His Excellency, Most Reverend Alfred A. Schlert, has announced new clergy assignments in the Diocese of Allentown.
Each year, Bishop Schlert works with the Priest Personnel Board to make decisions on new assignments. The Board is an advisory body made up of experienced priests who are representative of the Diocese and its many regions and ministries.
New assignments are designed to meet the needs of the faithful in the Diocese’s 78 parishes, as well as fulfilling pastoral needs at college campuses, at hospitals, at diocesan high schools, and at prisons and nursing homes.
Priests can be reassigned for a number of reasons, including openings due to retirements, professional development of priests, requests from clergy members, and the need for a specific skill or talent that is a good match for a certain ministry.
The following assignments are effective Tuesday, June 16, 2026 unless otherwise noted:
Pastors Emeriti
An honorary title granted by the Bishop to a Pastor for exemplary service to the local Church.
Reverend Monsignor Edward J. Coyle, Pastor, Saint Ann Parish, Emmaus to Pastor Emeritus, Saint Ann Parish, Emmaus.
Reverend Monsignor Edward R. Domin, Parochial Vicar, Saint Jane Frances de Chantal Parish, Easton to Pastor Emeritus, Saint Jane Frances de Chantal Parish, Easton.
Retirement
Reverend Ronald P. Bowman, Chaplain, Saint Joseph Villa, Reading and Chaplain, Sacred Heart Convent, Mount Alvernia, Reading to Retired Priest of the Diocese of Allentown.
Reverend Gregory R. Karpyn, Sacramental and Pastoral Ministry, Schuylkill Deanery and Resident, Saint Patrick Parish, Pottsville to Retired Priest of the Diocese of Allentown.
Pastors
Exercises the pastoral care of the local community committed to him under the authority of the Diocesan Bishop in whose ministry of Christ he has been called to share.
Reverend Jojappa Adagatla, M.S.C., Parochial Administrator, Holy Family Parish, Minersville, to Pastor, Holy Family Parish, Minersville.
Reverend Eric J. Gruber, Pastor, Saint Joseph Parish, Summit Hill, to Pastor, Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish, Catasauqua and Saint John Fisher Parish, Catasauqua.
Reverend Abraham Ha, Parochial Administrator, Saint Nicholas Parish, Walnutport, to Pastor, Saint Nicholas Parish, Walnutport.
Reverend John A. Hutta, Parochial Administrator, Saint Theresa of the Child Jesus Parish, Hellertown, to Pastor, Saint Theresa of the Child Jesus Parish, Hellertown.
Reverend Keith R. Laskowski, Pastor, Saint Anthony of Padua Parish, Easton, and Pastor, Our Lady of Mercy Parish, Easton, to Pastor, Saint Ann Parish, Emmaus.
Reverend John S. Pendzick, Parochial Vicar, Saint Ignatius Loyola Parish, Sinking Spring, to Pastor, Saint Patrick Parish, Pottsville.
Reverend Christopher M. Zelonis, Pastor, Saints Peter and Paul Parish, Lehighton, to Pastor, Saint Charles Borromeo Parish, Ashland, and Pastor, Saint Joseph the Worker Parish, Frackville.
Parochial Administrators
Diocesan policy states that a Priest being entrusted with the pastoral care of a Parish for the first time be appointed a Parochial Administrator for at least one year.
Reverend Thomas Osei Gyau, Parochial Vicar, Saint Ambrose Parish, Schuylkill Haven, Pastoral Ministry, Geisinger – Saint Luke’s Hospital, Orwigsburg and Health Care Ministry, South Schuylkill Deanery to Parochial Administrator, Saint Joseph Parish, Summit Hill, and Rector, Shrine of Saint Therese of Lisieux, Nesquehoning.
Reverend Philip J. Maas, Parochial Vicar, Saint Thomas More Parish, Allentown, and Chaplain, Allentown Central Catholic High School, Allentown, to Parochial Administrator, Saints Peter and Paul Parish, Lehighton.
