New pastors have been named for three parishes and St. John Paul II Catholic Newman Center in Normal is getting a new chaplain in clergy appointments announced in June by Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC.

Fr. Willard

Fr. Steffen

Father Stephen Willard will become pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Peoria. For the past five years, he has served as pastor of St. Patrick Parish in Washington and St. Monica Parish, East Peoria. A former pastor of Holy Cross Parish, Champaign, as well as faith communities in Philo, Bongard, and Pesotum, Father Willard is also vicar of the Pekin Vicariate. He guided his parishes through recovery efforts following the tornado that destroyed or damaged hundreds of homes in Washington and East Peoria in late 2013.

Succeeding Father Willard in Washington and East Peoria will be Father Johnathan Steffen, who will continue as pastor of St. Mary Parish in El Paso, where he has served for two years. Since 2014, Father Steffen has also been in campus ministry at St. John Paul II Catholic Newman Center in Normal, the last two years as chaplain.

Fr. Horton

The new chaplain at the St. John Paul II Catholic Newman Center will be Father Geoffrey Horton, whose decade of priestly ministry has included experiences serving youth at three high schools in the diocese as well as at St. Joseph Newman Center on the campus of Bradley University in Peoria. Father Horton will continue as parochial vicar of Holy Trinity and Historic St. Patrick parishes in Bloomington and St. Patrick Parish, Wapella.

All appointments are effective on Wednesday, July 18.