Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde announced this week the
appointments of a new pastor, six administrators, a new
vocations director and three new campus chaplains. All
appointments are effective June 26, unless otherwise
specified.
(Complete List of
Changes) Msgr. James W. McMurtrie, who was founding
pastor of St. Theresa Parish in Ashburn and served as
diocesan administrator for one year following the death of
Bishop John R. Keating in March 1998, has been appointed
pastor of St. Agnes Parish in Arlington. He will be replaced
in Ashburn by Father Richard M. Guest.
Father Robert E.
Avella will move from pastor of St. Mary Parish in Alexandria
back to Diocesan Director of Vocations, a position he held
more than 20 years ago under Bishops Thomas J. Welsh and John
R. Keating. He will be replaced at St. Mary by Father Dennis
Kleinmann.
Father Curtis Clark will be leaving his post as
vocations director to begin studies in canon law.
Father
Brian G. Bashista has been appointed Promoter of Vocations,
with residence at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Arlington.
Father Kevin Walsh, chaplain at Marymount University the past
two years, has been named administrator at St. Philip Parish
in Falls Church. He replaces Father Daniel Spychala, who has
been assigned assistant chaplain at Fairfax Hospital, with
residence at St. Ambrose Parish in Annandale.
Father Thomas
P. Ferguson will be administrator at St. Bernadette Parish in
Springfield, replacing Father John Hughes, who is retiring
after 48 years of active service to the Church in Virginia.
Father Christopher Mould has been
named administrator at St. Lawrence Parish in Alexandria and
Father Michael T. Orlowsky will be administrator at Our Lady
of the Blue Ridge Parish in Madison, replacing Missionhurst
Father John Morel, who is retiring.
Father Orlowsky will be the first diocesan priest to serve at
the parish since 1947 when Missionhurst priests first started
serving there.
According to canon law, a parish administrator
has the same basic duties and obligations as a pastor,
although they could be limited by the diocesan bishop. The
administrator may not do anything which could prejudice the
rights of the parish priest (pastor) or could do harm to
parochial property (Canon 540).
In addition to the parish
assignments, the bishop moved Father Jack Peterson from
chaplain at Mary Washington College in Fredericksburg to
chaplain at Marymount University in Arlington. He will be in
residence at the Youth Apostles Center in McLean.
Father
Ronald S. Escalante will be the new Catholic chaplain at Mary
Washington College.
Father Robert L. Ruskamp will be the new
chaplain at Christendom College in Front Royal, taking over
the assignment of Father David C. Rahn, who is on a medical
leave of absence.
Bishop Loverde ordained four new priests
for the diocese on June 8 at the Cathedral of St. Thomas
More. The newly ordained (and their first assignments) are:
Father Bryan W. Belli, Blessed Sacrament Parish, Alexandria;
Father Geronimo A. Magat, St. Mark Parish, Vienna; Father
Keith M. O'Hare, Queen of Apostles Parish, Alexandria;
and Father Michael D. Weston, St. Mary of Sorrows Parish,
Fairfax Station.
Copyright 2002 Arlington Catholic Herald. All rights
reserved.