ministry at Ocean Springs Hospital and to priestly ministry for Senior Housing Ministry. From June 15-July 15, Father Varghese will be in residence and filling in for priestly ministry at St. John the Evangelist Parish, Gulfport. From July 16-August 15, he will be in residence and providing priestly ministry at St. Ann Parish and Our Lady of Chartres Mission. Effective July 27, 2023, Father Mike Somers, S.V.D. is appointed Pastor of St. John the Evangelist Parish. Deacon David Allen is appointed Parish Life Coordinator for St. John the Evangelist Parish in Gulfport June 15-July 26, 2023. Father Vincent Ajayi, Episcopal Vicar for Temporal Affairs, left, and Father Adam Urbaniak, Vicar General, right, sign their Oaths of Fidelity as Bishop Louis F. Kihneman III looks on during a May 17 Mass at the Diocese of Biloxi Pastoral Center. Photo/Juliana Skelton