Archdiocese announces clergy assignments

The Archdiocese of Anchorage-Juneau saw a handful of priests transfer to new locations throughout the region upon the order of its archbishop.

Archbishop Andrew E. Bellisario, C.M., assigned the following priests to new parishes within the diocese: Father Michael Ko, KMS; Father Jose Thomas, MCBS; Father Steve Gallagher; and Father Madison Hayes, according to Vice Chancellor Matt Meggs, director of operations for the archdiocese.

Fr. Ko, the former parochial vicar for St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Anchorage, is now the parochial administrator for Sacred Heart in Haines and St. Therese of the Child Jesus in Skagway. He is a member of the Korean Missionary Society.

Fr. Thomas, a member of the Missionary Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament in India, was parochial vicar at St. Paul the Apostle Parish in Juneau. He is now a parochial administrator for St. Rose of Lima in Wrangell and St. Catherine of Siena in Petersburg.

Fr. Gallagher, who previously served Southeast parishes St. Rose of Lima and St. Catherine of Siena, was reassigned as parochial vicar of St. Paul the Apostle Parish. Currently, he is helping St. Gregory Nazianzen Parish in Sitka.

Fr. Hayes is assigned to Sacred Heart Parish in Wasilla, where he will also assist at Our Lady of the Lake Parish in Big Lake, St. Bernard Parish in Talkeetna, St. Philip Benizi Mission in Trapper Creek, and St. Christopher Mission in Willow.