Official Appointments
Effective July 1, 2025
(unless noted otherwise)

Vicars Forane (Deans)

Very Reverend Daniel J. Bergbower is re-appointed to a five-year term as Vicar Forane (Dean) of the Springfield Deanery, while retaining duties as Pastor of Saint Agnes Parish, Springfield, Illinois.

Very Reverend Jeffrey H. Goeckneris re-appointed to a five-year term as Vicar Forane (Dean) of the Alton Deanery, while retaining duties as Pastor of Saint Boniface Parish, Edwardsville, Illinois; and President and Chaplain, Father McGivney Catholic High School, Glen Carbon, Illinois.

Very Reverend Scott A. Snideris re-appointed to a five-year term as Vicar Forane (Dean) of the Quincy Deanery, while retaining duties as Pastor of Saint Brigid Parish, Liberty, Illinois; Saint Edward Parish, Mendon, Illinois; and Saint Joseph Parish, Quincy, Illinois.

Very Reverend John M. Titusis re-appointed to a five-year term as Vicar Forane (Dean) of the Mattoon Deanery, while retaining duties as Pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish, Mattoon, and Saint Columcille Parish, Sullivan, Illinois.

Reverend Martin Smithis appointed to a five-year term as Vicar Forane (Dean) of the Jerseyville Deanery, while retaining duties as Pastor of Saint Francis Xavier Parish, Jerseyville, Illinois; Holy Ghost Parish, Jerseyville, Illinois; Saint Patrick Parish, Grafton, Illinois; and Saint Mary Parish, Fieldon, Illinois; and Associate Vocation Director for the Jerseyville Deanery.

Pastor

Reverend Mark W. Tracyis appointed Pastor of Christ the King Parish, Springfield, Illinois, and Episcopal Vicar for Catholic Schools in the Springfield Deanery, from Pastor of Holy Family Parish, Decatur, Illinois, and Chaplain of Saint Teresa High School, Decatur, while retaining duties as a Chaplain in the United States Army Reserve.

Reverend Bruce E. Scott is appointed Pastor of Holy Family Parish, Decatur, Illinois, from Parochial Vicar of Saint  Francis Solanus Parish, Quincy, Illinois.

Parochial Administrator

Reverend Zachraiah Patibandla, a priest of the Diocese of Guntur, India, with the consent of his Bishop, is appointed Parochial Administrator of Saint Jude Parish, Rochester, Illinois, while retaining duties as Chaplain, Jacksonville State Correctional Facility, Jacksonville, Illinois, with temporary leave of absence from his assignment as Parochial Vicar, Our Saviour Parish, Jacksonville, and Associate Chaplain, Routt Catholic High School, Jacksonville; effective May 28, 2025, until August 8, 2025. 

Reverend Tomy Philip, S.A.C., with the consent of his Provincial Superior, is appointed Parochial Administrator of Saint Thomas the Apostle Parish, Newton, Illinois, and Saint Mary of the Assumption Parish, Sainte Marie, Illinois, from Parochial Vicar, Blessed Sacrament Parish, Springfield, Illinois.

Parochial Vicar

Reverend Troy P. Niemerg is appointed Parochial Vicar of Saint Agnes Parish, Springfield, Illinois, and Theology Teacher at Sacred Heart-Griffin High School, Springfield, Illinois; from Graduate Studies for the Licentiate in Sacred Theology (S.T.L.) in Systematic Theology at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (The Angelicum), Rome, Italy, and residence at the Pontifical North American College, Rome, Italy.

Reverend Charles W. Delano, newly ordained, is appointed Parochial Vicar of Holy Family Parish, Decatur, Illinois, and Chaplain, Saint Teresa High School, Decatur, Illinois.

Reverend Ryan J. Kehoe, newly ordained, is appointed Parochial Vicar of Blessed Sacrament Parish, Springfield, Illinois.

Reverend Robin Kwan, S.J.C., upon presentation by his Superior General, is appointed Parochial Vicar of Saint Katharine Drexel Parish, Springfield, Illinois, and Chaplain and Director of Campus Ministry, University of Illinois at Springfield.

Reverend Hilary Obor, a priest of the Diocese of Nnewi, Nigeria, with the consent of his Bishop, is appointed Parochial Vicar of Saint Francis Xavier Parish, Jerseyville, Illinois; Saint Patrick Parish, Grafton, Illinois; Holy Ghost Parish, Jerseyville, Illinois; and Saint Mary Parish, Fieldon, Illinois.

Reverend Godwin Tindyebwa Muhangi, a priest of the Archdiocese of Mbarara, Uganda, with the consent of his Archbishop, is appointed Parochial Vicar of Saint Elizabeth Parish, Granite City, Illinois. 

