Published: January 26, 2008 01:38 am            

CHURCH MERGERS: Five area priests receive pastor assignments

Five area priests have received new appointments as a result of church mergers in the Journey in Faith and Grace.

Over the past few weeks, The Most Rev. Edward U. Kmiec, bishop of the Diocese of Buffalo, announced local pastor placements, as mergers and closings continue.

• The Rev. John J. Leising was named senior parochial vicar at Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Harris Hill. Previously, Leising was the pastor at St. Bridget in Newfane and Our Lady of the Rosary in Wilson.

• The Rev. Robert A. Wozniak was appointed pastor of the new parish formed by the merger of St. Bridget in Newfane, St. Charles Borromeo in Olcott and Our Lady of the Rosary in Wilson. Prior to this appointment, Wozniak served as pastor at St. Edmund Parish in Tonawanda.

• The Rev. James A. Waite previously served as administrator of St. John the Baptist Parish in Lockport. He was named pastor of the same church, but with the addition of the merged parish of St. Mary of Gasport. Waite’s assignment is effective June 21.

• The Rev. Joseph E. Vatter will now be the pastor of the new community formed from the merger of three parishes: St. Stephen in Middleport, as well as St. Mary and Sacred Heart of Jesus, both in Medina. Vatter’s appointment is effective July 12.

• Beginning March 31, The Rev. James F. Hassett will be the pastor at two churches in Niagara and Orleans counties. St. Patrick in Barker and St. Joseph in Lyndonville will link for a year before merging.

All of these appointments are for a term of six years. Some appointments are already in effect, while others will take place over the next few months.

When two parishes merge, the position of pastor is open to any priest for application. Priests who were pastors in the original churches are not guaranteed a job in a merged parish that results.

For current parish changes, visit www.buffalodiocese.org/directory.

        

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