Most Reverend Michael F.
Burbidge, Bishop of Arlington, has announced the following clergy appointments
effective on Thursday, June 25, 2020, except where noted differently. Biographies of all the incoming pastors are below the full clergy appointment list.
Pastors
Reverend Ramon A. Baez from
Parochial Vicar at Good Shepherd Parish in Alexandria to Pastor of Holy Family
Parish in Dale City.
Reverend Alexander Diaz
from Parochial Vicar at Our Lady of Angels Parish in Woodbridge to Pastor of
Queen of Apostles Parish in Alexandria.
Reverend Frederick H. Edlefsen
from Pastor of Saint Agnes Parish in Arlington to Pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes
Parish in Arlington.
Reverend Richard M. Guest
from Pastor of Saint Theresa Parish in Ashburn to Pastor of Saint Luke Parish
in McLean.
Reverend James C. Hudgins
from Pastor of Saint Jude Parish in Fredericksburg to Pastor of Saint Theresa
Parish in Ashburn.
Reverend Anthony J. Killian
from Parochial Vicar at Saint Anthony of Padua Parish in Falls Church to Pastor
of Our Lady of Hope Parish in Potomac Falls.
Reverend Álvaro Montero, DCJM
from ministry outside the Diocese of Arlington to Pastor of Our Lady of Angels
Parish in Woodbridge
Reverend J. Kevin O’Keefe
from Pastor of Our Lady of Angels Parish in Woodbridge to Pastor of Saint Jude
Parish in Fredericksburg.
Very Reverend William P. Saunders
from Pastor of Our Lady of Hope Parish in Potomac Falls to Pastor of Saint
Agnes Parish in Arlington while continuing as Episcopal Vicar for Faith
Formation.
Reverend Robert J. Wagner
from Administrator of Saint Andrew the Apostle Parish in Clifton to Pastor of
Saint Andrew the Apostle Parish in Clifton.
Parochial Vicars
Reverend Thomas B. Cavanaugh
from Parochial Vicar at Our Lady of Angels Parish in Woodbridge to Parochial
Vicar at Saint John the Apostle Parish in Leesburg.
Reverend Christopher P.
Christensen from Parochial Vicar at the Cathedral of Saint Thomas More
in Arlington to Parochial Vicar at Saint Leo the Great Parish in Fairfax.
Reverend Keith D. Cummings
from Chaplain at Saint John Paul the Great High School in Potomac Shores with
residence at Holy Family Parish in Dale City to Parochial Vicar at Saint
Charles Borromeo Parish in Arlington.
Reverend Kevin J. Dansereau
from Parochial Vicar at Blessed Sacrament Parish in Alexandria to Parochial
Vicar at the Cathedral of Saint Thomas More in Arlington.
Reverend Juan Espino, DCJM
from Pastor of Queen of Apostles Parish in Alexandria to Parochial Vicar at Our
Lady of Angels Parish in Woodbridge.
Reverend Peter O. Okola, A.J.
from Parochial Vicar at Holy Spirit Parish in Annandale to Parochial Vicar at
Saint Bernadette Parish in Springfield.
Reverend Joseph M. Rampino
from Chaplain at Marymount University in Arlington with residence at Saint John
the Beloved Parish in McLean to Parochial Vicar at Queen of Apostles Parish in
Alexandria.
Reverend
John J. Riley from service outside the Diocese of Arlington to Parochial
Vicar at Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Winchester, with part-time ministry at
San Damiano Diocesan Spiritual Life Center in White Post.
Reverend William B. Schierer
from Parochial Vicar at Saint Timothy Parish in Chantilly to Parochial Vicar at
Saint Patrick Parish in Fredericksburg.
Reverend James R. Searby
from Chaplain and Director of George Mason University Catholic Campus Ministry
in Fairfax to Parochial Vicar at Saint Timothy Parish in Chantilly.
