New Pastors and Administrators

Fr. James S. Barkett

Father James S. Barkett, newly appointed pastor of St. Mary of Sorrows Parish in Fairfax, was born Nov. 28, 1963, to John and Bernadette Barkett in Phoenixville, Pa.

One of five children, his sister, Sister Elizabeth Ann, is at the St. Joseph the Worker Convent in Walton, Ky. He graduated from West Springfield High School in 1982 and the Pontifical College Josephinum in 1987. He attended Mount St. Mary's Seminary in Emmitsburg, Md., and was ordained May 18, 1991, by Arlington Bishop John R. Keating.

He was parochial vicar at St. Patrick Parish in Spotsylvania, 1991-94, and Holy Family Parish in Dale City, 1995-98. He was named diocesan director of youth activities in 1998 with residence at St. Lawrence Parish in Alexandria from 1998-99 and at St. Ann Parish in Arlington from 1999-2000.

As director of youth activities, Father Barkett coordinated a yearlong project preparing diocesan youths for World Youth Day in Rome in August 2000.

He was also chaplain of the John Paul I Council of the Knights of Columbus at Holy Family Parish while he was parochial vicar there.

He served most recently as pastor of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Lake Ridge.

Fr. Robert J. DeMartino

Father Robert J. DeMartino, newly appointed pastor of the newly erected Parish of St. Peter in Washington, Va., was born Oct. 2, 1951, in New York City, the son of Rose and Joseph DeMartino. The family moved to Virginia and became members of St. James Parish in Falls Church in 1961.

He graduated from Bishop O’Connell High School in Arlington in 1969. He received a bachelor’s degree in history from George Mason University in Fairfax and a master’s of divinity from Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Md.

He was ordained a deacon on Nov. 16, 1991, and to the priesthood by Bishop Keating on May 16, 1992.  He has served as parochial vicar at Good Shepherd Church in Mount Vernon, St. Andrew the Apostle Church in Clifton and at St. Philip Church in Falls Church. Most recently he served as administrator of the Mission of St. Peter.

Fr. Paul Eversole

Father Paul Eversole, newly appointed administrator of Our Lady of Angels Parish in Woodbridge, was born Nov. 14, 1964, in Hampton, Va., one of three children of Clark and Kim Eversole.

He attended Kecoughtan High School in Hampton and graduated from the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg in 1987. He worked as a technical writer before entering St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, Pa., in 1990. He attended the North American College in Rome from 1991-95 and was ordained by Bishop Keating on May 20, 1995.

Father Eversole served as parochial vicar at Our Lady of Angels Parish in Woodbridge from 1995-99 and All Saints Parish in Manassas from 1999-2000. He worked as associate rector of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington from 2000-01 before being appointed parochial vicar of St. William of York Parish in Stafford in 2001.

 Fr. Donald C. Greenhalgh

Father Donald C. Greenhalgh, newly appointed pastor of St. Ann Church in Arlington, was born Oct. 1, 1940, in the suburbs of Philadelphia, Pa., the third of four sons of Paul and Helen Greenhalgh. He attended Waldron Academy in Merion, Pa., and Malvern Preparatory School in Malvern, Pa., and graduated from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville in 1962. After serving on active duty in the U.S. Army Reserves, he worked as a systems engineer in the computer industry for 15 years in and around Philadelphia.

In 1977, Father Greenhalgh entered the Novitiate of St. Isaac Jogues in the Maryland Province of the Society of Jesus. Completing three years in the Jesuits by teaching one year at Loyola College in Baltimore, he left the Society without taking vows and enrolled at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Md. He was ordained a priest by Bishop Keating on May 12, 1984.

Father Greenhalgh spent his diaconate year at St. Philip Parish in Falls Church. He served as associate pastor at St. Louis Parish in Alexandria from 1984-88; St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Great Falls from 1988-1991; St. Timothy Parish in Chantilly from 1991-93; and Good Shepherd Parish in Alexandria from 1993-94. From 1994-96, he was pastor of St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Arlington. He was appointed pastor of St. Mary of Sorrows Parish in Fairfax in June 1996.

Fr. Edward C. Hathaway

Father Edward C. Hathaway, newly appointed pastor of St. John the Baptist Parish in Front Royal, was born Jan. 5, 1961, to Charles and Marie Hathaway in Oakland, Calif. One of seven children, he attended Oak View Elementary School and James W. Robinson High School in Fairfax. He graduated from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville in 1983 and studied at Cambridge University in England, 1983-84.

