Key priest changes announced for parishes across Anchorage Archdiocese

CatholicAnchor.org
Archbishop Roger Schwietz announced several key pastoral changes involving leadership in three large parishes of the Anchorage Archdiocese as well as several other parishes in more outlying areas.

In two separate April letters to clergy and parish leaders across the archdiocese, Archbishop Schwietz announced that in Anchorage St. Benedict Church, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, Our Lady of Guadalupe Co-Cathedral, Holy Cross Church will all be under new leadership effective July 1. Additionally, Sacred Heart Church in Wasilla, Our Lady of the Lake in Big Lake, St. Christopher in Willow and the Catholic missions in Bristol Bay will all be under new pastoral leadership.

Father Leo Walsh, current pastor of St. Benedict, will be heading to Rome for three years to study canon law for the archdiocese’s tribunal, the local church court that deals with annulments and other matters of church law.

Father Walsh holds a doctorate in sacred theology from the Angelicum in Rome.

Archbishop Schwietz said the archdiocese is “very blessed to now be able to turn to Father Walsh, as a scholar, to undertake this multi-year academic program in canon law on behalf of the needs of our tribunal.”

Currently the Anchorage Archdiocese utilizes a priest from the Juneau Diocese, Father Pat Travers, to run its tribunal.

Father Tom Lilly, longtime pastor of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, will take over leadership of St. Benedict and its school Lumen Christi High School. Father Lilly will continue serving as vicar general, the number two position for the archdiocese under Archbishop Schwietz.

Father Steven Moore, who has shown “extraordinary dedication to our archdiocese,” will step down as pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Archbishop Schwietz said.

Father Moore has taken on “a number of timely and critical roles upon my personal request,” Archbishop Schwietz said. “Prior to his current assignment as pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe, for instance, Father Moore stepped in to serve as our chief operating officer/chief financial officer during a very critical time, including successfully leading the EPA clean-up of the former Copper Valley School site.”

Most recently, Father Moore was assigned to Our Lady of Guadalupe “with the intention of Father serving the co-cathedral for many years,” Archbishop Schwietz added.

Due to an “extraordinary offer” by the Vincentian religious order in Rome to establish a long-time commitment of priests in the Anchorage Archdiocese, Archbishop Schwietz decided to appoint Father Moore as pastor of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, where he will work with Father Patrick Brosamer, the parochial vicar there.

“Father Moore will turn Our Lady of Guadalupe over to the Vincentians effective May 2 and take a well-deserved interim sabbatical” before taking over at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Archbishop Schwietz explained.

The letter notes that Vincentian priest Father Andrew Bellisario will become pastor of the co-cathedral with fellow Vincentian Father Pedro Delgado remaining as parochial vicar.

In addition to leading the co-cathedral the Vincentians will also establish an outreach to the Hispanic community throughout the Archdiocese with the expectation of a third Vincentian priest arriving later this year, Archbishop Schwietz explained. Together the priests will form a community and reside at the co-cathedral rectory.

“We are extremely blessed by and welcome the Vincentians to the Archdiocese in this long-term ministry together,” Archbishop Schwietz said.

In Wasilla, Father Joseph McGilloway will move from Holy Cross Church in Anchorage and take over for Father Scott Garrett as pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Wasilla. Father McGilloway will also serve as canonical pastor for Big Lake, Willow, Talkeetna and Trapper Creek. Assisting him will be Father Mark Stronach, a Benedictine monk from Mount Angel Abbey in Oregon. Father Stonach, who served temporarily at Sacred Heart and at St. Mary Church in Kodiak, will move to Our Lady of the Lake Church in Big Lake as he serves as parochial vicar under Father McGilloway. He will also assist at the other parishes in the Mat-Su Valley, particularly in Willow. Father Stronach is considering becoming a diocesan priest for the Anchorage Archdiocese.

Father Garrett will resume pastoral duties to the people of Bristol Bay as pastor of Holy Rosary Church in Dillingham and St. Theresa Mission in Naknek and King Salmon. Father Garrett served in this capacity five years ago. He is a pilot and will resume flying to several villages to minister and provide sacraments to geographically isolated Catholic communities.

Father Andrew Lee will end his assignment in Big Lake, Willow and Trapper Creek to replace Father McGilloway as parochial vicar at Holy Cross Church in Anchorage. Father Lee is a member of the Korean Missionary Society based out of Seoul. He has accepted a life-long missionary assignment to minister in Alaska.

“I believe that Father Lee will be a perfect fit for the parish,” Archbishop Schwietz said, “and hope that he will serve there for many years to come.”

Archbishop Schwietz thanked the pastors involved in the key moves for agreeing to these new assignments for the good of the archdiocese.

“All of these priests have agreed voluntarily to make these changes which I requested,” Archbishop Schwietz concluded, “and I am deeply appreciative.”

To parishioners, he added that he understands that change can be difficult.

“Please pray for those involved, so that an attitude of Christian love will be the response to all these moves,” Archbishop Schwietz wrote. “It is with gratitude and confidence in the Holy Spirit that I commend these devoted priests and parishes to our Lord.”

The assignments will be for six years with the possibility of an additional six years.