Father Swiderski to retire; 22 appointments announced


Father Stanislas Swiderski

Bishop Anthony B. Taylor announced the following pastoral appointments.

Effective May 1

  • Rev. Kevin Atunzu relieved of his responsibilities as administrator of Trinity Junior High School in Fort Smith. He remains pastor of Christ the King Church in Fort Smith until Aug. 5.
  • Rev. Andrew Hart appointed administrator and chaplain of Trinity Junior High School in Fort Smith. He remains associate pastor of Immaculate Conception Church in Fort Smith (and St. Leo Church in Hartford until June 11)

Effective June 11

  • Rev. Thomas Marks relieved of his responsibilities as pastor of Immaculate Conception Church in Blytheville, St. Matthew Church in Osceola and St. Norbert Church in Marked Tree to become temporary sacramental minister of St. Patrick Church and St. Mary Church in North Little Rock, with residence at Our Lady of the Holy Souls Church in Little Rock.
  • Rev. Felix Chirapurathel, O.Praem., relieved of his responsibilities as temporary associate pastor of Blessed Sacrament Church and Blessed John Newman University Parish in Jonesboro to become administrator of Immaculate Conception Church in Blytheville, St. Matthew Church in Osceola and St. Norbert Church in Marked Tree.
  • Rev. Les Farley relieved of his responsibilities as associate pastor of St. Raphael Church in Springdale to become priest in residence at St. Joseph Church in Fayetteville. He was relieved of his responsibilities as administrator of St. John the Evangelist Church in Huntsville, March 3.
  • Rev. James Melnick appointed from administrator to pastor of St. Augustine Church in Dardanelle and St. Andrew Church in Danville.
  • Rev. Stanislas Swiderski relieved of his responsibilities as pastor of St. Peter the Fisherman Church in Mountain Home and St. Mary Church in Mountain View to begin his retirement.
  • Rev. Norbert Rappold relieved of his responsibilities as pastor of St. Agnes Church in Mena, Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Glenwood and All Saints Church in Mount Ida to become pastor of St. Peter the Fisherman Church in Mountain Home and St. Mary Church in Mountain View.
  • Rev. Ravi Rayappa Gudipalli appointed from administrator to pastor of Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Booneville and St. Jude Thaddeus Church in Waldron.
  • Rev. Josh Stengel relieved of his responsibilities as associate pastor of Christ the King Church in Little Rock to become administrator of St. Agnes Church in Mena, Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Glenwood and All Saints Church in Mount Ida.
  • Rev. Nazarus Maduba relieved of his responsibilities as temporary sacramental minister of St. Patrick Church and St. Mary Church in North Little Rock to become associate pastor of Christ the King Church in Little Rock.

Effective Aug. 6

  • Dc. George Sanders, to be ordained a priest Aug. 3, remains administrator of St. Patrick Church and St. Mary Church in North Little Rock and as hospital chaplain.
  • Rev. John K. Antony relieved of his responsibilities as pastor of St. Joseph Church in Fayetteville to go on sabbatical with the Discalced Carmelite Friars.
  • Rev. Shaun Wesley relieved of his responsibilities as pastor of St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church in Eureka Springs and St. Anne Church in Berryville to become pastor of St. Joseph Church in Fayetteville, Our Lady of the Ozarks Shrine in Winslow and to attend Sts. Peter and Paul Chapel in Lincoln.
  • Rev. Kevin Atunzu relieved of his responsibilities as pastor of Christ the King Church in Fort Smith to become pastor of St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church in Eureka Springs and St. Anne Church in Berryville.
  • Rev. Babu Rao Battula relieved of his responsibilities as administrator of St. John the Baptist Church in Malvern and St. Mary Church in Arkadelphia to become pastor of Christ the King Church in Fort Smith.
  • Rev. Rajasekhar Chappidi relieved of his responsibilities as pastor of St. Mark Church in Monticello, Holy Child of Jesus Church in Dumas and St. Mary Church in McGehee to become pastor of St. John the Baptist Church in Malvern and St. Mary Church in Arkadelphia. He remains pastor of Good Shepherd Church in Fordyce.
  • Rev. Mark Abban, a priest of the Diocese of Cape Coast, Ghana, and student at the University of Arkansas in Monticello, to become administrator of St. Mark Church in Monticello, Holy Child of Jesus Church in Dumas and St. Mary Church in McGehee.
  • Rev. John C. Wakube, AJ, appointed associate pastor of Christ the King Church in Little Rock.
  • Rev. Joseph Ejimofor relieved of his responsibilities as pastor of Our Lady of Fatima Church in Benton to become pastor of Holy Rosary Church in Stuttgart and Sts. Cyril and Methodius Church in Slovak.
  • Rev. Chinnaiah Irudayaraj Yeddanapalli, a priest from the Diocese of Nellore, India, appointed administrator of Our Lady of Fatima Church in Benton.
  • Rev. Pius A. Iwu relieved of his responsibilities as pastor of Holy Rosary Church in Stuttgart and Sts. Cyril and Methodius Church in Slovak to become associate pastor of Immaculate Conception Church in Fort Smith and pastor of St. Leo Church in Hartford.
  • Rev. Gregory T. Luyet, JCL, relieved of his responsibilities as pastor of St. Leo Church in Hartford. He remains pastor of Immaculate Conception Church in Fort Smith.

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