He worked as a technical recruiter for Essex Human resources and Metier International and as a mortgage bank recruiter in Hunter Search before entering St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, Pa.

He was ordained May 18, 1991, by Bishop Keating. He was parochial vicar at St. Michael Parish in Annandale, 1991-95; St. Andrew the Apostle Parish in Clifton, 1995-99; and the Cathedral of St. Thomas More in Arlington, 1999-00.

Father Hathaway serves on the diocesan Presbyteral Council.

In November 1997, he was a recipient of the Catholic Committee on Scouting’s Diocesan Achievement Award. Also in 1997, Father Hathaway contributed to an Advent series published by the HERALD. He led a group from the Faith and Culture Institute to Parish for World Youth Day in 1998.

He has taken part in the Marine Corps Marathon each year since 1986.

He served most recently as pastor pf St. John Parish in McLean.

Fr. Robert A. Lange

Father Robert A. Lange, newly appointed pastor of Holy Spirit Parish in Annandale, was born June 13, 1944, in Richmond to Joseph and Thelma Lange.

He attended St. Paul School and graduated from Benedictine High School, both in Richmond, in 1963. After receiving a bachelor’s degree from Belmont Abbey College in Belmont, N.C., in 1967, he spent 15 years working in real estate.

He attended Mount St. Mary's Seminary in Emmitsburg, Md., and was ordained by Bishop Keating May 10, 1986.

Father Lange served as parochial vicar at Queen of Apostles Parish in Alexandria, 1986-90; Nativity Parish in Burke, 1990-91; St. William of York Parish in Stafford, 1991-94; and Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Arlington, 1994-97. He was rector of St. Peter Mission in Washington, Va., from 1997-99, and has been pastor of Our Lady of Angels Parish in Woodbridge since 1999.

Fr. Franklyn M. McAfee

Father Franklyn M. McAfee was born Dec. 13, 1943, in Detroit, Mich. He attended St. David Elementary School and Sacred Heart High School, both in Detroit.

He graduated from Catholic University in Washington in 1966. He attended the Gregorian Institute of Maerican in the summer of 1962 and Catholic University's graduate school from 1966-67. He earned a master's degree in religious studies from St. Thomas Aquinas University in Rome. He went on to attend the Theological College at Catholic University for graduate studies in philosophy and theology from 1967-71.

He spent his diaconate assignment at St. Luke Parish in McLean.

Father McAfee was ordained to the priesthood in Richmond on May 15, 1971, by Bishop John J. Russell. He served for four years at St. Thomas More Parish, Arlington, which later became the cathedral when the Diocese of Arlington was established in 1974.

He was the spiritual director at Bishop O'Connell High School in Arlington from 1975-78, with residence at St. Philip Parish, Falls Church.

Father McAfee was the founder of the Diocesan Office for Family Life and served as its director until 1988.

He served as secretary for two terms for the Diocesan Priests' Association and was a member of the Diocesan Liturgical Commission. He also served two terms as executive team priest for Marriage Encounter. Father McAfee is a member of the diocesan board of consultors.

From 1985-92, Father McAfee served as president of the Notre Dame Catechetical Institute in Arlington (now the Notre Dame Graduate School of Christendom College in Alexandria). He also was a regular columnist for the HERALD for a number of years.

He serves as chaplain to two convents in the Washington area of the Missionaries of Charity, the religious order founded by Mother Teresa of Calcutta.

He was in residence at St. Rita Parish, Alexandria, 1978-83; St. Agnes Parish, Arlington, 1983-85; and Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Arlington, 1985-88.

He was pastor of St. Lawrence Parish in Alexandria, 1988-97 and has been pastor of St. Catherine of Siena Parish since 1997.

Fr. John H. Melmer

Father John H. Melmer, newly appointed pastor of St. John the Evangelist Parish in Warrenton, was born Aug. 23, 1965, in Arlington, one of four children of James J. and Mildred E. Melmer.

He attended St. James School in Falls Church, St. Joseph Preparatory Seminary in Vienna, W.Va., Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio, and Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Md. He was ordained to the diaconate on May 26, 1990, and was assigned to St. Louis Parish in Alexandria.

