Bishop Louis Tylka announced new clergy assignments for priests of the Diocese of Peoria this month. These appointments are effective July 1, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. unless otherwise noted.

Priests take Senior Status

These appointments are effective July 1, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. unless otherwise noted.

Father William Keebler to senior status.

Father Thomas Shaw to senior status.

Father B.K. Thaddeus Tran to senior status.

Pastor, Administrator, and Parochial Vicar

These appointments are effective July 1, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. unless otherwise noted.

Father Witold Adamczyk, OFM Conv.: from Pastor of St. Pius X Parish (Rock Island), Sacred Heart Parish (Rock Island), and St. Mary Parish (Rock Island) to assignment with religious order outside of the Diocese. Effective June 29, 2026.

Father Edward Besigye: from Parochial Vicar of St. Thomas the Apostle Parish (Peoria Heights) to Parochial Vicar of St. Mark Parish (Peoria) and Assistant Chaplain at St. Joseph Newman Center (Peoria).

Father Austin Bosse: from Administrator to Pastor of St. Louis Parish (Princeton) and Pastor of St. John the Evangelist Parish (Walnut).

Father Joseph Domfe, SMA: from Parochial Vicar of Sts. Isidore and Maria Parish (Mendota) to assignment with Society of African Missions outside of the Diocese. Effective July 1, 2026.

Father Dawid Furgal, OFM Conv.: Parochial Vicar of St. Pius X Parish (Rock Island), Sacred Heart Parish (Rock Island), and St. Mary Parish (Rock Island). Effective August 1, 2026.

Father Thomas Gibson: from Parochial Vicar of the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception (Peoria) and Sacred Heart Parish (Peoria) to Parochial Vicar of The Nativity of Our Lord Parish (Spring Valley).

Father Fredi Gomez-Torres: from Assistant Chaplain of OSF Saint Francis Medical Center (Peoria) to Parochial Vicar of the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception (Peoria) and Sacred Heart Parish (Peoria).

Monsignor Jason Gray, JCD: from Pastor of St. Thomas the Apostle Parish (Peoria Heights) to Rector of the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception (Peoria) and Pastor of Sacred Heart Parish (Peoria).

Father Sixmund Henry: returning to home Diocese in Tanzania. Effective August 26, 2026.

Father Matthew Hoelscher: from Administrator to Pastor of Our Lady of the Lake Parish (Mahomet).

Father Narcis Katambe, PhD: from Administrator to Pastor of Saint John Paul II Parish (Kewanee).

Father Charles Klamut: from Pastor of St. Anthony Parish (Bartonville) to service to the University of St. Mary of the Lake Mundelein Seminary (Mundelein).

Father Mark Miller: from Parochial Vicar of St. Rose of Lima Parish (Peru) to Parochial Vicar of Christ the King Parish (Moline).

Father William Miller: from Rector of the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception (Peoria) and Pastor of Sacred Heart Parish (Peoria) to Pastor of ST. John XXIII Parish (Kickapoo).

Father Albert Mung’aho: from Parochial Vicar of St. Philomena Parish (Peoria) to Parochial Vicar of St. Mary Parish (Bloomington).

Father Marc Nkulu, SMA: from Administrator to Pastor of St. Hubert Parish (Macomb).

Father Bernard Obeng-Gyamfi: from Parochial Vicar of St. Mark Parish (Peoria) and Assistant Chaplain of St. Joseph Newman Center (Peoria) to Parochial Vicar of St. Mary Parish (Pontiac) and Parochial Vicar of Good Shepherd Parish (Chenoa).

Father Andru O’Brien: from Parochial Vicar of St. Mary Parish (Bloomington) to Administrator of Mary, Mother of God Parish (Washington).

Father James Pankiewicz: from Pastor of St. John XXIII Parish (Kickapoo) to Pastor of St. Anthony Parish (Bartonville).

Father Joel Phelps: from Pastor of St. Malachy Parish (Rantoul) to Pastor of St. Matthew Parish (Champaign).

Father Scott Potthoff: from Pastor of The Nativity of Our Lord Parish (Spring Valley) to Pastor of St. Malachy Parish (Rantoul).

Father Justin Ramza, MD: from Administrator to Pastor of St. Mary Parish (El Paso) and St. John Parish (Benson).

Father Fortunatus Rwehikiza, PhD: from Parochial Vicar of The Nativity of Our Lord Parish (Spring Valley) to Parochial Vicar of Sts. Isidore and Maria Parish (Mendota).

Father Piotr (Peter) Sarnicki, OFM Conv.: from Parochial Vicar to Pastor of St. Pius X Parish (Rock Island), Sacred Heart Parish (Rock Island), and St. Mary Parish (Rock Island). Effective June 29, 2026.

Father Jeffrey Small: from Parochial Vicar of St. John Baptist de La Salle Parish (LaSalle) to Administrator of St. Barbara Parish (Dalzell).

Father Johnathan Steffen, JD: Pastor of Mary, Mother of God Parish (Washington) to Pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Parish (Peoria).

Father Piotr Tymko, OFM Conv.: as Parochial Vicar of St. Pius X Parish (Rock Island), Sacred Heart Parish (Rock Island), and St. Mary Parish (Rock Island). Effective May 1, 2026.

Father Stephen Willard: from Pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Parish (Peoria) to Pastor of The Nativity of Our Lord Parish (Spring Valley).

Father Mieczyslaw Wit, OFM Conv.: from Parochial Vicar of St. Pius X Parish (Rock Island), Sacred Heart Parish (Rock Island), and St. Mary Parish (Rock Island) to assignment with religious order outside of the Diocese. Effective June 29, 2026.

Father Johndamaseni Zilimu, PhD: from Pastor of St. Matthew Parish (Champaign) to Pastor of St. Thomas the Apostle Parish (Peoria Heights).

Newly Ordained Priests

Effective July 1, 2026.

Father Blake Miller: Parochial Vicar of St. Philomena (Peoria).

Father JohnPaul Stedwill: Parochial Vicar of St. John Baptist de La Salle Parish (LaSalle).