Reverend Scott Sina from
Parochial Vicar at Saint Agnes Parish in Arlington to Parochial Vicar at Saint
Mary of the Immaculate Conception Parish in Fredericksburg.
Reverend Augustine M. Tran
from Parochial Vicar at Precious Blood Parish in Culpeper to Parochial Vicar at
Saint John Bosco Parish in Woodstock and at Our Lady of the Shenandoah Mission
in Basye.
Reverend Jerry A. Wooton
from Parochial Vicar at Saint Patrick Parish in Fredericksburg to Parochial
Vicar at Holy Spirit Parish in Annandale.
Other Assignments
Reverend Joseph W. Farrell
from Parochial Vicar at Saint Timothy Parish in Chantilly to Chaplain and
Director of Catholic Campus Ministry at George Mason University in Fairfax,
with residence at Saint Mary of Sorrows Parish in Fairfax.
Reverend Christopher F. Tipton
from Parochial Vicar at Saint Leo the Great Parish in Fairfax to Chaplain at
Saint John Paul the Great High School in Potomac Shores, with residence at Holy
Family Parish in Dale City.
Retirements
Reverend Monsignor Robert E.
Avella from Pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Arlington to retired
status with residence at the Saint Rose of Lima Priests’ Retirement Villa in
Annandale.
Reverend Wilson I. Korpi
from Pastor of Holy Family Parish in Dale City to retired status in a private
residence.
Reverend Richard J. Ley
from Parochial Vicar at Saint John Bosco Parish in Woodstock and at Our Lady of
the Shenandoah Mission in Basye to retired status with residence at the Saint
Rose of Lima Priests’ Retirement Villa in Annandale.
Reverend David L. Martin
from Pastor of Saint Luke Parish in McLean to retired status in a private
residence.
Reverend John T. O’Hara
from Parochial Vicar at Holy Family Parish in Dale City to retired status in a
private residence.
Reverend Anthony J. Pinizzotto
from Parochial Vicar at Saint Luke Parish in Mclean to retired status in
residence at Saint Agnes Parish in Arlington.
Newly Ordained
Reverend Mr. Guillermo Gonzalez
upon ordination to the priesthood, to Parochial Vicar at Blessed Sacrament
Parish in Alexandria.
Reverend Mr. Peter M. McShurley
upon ordination to the priesthood, to Parochial Vicar at Saint Agnes Parish in
Arlington.
Reverend Mr. Joseph F. Moschetto
upon ordination to the priesthood, to Parochial Vicar at Saint Luke Parish in
McLean.
Reverend Mr. Charles C. Pavlick
upon ordination to the priesthood, to Parochial Vicar at Saint Timothy Parish
in Chantilly.
Reverend Mr. James F. Waalkes
upon ordination to the priesthood, to Parochial Vicar at Saint Anthony of Padua
Parish in Falls Church.
Transitional Deacon Assignment
Mr. Jonathan R. Fioramonti
upon ordination to the diaconate, to the Cathedral of Saint Thomas More in
Arlington, effective June 15, 2020.
Mr. John Paul Heisler upon
ordination to the diaconate, to All Saints Catholic Parish in Manassas,
effective June 15, 2020.
Mr. Jonathan
M. Smith upon ordination to the diaconate, to Church of the Nativity
Parish in Burke, effective June 15, 2020.
Mr. Joseph
B. Townsend upon ordination to the diaconate, to the Basilica of Saint
Mary in Alexandria, effective June 15, 2020.
Religious Personnel Assigned to the Diocese
Reverend Mathias I. Kumar, OSFS
from ministry outside the Diocese of Arlington to Parochial Vicar at Our Lady
of Good Counsel Parish in Vienna, effective July 1, 2020.
Reverend Armando Marsal, DCJM
from ministry outside the Diocese of Arlington to Parochial Vicar at Our Lady
of Angels Parish in Woodbridge.
Reverend Michael C. Vannicola,
OSFS from ministry outside the Diocese of Arlington to Parochial Vicar
at Saint John Neumann Parish in Reston, effective July 1, 2020.
