Two priests who formerly served in Arkansas are returning to the Diocese of Little Rock.
Bishop Anthony B. Taylor announced that effective March 7 Father Ravi Rayappa Gudipalli, a priest of the Diocese of Nellore, India, will be the new pastor of Church of St. John the Baptist in Hot Springs. He replaces Father Chinnaiah Irudayaraj Yeddanapalli, known as Father Y.C., who died suddenly Jan. 25.
Father Gudipalli was the pastor of Our Lady of Assumption Church in Booneville and St. Jude Thaddeus Church in Waldron until he returned to India in 2016. He had previously served at St. Joseph Church in Fayetteville, St. Raphael Church in Springdale and St. John Church in Huntsville.
Effective May 7 Father Arokiasamy “Samy” Madhichetty Irudayaraj, also priest of the Diocese of Nellore, will be the new pastor of St. Mary Church in Arkadelphia, Good Shepherd Church in Fordyce and St. John the Baptist Church in Malvern. He will replace Father Phillip A. Reaves, who will begin working full time as director of prison ministry. Before Father Samy returned to India in 2017 he was the pastor of St. Peter Church in Wynne and St. Mary Church in McCrory.