Father Melmer was ordained to the priesthood May 18, 1991. He served as associate pastor of St. Timothy Parish in Chantilly from 1991-94; St. Mark Parish in Vienna from 1994-97; and St. Elizabeth Parish in Colonial Beach from 1997-99. He served as administrator of St. Elizabeth Parish in Colonial Beach from 1999-2001. Father Melmer was named pastor of St. Elizabeth Parish in January 2001 before taking a personal leave of absence in August 2001. He was named parochial vicar at St. Mary Parish in Alexandria in 2002.

Fr. Thomas E. Murphy, O.S.F.S.

Oblate Father Thomas E. Murphy, newly appointed pastor of St. John Neumann Parish in Reston, was born in Philadelphia, Pa., on Oct. 27, 1947, to Edward and Alisa Murphy.

He attended St. Leo Parochial School in Philadelphia and graduated from Father Judge High School in Philadelphia in 1965. He received a bachelor’s degree in history from the Allentown College of St. Francis de Sales in Center Valley, Pa., in 1972. He completed his theological studies at the De Sales Hall School of Theology in Hyattsville, Md., in 1976 and earned a master’s degree in religious education from Catholic University in Washington in 1981.

Father Murphy made his first profession of vows Aug. 20, 1967, and his perpetual profession Sept. 30, 1970. He was ordained to the priesthood May 15, 1976, in Our Lady of Ransom Church in Philadelphia by Philadelphia Auxiliary Bishop Gerald V. McDevitt.

Father Murphy taught religion and algebra at Father Judge High School from 1968-70, before returning to school himself. He returned to teach at the high school from 1976-79. He taught at Holy Name High School in Reading, Pa., from 1979-81, and taught at Bishop Ireton High School in Alexandria from 1981-85.

In 1985, he began pastoral work, serving as associate pastor of St. Joachim Parish in Philadelphia until 1987. He also served as associate pastor of St. Philip and St. James Parish in Phillipsburg, N.J., 1987-89; St. Ann Church in Raritan, N.J., 1989-90; Our Lady of Light Parish in Fort Myers, Fla., 1990-91; and St. Paul the Apostle Parish in Greensboro, N.C., 1991-94.

From 1994-2001, Father Murphy served as religious superior of the St. Cecilia Oblate Community and pastor of St. Cecilia Parish in Fort Myers, Fla.

He took a sabbatical for one year to study at the Hesburgh Center in Chicago and at the Pontifical North American College Institute for Continuing Education in Vatican City.

He returned to pastoral work in 2002 at St. Paul the Apostle Parish in Greensboro, N.C., prior to returning to the Arlington Diocese in 2004 to serve as parochial vicar at St. John Neumann Parish in Reston.

Fr. Lee R. Roos

Father Lee R. Roos, newly appointed pastor of St. Agnes Parish in Arlington, is the son of Robert and Rose Marie Roos of Wexford, Pa. He is one of eight children, with two sisters and five brothers. He has 15 nieces and nephews.

A graduate of St. Sebastian School and North Allegheny High School, both in Pittsburgh, Pa., he earned a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y., in 1975. After college he moved to Fairfax. In the 10 years before entering the seminary he worked as a computer systems analyst for TRW, McLean, and then for Software Systems Associates, Inc., Alexandria.

He entered the pre-theology program at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, Wynnewood, Pa., and earned a master’s of divinity degree in 1989. He was ordained a deacon in 1989. His diaconal assignments were at Holy Spirit Parish, Annandale, and St. Philomena Parish, Lansdowne, Pa.

Father Roos was ordained to the priesthood for the Arlington Diocese by Bishop Keating on May 19, 1990, at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More, Arlington. His first assignment was as parochial vicar at St. Bernadette Parish, Springfield. In 1992, he was assigned part-time to the diocesan Tribunal. In 1993, he began part-time studies in Canon Law at the Catholic University, Washington, D.C. At that time he moved to the Cathedral of St. Thomas More, while continuing at the Tribunal. In 1995, Father Roos pursued canon law studies full-time and was in residence at St. Luke Parish, McLean. Upon earning a Licentiate in Canon Law in 1996, he was assigned full-time to the Tribunal. At various times he has held office as Auditor, Defender of the Bond, and Judge. In 1999, Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde appointed him an Adjutant Judical Vicar, with residence at St. Michael Parish, Annandale, beginning in 2000.