Reverend Leopoldo Vives, DCJM
from ministry outside the Diocese of Arlington to Parochial Vicar at Our Lady
of Angels Parish in Woodbridge
Clergy
Personnel Assigned Outside the Diocese
Reverend Jaime de Cendra, DCJM
from Parochial Vicar at Queen of Apostles Parish in Alexandria to ministry
outside the Diocese of Arlington.
Reverend John J. Dolan, OSFS, from Parochial Vicar at Our Lady of Good Counsel in Vienna to
ministry outside the Diocese of Arlington, effective July 1, 2020.
Reverend Javier O'Connor, DCJM from Parochial Vicar at Queen of Apostles Parish in Alexandria to
ministry outside the Diocese of Arlington.
Change in Residence
Reverend Ghenghan Mbinkar
from residence at the Cathedral of Saint Thomas More in Arlington to residence
at Saint Mark Parish in Vienna.
Reverend Ignacio de Ribera, DCJM
from residence at Queen of Apostles Parish in Alexandria to residence at Our
Lady of Angels Parish in Woodbridge.
Reverend Stephen J. Schultz,
from residence at Saint Leo the Great Parish in Fairfax to residence at Corpus
Christi Parish in South Riding, while continuing as Chaplain at Paul VI
Catholic High School in Fairfax.
Excardination
Deacon William David Powers,
from incardination as a permanent deacon of the Diocese of Arlington, to
incardination into the Diocese of Charlotte, was effective May 1, 2020.
Meet the new pastors
FR. RAMON A. BAEZ
Father Ramon A. Baez will become pastor of Holy Family Church in Dale City. Most recently, he was parochial vicar at Good Shepherd Church in Alexandria, where he was appointed in 2016.
He was born Sept. 15, 1968, in Santurce, Puerto Rico, to parents Ramon Baez and Vanny Marrero.
He graduated from Fairfax High School in 1985 and the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., in 1991. He served as an officer in the U.S. Navy until 1999. That same year, he entered St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Overbrook and graduated in 2005.
Father Baez was ordained June 11, 2005, by Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde. He has been parochial vicar at St. Anthony Church in Falls Church (2005-08); Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Winchester (2008-09); St. Leo the Great Church in Fairfax (2009-14); and Our Lady of Angels Church in Woodbridge (2014-16).
FR. ALEXANDER DIAZ
Father Alexander Diaz will become pastor of Queen of Apostles Church in Alexandria. He has served as parochial vicar at Our Lady of Angels Church in Woodbridge since 2017.
He was born Oct. 18, 1976, in Victoria, Cabanas, El Salvador to parents Maria Trinidad Diaz and Jacinto Amaya.
He entered the Pio XII Minor Seminary of the Diocese of San Vicente in 1992. He studied philosophy at Our Lady of the Way Seminary (Nuestra Senora del Camino) in Solola, Guatemala (1996-98) and theology at St. Joseph of the Mountain Seminary (Seminario Mayor, San José de La Montana), San Salvador, El Salvador (2000-02). He also studied pedagogy at the Don Bosco Salesian University in El Salvador.
Father Diaz was ordained March 25, 2006, in the Diocese of Zacatecoluca, El Salvador, by Bishop Elias Samuel Bolaños. He was incardinated into the Diocese of Arlington Sept. 7, 2016.
He served as parochial vicar at Holy Family Church in Dale City from 2012 to 2017, before going to Our Lady of Angels.
FR. FREDERICK H. EDLEFSEN
Father Frederick H. Edlefsen will become pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Arlington. He has served as pastor of St. Agnes Church in Arlington since 2016.
He was born July 27, 1965, in Denville, N.J., to Martin and Ida Edlefsen. He attended Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge and earned a bachelor’s degree in 1987 in economics/international trade and finance. He earned a master’s in international political economy from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville in 1989.
After graduate school, he worked in Kansas and then in Washington, where he lived in Falls Church and attended St. James Church.
