Priests take Senior Status

All assignments are effective July 1, 2025 unless otherwise noted.

Father Joseph Hogan to senior status.

Father Peter Pilon to senior status.

37 New pastors, administrators and parochial vicars

All assignments are effective July 1, 2025 unless otherwise noted.

Father John Bazimenyera, from Parochial Vicar of Mary, Mother of God Parish, Washington to Parochial Vicar of St. Mary Parish, Pontiac and Good Shepherd Parish, Chenoa.

Father Fortunatus Bijura, from Parochial Vicar of St. Matthew Parish, Champaign and Sacramental Assistance at the High School of St. Thomas More, Champaign to Parochial Vicar at Our Lady of the Lake Parish, Mahomet.

Monsignor Michael Bliss, from Pastor of St. Philomena Parish, Monticello and St. Michael Parish, Bement, to Pastor at St. John the Beloved Parish, Galva.

Father Austin Bosse, Parochial Vicar of St. Jude Parish, Peoria and Sacramental Assistant at the Heart of Peoria Parishes to Administrator of St. Louis Parish, Princeton.

Father Ignacio Cárdenas, from Parochial Vicar of St. Michael the Archangel Parish, Streator, to Parochial Vicar at Immaculate Conception Parish, Monmouth.

Father Paul Carlson, from Pastor of Holy Family Parish, Oglesby and Adjutant Episcopal Vicar for the Permanent Diaconate to Pastor of St. Mary Parish, Utica, effective November 1, 2025. He will remain Pastor of Holy Family Parish, Oglesby and Adjutant Episcopal Vicar for the Permanent Diaconate.

Father Nicholas Conner, from Parochial Vicar of Blessed Sacrament Parish, Morton to Parochial Vicar at Epiphany Parish, Normal.

Father Patrick DeMeulemeester, from Pastor of Padre Pio Parish, Granville, to Assistant Chaplain at OSF St. Francis Medical Center, Peoria, effective November 1, 2025.

Father Matthew Deptula, from Parochial Vicar of Most Holy Eucharist Parish, Bloomington, to Parochial Vicar at Mary, Mother of God Parish, Washington.

Father Daniel Dionesotes, from Parochial Vicar of St. Philomena Parish, Peoria, to Chaplain at Peoria Notre Dame High School, Peoria. He will also remain Parochial Vicar of St. Philomena Parish, Peoria.

Father Joseph Domfe, SMA, from Administrator of St. Luke Parish,Eureka and St. Joseph Parish, Roanoke to Parochial Vicar of Saints Isidore and Maria Parish, Mendota.

Father Michael Driscoll, PhD, from Pastor of St. Mary Parish, Utica and Chaplain and Director of Pastoral Care of OSF St. Elizabeth Medical Center, Ottawa, to Pastor of Padre Pio Parish, Granville, November 1, 2025. Effective July 1, 2025, his responsibilities as Chaplain and Director of Pastoral Care of OSF St. Elizabeth Medical Center will cease.

Father S. Stephen Engelbrecht, from Pastor of St. Anthony Parish, Atkinson and Sacred Heart Parish, Annawan, to Pastor of St. Patrick Parish, Sheffield. He will remain Pastor of St. Anthony Parish, Atkinson and Sacred Heart Parish, Annawan,

Father Chris Haake, from Parochial Vicar of St. John Paul II Parish, Kewanee; St. John the Apostle Parish, Woodhull; St. John the Evangelist Parish, Galva; and St. John Vianney Parish, Cambridge, to Parochial Vicar at St. Malachy Parish, Geneseo.

Father Glenn Harris, from Chaplain for the Mother Cabrini Center of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Peoria, to Parochial Vicar at St. Vincent de Paul Parish, Peoria.

Father Sixmund Henry, from Parochial Vicar of St. Paul Parish, Macomb; St. Rose of Lima Parish, Rushville; and Assistant Chaplain at St. Francis of Assisi Newman Center, Macomb to Administrator of St. Philomena Parish, Monticello and St. Michael Parish, Bement.

Father Matthew Hoelscher, from Assistant Chaplain of St. John’s Catholic Newman Center, Champaign, to Administrator of Our Lady of the Lake Parish, Mahomet, effective July 1, 2025.

