CLERGY APPOINTMENTS

• Father Gary Blake, while remaining vicar forane of the LaSalle Vicariate, from pastor, Holy Family Parish, Oglesby, to pastor, St. Valentine Parish, St. Mary Parish, and St. Joseph Parish, all in Peru
• Father Paul Carlson, from pastor, St. Hyacinth Parish and St. Patrick Parish, both in LaSalle, and rector of Queen of the Holy Rosary Shrine, LaSalle, to pastor, Holy Family Parish, Oglesby
• Father Thomas Otto, from parochial vicar, St. Hyacinth and St. Patrick Parish, both in LaSalle, to administrator of those parishes as well as rector, Queen of the Holy Rosary Shrine, LaSalle

These appointments were effective on Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021.

The death of Msgr. Richard Soseman in early December has resulted in a series of clergy moves in the LaSalle Vicariate.

Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC, has appointed Father Gary Blake as pastor of the three parishes in Peru — St. Valentine, St. Mary, and St. Joseph — formerly served by Msgr. Soseman. Father Blake, who had served as pastor of Holy Family Parish in Oglesby since 2012, will continue as vicar of the LaSalle Vicariate.

Ordained in 2008, Father Blake formerly served as pastor of Sts. Peter and Paul Parish in Leonore and Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Eagle Township. He also served for four years as parochial vicar of Holy Cross Parish in Mendota and Sts. Peter and Paul Parish, Peterstown.

Named to succeed Father Blake in Oglesby is Father Paul Carlson, who has served as pastor of St. Hyacinth and St. Patrick parishes in LaSalle as well as rector of Queen of the Holy Rosary Shrine in LaSalle since 2016. Ordained in 2010, Father Carlson is a former chaplain of Peoria Notre Dame High School who also formerly served as parochial vicar of St. Jude Parish, Peoria, as well as the LaSalle Catholic parishes.

Father Thomas Otto, who has been parochial vicar of St. Hyacinth and St. Patrick parishes in LaSalle since 2019, has been appointed administrator of those parishes as well as rector of Queen of the Holy Rosary Shrine.