By The Message staff
Bishop Joseph M. Siegel has announced a number of new pastoral assignments that will take effect later this year.
Bishop Siegel accepted a request from Father Bernie Etienne, pastor of Evansville’s Holy Rosary Parish, to step down as Vicar General of the Diocese of Evansville, effective June 30, after serving almost 10 years. Father Bernie will continue as pastor of Holy Rosary Parish.
Bishop Siegel appointed Father Alex Zenthoefer as the new Diocesan Vicar General, effective June 30. To help facilitate Father Alex taking on the many responsibilities of Vicar General, he will be moving from Evansville’s Annunciation Parish, where he has served as pastor since 2014, to become pastor of Sts. Mary and John Parish in Evansville, effective June 30.
In announcing the appointments to diocesan priests and pastoral life coordinators, Bishop Siegel said, “I hope you will join me in thanking Father Bernie for his many years of service as Vicar General. He has been of tremendous assistance to both Archbishop Thompson and me in fulfilling the many and varied duties that are included in this office, while also pastoring one of our largest parishes. I also want to express my deep gratitude to Father Alex for his willingness to accept this position and to move to a new parish. I look forward to working with him.”
Bishop Siegel also announced several other pastoral appointments, effective June 30.
He appointed:
Father Benny Alikandayil Chacko to serve as Administrator of Annunciation Parish in Evansville, from serving as Administrator of Sts. Mary and John Parish in Evansville.
Father John Pfister to serve as Pastor of St. Mary Parish in Sullivan and St. Joan of Arc Parish in Jasonville, from serving as Administrator of those parishes.
Father Jerry Pratt to serve as Pastor of Resurrection Parish and Corpus Christi Parish, both in Evansville, from serving as Administrator of those parishes.
Father Jose Thomas to serve as Administrator of Divine Mercy Parish, St. Anthony, from serving as Parochial Vicar of St. Francis Xavier Parish in Vincennes and St. Philip Neri Parish in Bicknell.
Bishop Siegel also announced that, effective Aug. 4, Deacon Garrett Braun, following his June 5 ordination to the priesthood, will be appointed to serve as Parochial Vicar of St. Francis Xavier Parish in Vincennes and of St. Philip Neri Parish in Bicknell. He will be starting in August due to his summer assignment with the Archdiocese for the Military Services.
Bishop Siegel added, “I express my gratitude to all these priests for their willingness to serve in these new assignments. Please remember them in your prayers as they prepare for their transition.
“I also want to thank Janie Kempf, who has done outstanding work serving as Parish Life Coordinator at Divine Mercy Parish for the last two years. I also want to recognize Father John Boeglin, who has served as Priest Moderator, and Father Tim Tenbarge, who has provided sacramental ministry at Divine Mercy Parish.”