Father Ghislain Inaï, remaining Pastor of Saint John Paul II Parish, Kewanee, while relinquishing responsibilities of St. John the Beloved Parish, Galva.

Monsignor James Kruse, from Pastor of St. Louis Parish, Princeton, to Pastor of Holy Family Parish, Danville.

Father Daniel McShane, from Parochial Vicar of St. Jude Parish; Chaplain of Peoria Notre Dame High School; and for Sacramental Assistance at the Heart of Peoria Parishes, Peoria, to Assistant Chaplain for St. John’s Catholic Newman Center, Champaign.

Father Jacob Martini, from Parochial Vicar of Immaculate Conception Parish, Monmouth, and Assistant Chaplain of St. Augustine Newman Center, Monmouth, to Parochial Vicar at St. Mary Parish, Moline, and Chaplain of Alleman High School, Rock Island, effective July 1, 2025.

Father Alexander Millar, from Assistant Chaplain of St. John’s Catholic Newman Center, Champaign, to the pursuit of continuing studies in the Fall of 2025, effective at the beginning of the Fall semester.

Father Deogratias Mpewo, while remaining Administrator of St. James Parish, Williamsfield, to Parochial Vicar at Incarnation of Our Lord Parish, Princeville, effective May 10, 2025.

Father Albert Mwita Mung’aho, from Administrator of St. Patrick Parish, Sheffield, to Parochial Vicar of St. Philomena Parish, Peoria.

Father Andru O’Brien, from Parochial Vicar of St. Matthew Parish, Champaign, and Chaplain of The High School of St. Thomas More, Champaign, to Parochial Vicar at St. Mary Parish, Bloomington.

Father Bernard Obeng Gyamfi, as Parochial Vicar of St. Mark Parish, Peoria and Assistant Chaplain of St. Joseph Newman Center, Bradley University, Peoria, effective May 6, 2025. 

Father James Pallardy, from Senior Status to  Parochial Vicar at St. Hubert Parish, Macomb.

Father John Pham, from Parochial Vicar of St. Mary Parish, Bloomington to Parochial Vicar at St. Patrick Parish, Urbana.

Father Justin Ramza, M.D., from Parochial Vicar of St. Columba Parish, St. Francis of Assisi Parish, St. Patrick Parish, Ottawa and St. Mary Shrine, Naplate, to Administrator of St. Mary Parish, El Paso and St. John Parish, Benson.

Father Robert Rayson, from Pastor of St. Mary Parish, El Paso and St. John Parish, Benson, to Pastor of St. Mary Parish, Pontiac and Good Shepherd Parish, Chenoa.

Father Donald Roszkowski, from Assistant Chaplain of OSF St. Francis Medical Center, Peoria, to Chaplain for the Mother Cabrini Center of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Peoria. He will remain Chaplain of the Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis Motherhouse, East Peoria.  

Father David Sabel, from Administrator of St. Mary Parish, Pontiac and Pastor of Good Shepherd, Chenoa, to Chaplain at OSF St. Elizabeth Medical Center, Ottawa.

Father Jack Swoik, from Parochial Vicar of Epiphany Parish, Normal to Parochial Vicar at St. Matthew Parish, Champaign, and Chaplain of The High School of St. Thomas More, Champaign.

Father Achilleus Tegamaisho, from Parochial Vicar of St. Vincent de Paul Parish, Peoria, to Parochial Vicar at Blessed Sacrament Parish, Morton.

Father John Baptist Uwigaba, from Parochial Vicar of Incarnation of our Lord, Princeville to Parochial Vicar at St. Rose of Lima Parish, Peru.

Father David Whiteside, from Parochial Vicar of St. Mary Parish, Pontiac, to Chaplain to the Sisters of Carmel of St. Joseph Convent, Lowell, Vermont.

Father Jeff Windy, from Parochial Vicar of Holy Cross Parish, Mendota; St. Theresa Parish, Earlville; and Sts. Peter & Paul Parish, Peterstown to Parochial Vicar at St. Mary Parish, Utica and Holy Family Parish, Oglesby.