37 New Assignments Announced for Diocese of Worcester

Four pastors to retire and four first time pastors among the list

June 19, 2014, WORCESTER, MA –Most Reverend Robert J. McManus, S.T.D., Bishop of Worcester, announced the following 37 clergy assignments which will be effective July 1, 2014 unless otherwise noted. The assignments include four pastors who are retiring; four priests receiving their first assignments as pastors; seven pastors who are moving to new parishes; four priests who will administer a second parish; two pastors who will assume additional diocesan responsibilities; fourteen priests with new assignments as associate pastors or in sacramental ministry; and two priests who are leaving the Diocese of Worcester for ministry elsewhere.

Four Pastors to Retire

Rev. John A. Dwyer, from pastor of St. Boniface Parish, Lunenburg, to retirement.








Rev. Thaddeus X. Stachura, from pastor of Our Lady of Czestochowa Parish, Worcester, to retirement







Rev. Joseph F. Szwach, from pastor of St. Andrew Bobola Parish, Dudley, to retirement.








Rev. Thomas V. Walsh, from pastor of St. John, the Guardian of Our Lady Parish, Clinton, to retirement.

Four priests who have been associate pastors will be first time pastors:

Rev. Michael J. Clements, from associate pastor of St. Joseph Parish, Fitchburg, to pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Fitchburg while remaining chaplain to the Fitchburg Fire Dept.









Rev. Edwin Montaña, from associate pastor of St. Anthony of Padua, Fitchburg, to pastor of Our Lady Immaculate Parish, Athol, St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Athol, and St. Peter Parish, Petersham.







Rev. Ryszard Polek, from associate pastor of Our Lady of Czestochowa Parish, Worcester, to pastor of Our Lady of Czestochowa Parish, Worcester.







Rev. Nelson J. Rivera, from associate pastor of St. John Paul II Parish, Southbridge, to pastor of St. Joan of Arc Parish, Worcester.

Rev. Paul M. Bomba, from pastor of St. Theresa Parish, Blackstone, to pastor of St. Joseph Parish, Auburn.







Rev. Robert D. Bruso, from pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Fitchburg, to pastor of St. Cecilia Parish, Leominster.







Rev. Thomas H. Hultquist, from Special Ministry, to pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish, Lancaster.







Rev. Krzysztof Korcz, from pastor of Our Lady Immaculate Parish, Athol, St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Athol, and St. Peter Parish, Petersham, to pastor of St. Andrew Bobola Parish, Dudley.







Rev. Daniel R. Mulcahy, from pastor of St. Augustine Parish, Millville, to pastor of St. Brigid Parish, Millbury, and Our Lady of the Assumption Parish, Millbury.







Rev. Joseph M. Nally, from Minister to Priests, Diocese of Worcester, to pastor of St. John the Guardian of Our Lady Parish, Clinton.







Rev. Edward D. Niccolls, from pastor of St. Joseph Parish, Auburn, to pastor of St. George Parish, Worcester.

Four priests will be the administrator of a second parish;

Rev. Lawrence J. Esposito, to administrator of St. Augustine Parish, Millville, while remaining pastor of Good Shepherd Parish, Linwood. Rev. D. Timothy O’Mara, to administrator of St. Theresa Parish, Blackstone, while remaining pastor of St. Paul Parish, Blackstone.





Rev. Richard A. Jakubauskas, from associate pastor of St. Joan of Arc Parish, Worcester, and St. Peter Parish, Worcester, to administrator of St. John the Baptist in East Brookfield and St. Joseph Parish in North Brookfield.








Rev. Dennis J. O’Brien, to administrator of St. Boniface Parish, Lunenburg, while remaining pastor of Our Lady of the Lake Parish, Leominster.

Two pastors will assume additional diocesan responsibilities:

Rev. James J. Caldarella, to Minister of Priests, Diocese of Worcester, while remaining pastor of Prince of Peace Parish, Princeton.





Rev. Walter J. Riley, to Director of Priest Personnel, Diocese of Worcester, while remaining pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish, Worcester and Chaplain to the Worcester Fire Department.

Fourteen priests have new assignments as associate pastor or in sacramental ministry:

Rev. Eric K. Asante, from associate pastor St. George Parish, Worcester, to Chaplain of the Diocesan African Ministry, with residence at St. Joan of Arc, Worcester.










Rev. James Boland, newly ordained to associate pastor of St. Luke the Evangelist Parish, Westboro.







Rev. John F. Hamm, from associate pastor of St. Bernadette Parish, Northborough, to associate pastor of St. Augustine Parish, Millville, and Good Shepherd Parish, Linwood.








Rev. Juan G. Herrera, from associate pastor of St. Louis Parish, Webster, to associate pastor of St. John Paul II Parish, Southbridge.







Rev. Jesús E. Martínez, to Director of Prison Ministry at the Worcester House of Correction and associate pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Worcester, with residence at St. Paul Cathedral in Worcester.









Rev. Edward Michalski, from associate pastor of St. Cecilia Parish, Leominster, to associate pastor of Our Lady of Czestochowa Parish, Worcester.







Rev. Anthony Mpagi, from Chaplain of the Diocesan African Ministry, to associate pastor of St. Boniface Parish, Lunenburg.








Rev. Thien X. Nguyen, from associate pastor of St. Leo Parish, Leominster, to associate pastor of St. Theresa Parish, Blackstone.







Rev. Charles Omolo, newly ordained to associate pastor of St. Peter Parish, Worcester, effective August 1.








Rev. Donald C. Ouellette, from Special Ministry, to associate pastor of St. John the Baptist in East Brookfield and St. Joseph Parish in North Brookfield.






Rev. Miguel A. Pagán, from pastor of St. Joan of Arc Parish, Worcester and Diocesan Director of Hispanic Ministry, to assistant chaplain for Pastoral Care at Saint Vincent Hospital, Worcester and to the Hispanic Ministry at St. Louis Parish, Webster, with residence at St. Paul Cathedral.








Rev. Mark A. Rainville, from associate pastor of St. Joseph Parish, Charlton, to associate pastor of St. Leo Parish, Leominster.










Rev. Jonathan J. Slavinskas, from associate pastor of St. John Paul II Parish, Southbridge, to St. Joseph Parish, Charlton.






Rev. Patrick Ssekyole, from associate pastor of St. Joseph Parish, Auburn, to sacramental assistant, with residence at St. George Parish, Worcester.

Two priests are leaving the Diocese of Worcester for ministry elsewhere:

Rev. Kevin F. Hartford, from pastor of St. Joseph Parish, North Brookfield, to consecrated life.








Rev. Paul M. LaPalme, from pastor of St. Brigid Parish, Millbury, and Our Lady of the Assumption Parish, Millbury, to ministry in the Diocese of Alexandria in Louisiana.





According to the most recent Diocesan Directory published in August, 2013 there are 127 active diocesan priests in the Diocese of Worcester and 44 retired priests.