CHAMPAIGN — Father David Sajdak, SDB, has been named pastor of Holy Cross Parish here by Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC. He succeeds Father Stephen Willard, who has been appointed pastor of St. Patrick in Washington and St. Monica in East Peoria.

Joining Father David as parochial vicar will be Father Jose Santa Bibiana, SDB. He will also assist with Spanish Masses and ministry at St. Malachy Parish in Rantoul.

A third member of the Salesian community, Father William Bucciferro, SDB, has been named assistant chaplain at St. John’s Catholic Chapel and Newman Center.

Their names were put forth for consideration by Father Thomas Dunne, SDB, provincial of the Province of St. Philip the Apostle of the Salesians of Don Bosco, and accepted by Bishop Jenky. The appointments for Father David and Father William are effective July 1, while Father Jose’s appointment is effective Aug. 1.

FOR HOLY CROSS PARISH
Born and raised in Chicago, Father David comes to Champaign from Surrey, British Columbia, where has been parochial vicar at Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish for six years. Prior to that he ministered at Salesian parishes in Toronto and Chicago and at two parishes of the Archdiocese of Chicago.

Father Thomas said the new pastor has worked with students in Catholic schools throughout his priesthood, is an excellent youth minister and works well with young adults.

Father Jose was born in Spain and came to the United States as a seminarian. He has served as a principal, catechist and financial administrator at his community’s schools and for 26 years has been the pastor at three Salesian parishes serving mostly poor Latin American families.

Prior to this appointment in Champaign, Father Jose worked with migrant laborers from Mexico and Haiti as pastor of St. Philip Benizi Parish in Belle Glade, Fla., for nine years. Father Thomas said when he tried to move Father Jose a few years ago, Bishop Gerald Barbarito of the Diocese of Palm Beach, Fla., asked him to reconsider.

Father Thomas described him as “energetic and passionate about ministry in the Salesian style.”

FOR NEWMAN CENTER AT U OF I
Born and raised in Joliet, Father William currently serves as coordinator of the Marian Shrine in Stony Point, N.Y. Before that he was parochial vicar for five years at Corpus Christi Parish in Port Chester, N.Y., and two years at Nativity Parish in Washington, D.C., and served as pastor of St. John Bosco Parish in Chicago for nine years.

Father William has a gift for pastoral ministry with young adults, according to Father Thomas, and is a good spiritual guide and confessor. In addition, he works well on a team and has collaborated effectively with the Salesians Sisters over the years.

Father William will be working with Salesian Sisters of St. John Bosco again at St. John’s Catholic Newman Center. They just completed their second year there.

Father Thomas added that Father William has “a welcoming quality that is well suited to ministry on a large university campus.”

Based in New Rochelle, N.Y., the Province of St. Philip the Apostle of the Salesians of Don Bosco covers the eastern United States and all of Canada. There are 160 members serving in schools, including five high schools, as well as youth centers, a retreat center and 18 parishes.