At the diocesan offices, Father Roos has worked in the Tribunal and as supervisor in the Management Information Systems office. He also has been involved with the start-up of the Information Technology Enhancement Project to enable electronic transfer of information between parishes, schools, and the central administrative offices of the diocese. He was appointed administrator of St. Agnes last year.

Fr. William B. Schardt

Father William B. Schardt is the newly appointed pastor of St. Stephen the Martyr and the newly erected Mission of St. Katherine Drexel, located within the parish boundaries of St. Stephen the Martyr Parish in Middleburg.

Father Schardt was born May 16, 1949, in El Paso, Texas, the son of Bruton B. and Florence (Pat) Gargan. He graduated from Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, in 1971, and Catholic University in Washington in 1975. He was ordained a priest Nov. 29, 1975, by former Arlington Bishop Thomas J. Welsh.

He served as associate pastor of St. Charles Borromeo Church in Arlington from 1975-78; St. Michael Parish in Annandale from 1978-79; St. Mark Parish in Vienna from 1979-82; and St. Ambrose Parish in Annandale from 1982-83. He was in residence at St. Rita Parish in Alexandria from 1983-84 and St. Philip Parish in Falls Church from 1984-85. He served as associate pastor of St. Mark Parish in Vienna from 1985-89. He was appointed pastor of St. Ann Parish in Arlington in 1989 and served there until 2005.

Fr. Alexander R. Drummond

Father Alexander R. Drummond is the newly appointed administrator of St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Great Falls. He was born on Oct. 20, 1957, in Chamblay, France, the son of Charles and Christa Drummond. He attended T.C. Williams High School in Alexandria, and received a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from the Schiller International University in Germany and France in 1980. He earned a master’s degree in international relations from Schiller International University in Paris.

Before entering the seminary, Father Drummond worked on Capitol Hill, for a private educational foundation and at Tall Oaks Montessori School in Blacksburg.

He attended St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, Pa., where he specialized in sacred Scripture. He graduated in 1994 and was ordained by Bishop Keating on May 21, 1994.

He served as associate pastor of St. Timothy Parish in Chantilly from 1994-98; parochial vicar at St. Michael Parish in Annandale from 1998-2002; and Good Shepherd Parish in Alexandria from 2002-03. He was appointed parochial vicar at St. Catherine the Great Parish in Great Falls in 2003.

Fr. Wilhelm J. Ettner

Father Wilhelm J. Ettner, newly appointed temporary administrator of the Church of St. John Bosco in Woodstock, was born June 14, 1962, one of 11 children.

A native of Charleston, S.C., he attended elementary school in Mason Neck, Va., and graduated from Bishop Ireton High School in Alexandria in 1980.

He attended Our Lady of Grace Seminary in Boston, graduating in 1987, then went on for his theological training at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Md. His diaconate assignment was at St. Louis Parish in Alexandria.

Ordained May 15, 1993, by Bishop Keating, Father Ettner first served as parochial vicar at St. James Parish in Falls Church, then St. Agnes Parish in Arlington 1995-98, St. Timothy Parish in Chantilly 1998-2001, St. John in Mclean 2001-2004 before being named parochial vicar of St. Mary Parish in Fredericksburg last year.

Father Ettner is a member of the Earthen Vessels priests’ basketball team.

Fr. Paul M. Eversole

Father Paul Eversole, newly appointed administrator of Our Lady of Angels Parish in Woodbridge, was born Nov. 14, 1964, in Hampton, Va., one of three children of Clark and Kim Eversole.

He attended Kecoughtan High School in Hampton and graduated from the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg in 1987. He worked as a technical writer before entering St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, Pa., in 1990. He attended the North American College in Rome from 1991-95 and was ordained by Bishop Keating on May 20, 1995.

Father Eversole served as parochial vicar at Our Lady of Angels Parish in Woodbridge from 1995-99 and All Saints Parish in Manassas from 1999-2000. He worked as associate rector of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington from 2000-01 before being appointed parochial vicar of St. William of York Parish in Stafford in 2001.

Fr. John P. Mosimann

Father John Mosimann, newly appointed administrator of St. John the Apostle Parish in Leesburg, was born July 14, 1967, in Alexandria, one of eight children of Barbara and James Mosimann.