He then taught at a Catholic high school in New York City and lived with a community of religious brothers before entering the Mercedarian Friars. He studied pre-theology at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, Pa., and then attended Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Md. He served his diaconate year at St. Michael Church in Annandale. He was ordained to the priesthood June 9, 2001, by Bishop Loverde at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More in Arlington.
He became parochial vicar of St. James Church in Falls Church in 2001. In 2005, he became chaplain at Bishop O’Connell High School in Arlington until 2007, when he became chaplain and director of Catholic Campus Ministry at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg. He served there until 2014, when he became parochial administrator of St. Agnes Church in Arlington, and then pastor in 2016.
FR. RICHARD M. GUEST
Father Richard M. Guest will become pastor of St. Luke Church in McLean. He comes from St. Theresa Church in Ashburn, where he was named parish administrator in 2002 and pastor in 2004.
He was born in Oak Lawn, Ill., Dec. 8, 1963, and was educated in Chicago. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Loyola University of Chicago in 1986. He earned a master’s degree in Hebrew Bible from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn., in 1988.
After working in Chicago, he entered Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Md., graduating in 1994. His diaconate assignment was at St. Lawrence the Martyr Church in Alexandria.
Father Guest was ordained May 21, 1994, by Arlington Bishop John R. Keating, who appointed him parochial vicar at St. William of York Church in Stafford from 1994 to 1998. He served at St. Catherine of Siena Church in Great Falls from 1998 to 2002, before being assigned to St. Theresa.
FR. JAMES C. HUDGINS
Father James C. Hudgins will become pastor of St. Theresa Church in Ashburn. He comes from St. Jude Church in Fredericksburg, where he served as parish administrator from 2011 until 2013 when he became pastor.
He was born May 11, 1970, to parents Peggy and David. He spent his early years growing up in Billings, Mont., and his family moved to Arlington when he was 10 years old. He attended St. Agnes School, and O’Connell. In 1992, he earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Dartmouth College in Hanover, N.H.
Following college, Father Hudgins entered St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, Pa, where he served as head sacristan.
He served at St. Leo the Great Church in Fairfax during his diaconate year.
Father Hudgins was ordained May 16, 1998, by retired Allentown Bishop Thomas J. Welsh, founding bishop of Arlington. His first assignment was as parochial vicar of Queen of Apostles Church in Alexandria. In 2002, he was appointed parochial vicar of All Saints Catholic Church in Manassas.
Father Hudgins became parochial vicar of St. Luke Church in McLean in 2006. From 2007 to 2011, he served as chaplain and assistant principal of O’Connell. In 2011, he was assigned to St. Jude.
FR. ANTHONY J. KILLIAN
Father Anthony J. Killian, parochial vicar at St. Anthony of Padua Church in Falls Church, will become pastor of Our Lady of Hope Church in Potomac Falls.
He was born to Anthony and Barbara Killian and grew up in Philadelphia. He graduated from Allentown College of St. Francis de Sales, now De Sales University, in Center Valley, Pa., in 1985, and earned a graduate degree in government from Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pa., in 1989. He worked for the government for 16 years before realizing he was being called to the priesthood. In 2002, he entered Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Md., where he earned a master’s in divinity and a certificate in Hispanic ministry. He was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Loverde June 14, 2008.
He served as parochial vicar of Blessed Sacrament Church in Alexandria (2008-13); of St. William of York Church in Stafford (2013-16); of St. John the Apostle Church in Leesburg (2016-19); and of St. Anthony of Padua Church in Falls Church (2019-20).
FR. ÁLVARO MONTERO, DCJM
Disciples of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary Father Álvaro Montero comes from ministry outside the Arlington Diocese to become pastor of Our Lady of Angels Parish in Woodbridge.
He was born Aug. 23, 1972, in Madrid. He earned a degree in law and a degree in business administration from the Pontifical University of Comillas in Madrid in 1995 and 1996, respectively. He earned a degree in theology from the San Damaso Ecclesiastical University in Madrid in 2004 and a licentiate in sacred theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome in 2006.