Reverend Mark R. Searles, service outside the Diocese of Allentown as Director, College Propaedeutic Year Program, Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary, Ambler, to Parochial Administrator, Saint Anthony of Padua Parish, Easton, and Parochial Administrator, Our Lady of Mercy Parish, Easton.
Canonical Pastor
Exercises the pastoral care of the local community committed to him under the authority of the Diocesan Bishop in whose ministry of Christ he has been called to share, by means of the supervision of a Parish Life Collaborator.
Reverend Monsignor William F. Glosser, V.F., Pastor, Saint Clare of Assisi Parish, Saint Clair, Pastor, Holy Cross Parish, New Philadelphia, and Vicar Forane, Schuylkill Deanery also to Canonical Pastor, Saint John XXIII Parish, Tamaqua.
Parish Life Collaborator
Diocesan Policy allows for the appointment of a Parish Life Collaborator to assist a Canonical Pastor who is already serving multiple parishes with sacramental and administrative tasks not reserved to a Priest.
Deacon Edward J. Girard, Permanent Deacon, Saint John XXIII Parish, Tamaqua, and Saint Richard Parish, Barnesville, to Parish Life Collaborator, Saint John XXIII Parish, Tamaqua, while remaining Permanent Deacon, Saint John XXIII Parish, Tamaqua.
Parochial Vicars
Assists the Pastor in the entire parochial ministry by reason of his office. A Parochial Vicar is commonly referred to as an Assistant Pastor.
Reverend Guency Isaac, Parochial Administrator, Saint Charles Borromeo Parish, Ashland and Parochial Administrator, Saint Joseph the Worker Parish, Frackville, to Parochial Vicar, Saint Ignatius Loyola Parish, Sinking Spring.
Reverend Aaron R. Scheidel, Parochial Vicar, Cathedral of Saint Catharine of Siena Parish, Allentown, to Parochial Vicar, Saint Joseph the Worker Parish, Orefield.
Specialized Ministry
A Priest to whom is entrusted in a stable manner the pastoral care, at least in part, of some community or particular group of the Christian Faithful; or a Deacon to whom an ecclesiastical office is entrusted in a stable manner.
Reverend Nikolai R. Brelinsky, Parochial Vicar, Saint Joseph the Worker Parish, Orefield to Chaplain, Allentown Central Catholic High School, Allentown, part-time Graduate Studies, School of Canon Law, The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C., and Auditor, Diocesan Tribunal while remaining in residence at Saint Joseph the Worker Parish, Orefield.
Reverend Richard Kwaku Boateng, from service in the Diocese of Sunyani, Republic of Ghana, to Prison and Nursing Home Ministry in Schuylkill Deanery and Resident, Saint Patrick Parish, Pottsville.
Reverend Monsignor Victor F. Finelli, Pastor, Saint Joseph the Worker Parish, Orefield, also to Judge, Diocesan Tribunal.
Reverend Matthew J. Kuna, Chaplain, Berks Catholic High School, and Chaplain, Saint Christopher Newman Center, Kutztown University, also to Auditor, Diocesan Tribunal.
Very Reverend Eugene P. Ritz, Judicial Vicar and Vicar for Clergy, also to Weekend Assistance at Saint John XXIII Parish, Tamaqua, while remaining in residence at Saint Joseph the Worker Parish, Orefield.
Deacon Bruno Schettini, Permanent Deacon, Saint Joseph the Worker Parish, Orefield also to Advocate, Diocesan Tribunal.
Reverend Eric N. Tolentino, Pastor, Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish, Catasauqua, and Pastor, Saint John Fisher Parish, Catasauqua to Chaplain, Saint Joseph Villa, Reading, Chaplain, Sacred Heart Convent, Mount Alvernia, Reading, Chaplain, Missionary Sisters of the Precious Blood Convent, Shillington, and Sacramental Minister, Alvernia University, Reading.
Deacon Jeffrey R. Trexler, Permanent Deacon, Saints Simon and Jude Parish, Bethlehem and Permanent Deacon, Our Lady Help of Christians Parish, Allentown also to Advocate, Diocesan Tribunal.
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