He graduated from the University of Dallas, Texas, with a degree in physics in 1989. He went on to study philosophy and theology at Franciscan University of Steubenville in Ohio and later pursued a graduate degree in physics at the University of Maryland. He then volunteered a year of missionary service with Miles Jesu, a Chicago-based international faith family of lay Catholics and priests who promote unity and harmony in the Church.

In 1993, he entered St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, Pa., where he earned master’s degrees in divinity and moral theology. As a deacon he served at Our Lady of Angels Parish in Woodbridge. He was ordained by Bishop Keating on May 17, 1997, at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More in Arlington.

He served as parochial vicar at St. Leo the Great Parish in Fairfax 1997-2000, All Saints Parish 2000-2004 and St. John the Apostle 2004. In October 2004 he was named temporary administrator of St. John the Apostle.

Additionally, in 2000 he was named to the office of Advocate-Procurator of the Diocesan Tribunal for a five-year term. In 2003, he was appointed to the presbyteral council. In April 2005, he was named a member of the College of Consultors.

Fr. Carroll L. Oubre

Father Carroll L. Oubre, newly appointed administrator of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Lakeridge, was born Oct. 20, 1964, in Houston and attended school there, before enrolling at Christendom College in Front Royal, where he received his bachelor’s degree in 1987.

Father Oubre received his theology training at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Md., and was ordained by Bishop Keating on May 18, 1991. He served at Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Winchester during his diaconate year.

His first priestly assignment was as parochial vicar at St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Great Falls 1991-94, followed by St. Mary Parish in Alexandria 1994-98, Holy Family Parish in Dale City 1998-2001 and has been assigned to St. Timothy Parish in Chantilly since 2001.

Father Oubre was invested into the Equestrian Order of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre in 1987 by Washington Cardinal James Hickey. He has spoken at apologetics and catechetics seminars in the Arlington Diocese.

Fr. Donald Planty Jr.

Donald Planty Jr., newly appointed administrator of Holy Family Parish in Dale City, was born on Oct. 3., 1966, in Albuquerque, N.M., the son of Donald J. and Regina E. Planty. He earned a bachelor’s degree in government and French from the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg. He graduated from St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, Pa., with a master’s degree in divinity and theology in 1993.

Father Planty was ordained a priest on May 15, 1993, by Arlington Bishop John R. Keating at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More in Arlington. In 1998, he received a licentiate in canon law from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome followed by a doctorate in canon law in 2000.

Father Planty served as parochial vicar of St. Charles Borromeo Church in Arlington from 1993-95, and parochial vicar and director of religious education at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More in Arlington from 1995-96. He served as deputy head of mission for the apostolic nunciature in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from 2000-02. In 2003, he was appointed parochial vicar and director of religious education for Holy Family Parish in Dale City.    

Fr. Sean K. Rousseau

Father Sean K. Rousseau, newly appointed administrator of newly erected Corpus Christi Mission in South Riding located within the boundaries of St. Stephen the Martyr Parish in Middleburg, was born Dec. 12, 1968, in Riverside, Calif. He attended James Madison University in Harrisonburg for one year before attending St. Charles Borromeo in Wynnewood, Pa. He earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy in 1991.

He served as a transitional deacon at St. Mary Parish in Fredericksburg before he was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Keating on May 20, 1995.

His first assignment was to St. Leo the Great Parish in Fairfax where he served as parochial vicar for four years. He also served as parochial vicar at St. John the Apostle in Leesburg for four years, Holy Spirit Parish in Annandale for four months and Good Shepherd Parish in Alexandria for one year.

He was named administrator of St. Stephen the Martyr Parish in Middleburg on Oct. 15, 2004.

Fr. Michael Taylor

Father Michael Taylor was born April 1, 1966, in Westerville, Ohio, one of three children of David G. and Patricia G. Taylor. He attended Westerville South High School and Christendom College.

He was ordained May 15, 1993, by Bishop Keating. He served as associate pastor at St. John the Apostle Parish from 1993-96; St. John the Evangelist Parish in Warrenton from 1996-97; and St. Bernadette Parish in Springfield from 1997-2001.

Father Taylor served as director of youth activities from 2000-01 and was named chaplain and assistant principal for Bishop O’Connell High School in Arlington in 2001. He is in residence at St. James Parish in Falls Church.

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