On July 1, many priests are beginning new appointments announced this spring by Bishop Walkowiak. Please keep them in your prayers as they prepare to bid farewell to the communities they’ve been serving and begin their new roles. We wish to extend our deepest gratitude to our priests who have been granted senior priest status. Their many years of faithful ministry have enriched the lives of the faithful here in the diocese.
Reverend Michael J. Alber
Presently pastor of St. Patrick Parish, Portland, is appointed pastor of St. Michael the Archangel Parish, Remus.
Reverend Eugene T. Batungbacal
Presently Assistant Director for Youth and Young Adult Hispanic Ministry in the Diocese of Grand Rapids, is appointed canonical administrator of SS Peter and Paul Parish in Ionia and St. Edward Parish in Lake Odessa.
Reverend Mark F. Bauer presently canonical administrator of SS Peter and Paul Parish in Grand Rapids is appointed pastor of SS Peter and Paul Parish.
Reverend Thomas F. Boufford
Pastor of St. Michael the Archangel Parish, Remus, is granted senior priest status, effective June 30, 2025.
Reverend Douglas A. Braun
Presently pastor of St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, Muskegon Twp., is appointed pastor of St. Pius X Parish, Grandville.
Reverend Thomas J. Brown
Presently pastor of SS Peter and Paul Parish in Ionia and St. Edward Parish in Lake Odessa has been granted senior priest status, effective June 30, 2025.
Reverend James A. Chelich
Pastor of St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, Grand Rapids, is granted senior priest status, effective June 30, 2025.
Reverend Daniel R. DePew
Pastor of St. Mary-St. Jerome Parish, Custer, and St. John Cantius Parish, Free Soil, is granted senior priest status, effective July 31, 2025.
Reverend Stephen J. Durkee
Presently pastor of St. Pius X Parish, Grandville, is appointed pastor of St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, Grand Rapids.
Reverend Christopher T. Epplett presently pastor of St. Alphonsus Parish in Grand Rapids and canonical administrator of Blessed Sacrament Parish in Grand Rapids is appointed pastor of Blessed Sacrament Parish.
Reverend Steven W. Geerling presently canonical administrator of St. Francis de Sales Parish in Norton Shores and St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Muskegon, is appointed pastor of St. Francis de Sales Parish and St. Michael the Archangel Parish.
Reverend Thomas Dung Ha, C.Ss.R., a member of the Redemptorist Province of Extra Patriam, is appointed pastor of Our Lady of La-Vang Parish in Wyoming, effective July 14, 2025.
Very Reverend Ronald D. Hutchinson
Presently rector of the Basilica of Saint Adalbert, Grand Rapids, and pastor of St. Mary Parish, Grand Rapids, is appointed pastor of St. James Parish, Montague, Our Lady of the Assumption Parish, Rothbury, and St. John the Baptist Mission, Claybanks.
Reverend David A. Jameson
Presently parochial vicar of Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish is appointed administrator of Sacred Heart Parish, Evart, St. Agnes Parish, Marion, and St. Philip Neri Parish, Reed City.
Reverend Kyle J. Kilpatrick
Presently pastor of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Parish, Muskegon, is appointed pastor of the Basilica of Saint Adalbert, Grand Rapids, and St. Mary Parish, Grand Rapids.
Reverend Victor Kynam
Presently pastor of Our Lady of La-Vang Parish, Wyoming is appointed pastor of Holy Redeemer Parish, Jenison.
Very Reverend Colin J. Mulhall, J.C.L., is appointed co-chaplain of Catholic Central High School in Grand Rapids. This appointment is in addition to his current assignment as vicar general of the diocese.
Reverend Daniel R. Orris Jr. is appointed parochial vicar of St. Isidore the Laborer Parish.
Reverend Phong Q. Pham
In response to the pastoral needs of the Diocese of Thanh Hoa, and especially to accompany priests and seminarians studying in the United States, Father Phong Pham’s bishop has appointed him to a new assignment outside the Diocese of Grand Rapids, effective July 1, 2025. Consequently, Father Phong’s appointment as pastor of Holy Redeemer Parish, Jenison, will conclude on June 30, 2025. We thank Father Phong for his three years of service as pastor of Holy Redeemer Parish and pray for God’s blessings in his new ministry.
Reverend David J. Sacha
Presently parochial vicar of the Basilica of Saint Adalbert, Grand Rapids, and St. Mary Parish, Grand Rapids, is appointed administrator of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Muskegon.
Reverend Loc Q. Trinh
Father Loc Trinh will conclude his assignment as administrator of Sacred Heart Parish, Evart, St. Agnes Parish, Marion, and St. Philip Neri Parish, Reed City, effective June 30, 2025. Please keep Fr. Trinh in your prayers as he awaits his next assignment.
Reverend Logan C. Weber
Presently parochial vicar of St. Robert of Newminster Parish, Ada, is appointed administrator of St. Patrick Parish, Portland.
Reverend Jacob M. Zemaitis
Presently parochial vicar of St. Paul the Apostle Parish, Grand Rapids, is appointed administrator of St. Mary-St. Jerome Parish, Custer, and St. John Cantius, Free Soil, effective August 1, 2025
Please continue to pray for the priests of our diocese and for new vocations to the priesthood, diaconate and religious life.
