Father William F. Thomas
Bishop Anthony B. Taylor announced the following pastoral appointments.
Effective April 10
Rev. Kevin Atunzu, appointed vicar for international priests. He remains pastor of Christ the King Church in Fort Smith.
Effective June 15
Rev. Donald Tranel, GHM, relieved of his responsibilities as pastor of Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Booneville to continue his ministry with Glenmary Home Missioners.
Rev. Ravi Rayappa Gudipalli, relieved of his responsibilities as associate pastor of St. Joseph Church in Fayetteville and St. John the Evangelist Church in Huntsville to become administrator of Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Booneville and St. Jude Thaddeus Church in Waldron.
Rev. John K. Antony relieved of his responsibilities as pastor of St. John the Evangelist Church in Huntsville. He remains pastor of St. Joseph Church in Fayetteville.
Rev. Les Farley appointed administrator of St. John the Evangelist Church in Huntsville. He remains associate pastor of St. Raphael Church in Springdale.
Rev. Alejandro Puello, to be ordained May 26, appointed associate pastor of St. Raphael Church in Springdale.
Rev. Juan Manjarrez, to be ordained May 26, appointed associate pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Church in Rogers.
Rev. François Pellissier, GHM, relieved of his responsibilities as sacramental minister of St. Jude Thaddeus Church in Waldron and as temporary administrator and sacramental minister of St. Andrew Church in Danville to continue his ministry with Glenmary Home Missioners.
Rev. James Melnick appointed administrator of St. Andrew Church in Danville. He remains associate pastor of St. Joseph Church in Conway.
Rev. Joseph Archibong relieved of his responsibilities as associate pastor of Immaculate Conception Church in Fort Smith and St. Leo Church in Hartford to become associate pastor of St. Joseph Church in Conway.
Rev. Charles Thessing relieved of this responsibilities as pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Morrilton to become pastor of St. Michael Church in West Memphis and Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Crawfordsville.
Msgr. Jack D. Harris relieved of his responsibilities as pastor of St. Michael Church in West Memphis and Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Crawfordsville to become pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Morrilton.
Rev. Eugene Luke, OSB, appointed sacramental minister of St. Anthony Church in Ratcliff. He remains pastor of St. Joseph Church in Paris.
Rev. Mauricio Carrasco, to be ordained May 26, appointed associate pastor of St. Theresa Church in Little Rock.
Rev. Mathew Vianney Malapati Santhaiah appointed from administrator to pastor of St. James Church in Searcy, St. Richard Church in Bald Knob and St. Albert Church in Heber Springs.
Rev. Arokiasamy Madhichetty Irudayaraj appointed from administrator to pastor of St. Peter Church in Wynne and St. Mary Church in McCrory.
Rev. Rajasekhar Chappidi appointed from administrator to pastor of St. Mark Church in Monticello, Holy Child of Jesus Church in Dumas, Good Shepherd Church in Fordyce and St. Mary Church in McGehee.
Rev. Patrick Watikha, AJ, appointed from administrator to pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Charleston.
Effective June 29
Rev. William F. Thomas relieved of his responsibilities as pastor of St. Mary of the Spring Church in Hot Springs to begin his retirement.
Rev. Innocent Okore relieved of his responsibilities as administrator of St. John the Baptist Church in Malvern and St. Mary Church in Arkadelphia to become pastor of St. Mary Church in Hot Springs.
Rev. Babu Rao Battula relieved of his responsibilities as associate pastor of St. Stephen Church in Bentonville to become administrator of St. Mary Church in Arkadelphia and St. John the Baptist Church in Malvern.
Rev. Michael Bass relieved of his responsibilities as associate pastor of St. Theresa Church, to become associate pastor of Immaculate Conception Church in North Little Rock and to celebrate Latin Masses in Northern Arkansas.
Rev. Christopher Okeke appointed to celebrate Latin Masses in Northern Arkansas. He remains associate pastor of St. Peter the Fisherman Church in Mountain Home.
Effective Aug. 1
Rev. Andrew Hart, to be ordained July 21, appointed associate pastor of Immaculate Conception Church in Fort Smith.
Rev. Anil Thomas, SVD, appointed from administrator to pastor of St. Peter Church and St. Raphael Church in Pine Bluff.
Rev. Alphonse Gollapalli appointed from administrator to pastor of Our Lady of Good Hope in Hope and St. Martin Church in Nashville.
