This story (originally published March 18, 2024) was updated with new appointments and announcements on June 19, 2024.
The Most Reverend Luis Rafael Zarama, Bishop of Raleigh, is pleased to convey the following official appointments and announcements:
Effective June 3, 2024
Reverend John L. Gillespie, a retired priest of the Diocese of Raleigh, is appointed administrator of St. Paul Parish in New Bern.
Announcement
Bishop Luis Rafael Zarama expresses his sincere appreciation to Reverend Edward J. Burch for his service as interim administrator of St. Paul Parish in New Bern.
Effective June 14, 2024
Reverend Emmanuel Mandona, C.I.C.M., Administrator of Maria Reina de las Americas Parish in Mount Olive and the Mission of Santa Teresa del Niño Jesús in Beulaville, has been reassigned by his community.
Effective June 25, 2024
Pastors
Reverend Mark J. Betti, Pastor of St. Brendan the Navigator Parish in Shallotte, is appointed for an additional six-year term as Pastor.
Reverend Monsignor David D. Brockman, Pastor of Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral in Raleigh, is appointed for an additional six-year term as Pastor.
Reverend Michael E. Coveyou, Pastor of St. Ann Parish in Fayetteville, is appointed Pastor of St. Mary Magdalene Parish in Apex.
Very Reverend John J. Forbes, V.F., Pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Pinehurst and Dean of the Fayetteville Deanery, is appointed for an additional six-year term as Pastor.
Reverend Christopher S. Koehn, Pastor of St. Mary Magdalene Parish in Apex, is appointed Pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Raleigh.
Reverend Albert Lelo Luemba Tamba, C.I.C.M., a member of the Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, is appointed Pastor of Saints Mary and Edward Parish in Roxboro.
Reverend Rafael A. Leon Valencia, Pastor of St. James Parish in Henderson and the Mission of St. Joseph the Worker in Warrenton, is appointed Pastor of St. Thomas More Parish in Chapel Hill.
Reverend Joseph G. Mulroney, Pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Dunn, is appointed for an additional six-year term as Pastor.
Reverend Monsignor Joseph Kazibwe Ntuwa, Pastor of All Saints Parish in Hampstead, is appointed for an additional six-year term as Pastor.
Reverend William H. Rodriguez, Pastor of Saints Mary and Edward Parish in Roxboro, is appointed Pastor of St. James Parish in Henderson and the Mission of St. Joseph the Worker in Warrenton.
Reverend Ian VanHeusen, Priest in Residence at St. Peter Parish in Greenville and Priest Campus Minister at East Carolina and Campbell Universities, will be dedicated full-time to Campus Ministry and no longer serve as Priest in Residence at St. Peter Parish.
Administrators
Very Reverend Randy V. Gonzales, C.I.C.M., V.F., Pastor of Transfiguration of Jesus Parish in Wallace and Dean of the Newton Grove Deanery, is additionally appointed interim Administrator of St. Mary Parish in Goldsboro.
Reverend Roger Malonda Nyimi, Administrator of St. Stanislaus Parish in Castle Hayne and St. Joseph Parish in Burgaw, is appointed to an additional year-long term as Administrator.
Reverend Matthew Nwafor, Parochial Vicar at St. Catherine of Siena in Wake Forest, is appointed Administrator of St. Ann Parish in Fayetteville.
Reverend Erik R. Reyes, Parochial Vicar at Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral in Raleigh, is appointed Administrator of Mother of Mercy Parish in Washington.
Reverend John Curran, LC, a member of the Legionaries of Christ currently serving as temporary administrator of St. Matthew Parish in Durham, is appointed administrator of St. Matthew Parish in Durham.
Parochial Vicars
Reverend Francis Xavier Kayondo, a Priest of the Diocese of Fort Portal, Uganda, is appointed Parochial Vicar at St. Mary Magdalene Parish in Apex.
Reverend John Paul Murangi, a Priest of the Diocese of Fort Portal, Uganda, is appointed Parochial Vicar at St. Brendan the Navigator Parish in Shallotte.
Reverend Juan Manuel Díaz Álvarez, a Priest of the Diocese of Neiva, Colombia, is appointed Parochial Vicar at Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral in Raleigh.
Reverend Cong Viet Le, newly ordained to the sacred priesthood on June 1, is appointed Parochial Vicar at St. Mark Parish in Wilmington.
Reverend Ross T. Williams, newly ordained to the sacred priesthood on June 1, is appointed Parochial Vicar at St. Bernadette Parish in Fuquay-Varina.
Varia
Very Reverend Michael J. Burbeck, VG, Pastor of St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Cary and Vicar General of the Diocese of Raleigh, is appointed full-time Vicar General.
Reverend Roch T. Drozdzik, Pastor of St. Mary Parish in Goldsboro, is granted a leave of absence to attend to family needs in Poland.
Very Reverend Michael G. Schuetz, V.F., Pastor of Mother of Mercy Parish in Washington, Promoter of Vocations, and Dean of the New Bern Deanery, is appointed full-time Director of Vocations, responsible for seminarian formation and vocation promotions, with residence at St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Cary.
Announcements
Bishop Luis Rafael Zarama expresses his sincere appreciation to the following priests for their generous priestly ministry:
Reverend Jeffrey A. Bowker, for his dedicated service as Director of Seminarian Formation.
Reverend Monsignor Michael G. Clay, Pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Raleigh, retires from active ministry and will have residence in New Bern.
Effective July 1, 2024
Reverend Mr. Thomas Elitz, S.J., a member of the Society of Jesus, USA East Province, upon ordination to the priesthood, is appointed Parochial Vicar at St. Raphael the Archangel parish in Raleigh.
Revered Stephen Planning, S.J., Parochial Vicar at Saint Raphael Parish in Raleigh, is assigned outside of the Diocese of Raleigh by his religious community.
Effective July 2, 2024
Very Reverend Scott E. McCue, V.F., Pastor of St. Thomas More Parish in Chapel Hill and Dean of the Piedmont Deanery, is appointed Pastor of St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Cary.
Effective August 14, 2024
Reverend Basile Sede Noujio, a Priest of the Diocese of Buea, Cameroon, is appointed Parochial Vicar at St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Wake Forest.
Effective August 23, 2024
Reverend Joseph Ita Sam, C.M., a Member of the Congregation of the Mission, Nigerian Province (the Vincentians), is appointed part-time Parochial Vicar at St. Francis Parish in Raleigh.