Chaplain

Reverend Daniel G. McGrath is appointed Chaplain at Sacred Heart-Griffin High School, Springfield, Illinois, from Associate Chaplain, Sacred Heart-Griffin High School, Springfield, Illinois, while retaining duties as Parochial Vicar, Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Springfield, Illinois.

Diocesan Curia

Mister James A. Bock, Jr.,is appointed Director of the Department for Canonical and Pastoral Services, while retaining duties as Chancellor and General Counsel, Delegate for Legal Professionals, Bishop’s Liaison to the Presbyteral Council, Bishop’s Liaison to the Special Panel on Clergy Misconduct, and Bishop’s Liaison to the Diocesan Review Board, effective September 1, 2025.

Diocesan Tribunal

Reverend Dominic B. Vahling is appointed Vicar Judicial, Director of the Office for Tribunal Services, Delegate for Matrimonial Concerns, and Master of Ceremonies and Priest-Secretary to the Diocesan Bishop, with residence at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Springfield, from Graduate Studies in Canon Law at Saint Paul’s University, Ottawa, Canada, effective September 1, 2025.

Promoter of Vocations

Reverend Zachary D. Samples is appointed Promoter of Vocations, effective August 26, 2025, with Residence at Blessed Sacrament Parish, Springfield, Illinois, effective July 1, 2025; from Associate Promoter of Vocations, effective August 26, 2025; from Chaplain, Sacred Heart-Griffin High School, Springfield, Illinois; and from residence at Saint Agnes Parish, Springfield, Illinois, effective July 1, 2025.

Seminary Faculty

Reverend Christopher A. House is appointed Formation Dean and Director of Pastoral Formation at Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology, St. Meinrad, Indiana, from Pastor, Christ the King Parish, Springfield, effective July 1, 2025; and from Vicar Judicial and Director of the Department for Canonical and Pastoral Services, effective September 1, 2025; while retaining duties as Judge, Diocesan Tribunal; member of the College of Consultors; Censor librorum; and Section Prior, Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, Diocese of Springfield Section.

Canonical Administrator

Reverend Robert P. Johnson is appointed Canonical Administrator of Saint John Neumann School, Maryville, Illinois, while retaining duties as Pastor of Mother of Perpetual Help Parish, Maryville, Illinois; Associate Vocation Director for the Alton Deanery; and Chaplain/Director of Campus Ministry, Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville.

Sabbatical Leave

Reverend Paweł Łuczak is granted permission for a Sabbatical for Continuing Education and Professional Development, with temporary leave from his duties as Pastor of Saint Thomas the Apostle Parish, Newton, Illinois, and Saint Mary of the Assumption Parish, Sainte Marie, Illinois.

Appointment Concluded

Very Reverend Thomas Hagstromconcludes his appointment as Vicar Forane (Dean) of the Jerseyville Deanery, while retaining duties as Pastor Saint John Paul II Parish, Mt. Olive, Illinois; Saint Michael Parish, Staunton, Illinois; and Sacred Heart Parish, Livingston, Illinois.

Reverend Mariadas Chatla, a priest of the Diocese of Guntur, India, concludes his appointment as Parochial Vicar, Saint Paul Parish, Highland, Illinois, as he is being recalled by his Bishop to the Diocese of Gunter.

Reverend D. Patrick Gibbons concludes his appointment as Canonical Administrator of Saint John Neumann School, Maryville, Illinois, while retaining duties as Pastor of Saint Cecilia Parish, Glen Carbon, Illinois.

Reverend Brendan Gibson, S.J.C., with the consent of his Superior General, concludes his appointment as Chaplain and Director of Campus Ministry,  University of Illinois at Springfield, while retaining duties as Parochial Vicar of Saint Katharine Drexel Parish, Springfield, Illinois, and Spiritual Director, Springfield  Mystical Rose Comitium for the Legion of Mary.

Reverend Kevin Mann, S.J.C., concludes his appointment as Parochial Vicar of Saint Katharine Drexel Parish, Springfield, Illinois, to become Novice Director for the Canons Regular of St. John Cantius.

Reverend Daren J. Zehnle concludes his appointment as Bishop’s Delegate for Matrimonial Concerns, while retaining duties as Chaplain, Director of Campus Ministry, and Assistant Professor of Theology, Quincy University, Quincy, Illinois; Director of the Office for Divine Worship and the Catechumenate; Adjutant Judicial Vicar, Diocesan Tribunal; Post-Graduate Studies in Liturgy, Liturgical Institute, University of Saint Mary of the Lake, Mundelein, Illinois; and Censor librorum, effective September 1, 2025.