He was ordained to the priesthood Dec. 18, 2004. He was the chaplain for Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy (2005-06). He was the parochial priest in residence at Santa Maria de Cana Church in Madrid and a lecturer on Theology of the Body and Theology of Religious Life (2006-07). He was pastor of St. Mary Church in Littleton, Colo., while being a spiritual director at St. John Vianney Theological Seminary in Denver (2007-14). He was vice principal of Stella Maris School in Madrid (2014-19). In 2016, he was named pastor of Santa Maria Josefa de Corazon de Jesus Church in Madrid.
FR. J. KEVIN O’KEEFE
Father J. Kevin O’Keefe, pastor of Our Lady of Angels Church in Woodbridge, will become pastor of St. Jude Church in Fredericksburg.
He was born Aug. 11, 1962, in East Orange, N.J., one of three children. He graduated from Butler High School in Butler, N.J., and from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, N.Y., in 1984 with a bachelor’s in marine engineering.
Prior to entering the seminary, he served as a reservist in the U.S. Navy and worked as a Defense Department contractor and a mechanical engineer for the Navy.
He entered St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, Pa., in 1990. He was ordained to the diaconate May 28, 1994, and was ordained to the priesthood May 20, 1995, by Arlington Bishop John R. Keating.
He served as parochial vicar of Queen of Apostles Church in Alexandria (1995-97); of St. James Church in Falls Church (1997-2001); and of Church of the Nativity in Burke (2001-10). He was parochial administrator of Our Lady of Angels Church in Woodbridge (2010-12) and was named pastor in 2012.
FR. WILLIAM P. SAUNDERS
Father William P. Saunders, pastor of Our Lady of Hope Church in Potomac Falls, will become pastor of St. Agnes Church in Arlington while continuing as diocesan Episcopal Vicar for Faith Formation.
He was born March 9, 1957, to Dr. Joseph and Pauline Saunders in Washington. He attended St. Bernadette School, West Springfield Elementary School, Washington Irving Intermediate and West Springfield High School, all in Springfield. He graduated from the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg in 1979.
He worked as an accountant for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (1977-81). He attended St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, Pa., and was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Keating May 12, 1984.
He was parochial vicar of the Basilica of St. Mary in Alexandria (1984-88) and served as chaplain at Marymount University in Arlington (1988-92). He was named director of the Notre Dame Institute in 1992. He was parochial vicar of Queen of Apostles Church in Alexandria (1993-95) and was named pastor there in 1995. In 2000, he was appointed the founding pastor of Our Lady of Hope Church in Potomac Falls.
He was dean of the Notre Dame Graduate School of Christendom College in Alexandria (1997-2001). He was appointed Episcopal Vicar for Faith Formation in 2018.
FR. ROBERT J. WAGNER
Father Robert J. Wagner, administrator of St. Andrew the Apostle Church in Clifton, will become pastor of the parish.
He was born to Bob and Mary Ann Wagner Feb. 19, 1970, and grew up in Reisterstown, Md. He graduated from Mount St. Joseph High School in Baltimore in 1988, and then earned a bachelor’s and master’s in mechanical engineering from the University of Maryland in College Park in 1992 and 1994, respectively.
In 2003, he entered Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Md. Two years later, he began studying at the Pontifical North American College in Rome. He was ordained a deacon Oct. 9, 2008, at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. He was ordained to the priesthood June 13, 2009, by Bishop Loverde in Arlington and then returned to Rome to earn his licentiate in sacred theology.
He served as parochial vicar of St. Leo the Great Church in Fairfax (2010-12). He was priest secretary to Bishop Loverde (2012-16) and Bishop Michael F. Burbidge (2016-18), and parochial vicar of St. Veronica Church in Chantilly (2018-19). In 2019, he was named administrator of St. Andrew the Apostle Church in Clifton.