The Most Reverend Luis Rafael Zarama, Bishop of Raleigh, is pleased to convey the following official appointments and announcements:
Effective April 1, 2025
Reverend Daewon Seo, a priest of the Archdiocese of Daegu, South Korea, is appointed Pastor of Saint Andrew Kim Parish in Fayetteville.
Upon the departure of the current Dean, Very Reverend Baiju Augustine Avittappally, M.S., V.F., Very Reverend Matthew Nwafor, V.F., is appointed Dean of the Fayetteville Deanery.
Effective June 24, 2025
Pastors
Very Reverend Thomas R. Davis, Pastor and Rector of the Basilica Shrine of Saint Mary in Wilmington, is appointed Pastor of Annunciation Parish in Havelock.
Reverend Peter A. Grace, C.P., Pastor of Saint Ann Parish in Clayton and Administrator of Maria Reina de las Americas Parish in Mount Olive and the Mission of Santa Teresa in Beulaville, is appointed Pastor of Maria Reina de las Americas Parish in Mount Olive and the Mission of Santa Teresa in Beulaville.
Very Reverend Jairo A. Maldonado Pacheco, V.F., Pastor of Saint Ann Parish in Edenton and Dean of the Albemarle Deanery, is appointed Pastor and Rector of the Basilica Shrine of Saint Mary in Wilmington.
Reverend Roger Malonda Nyimi, Administrator of Saint Stanislaus Parish in Castle Hayne and Saint Joseph Parish in Burgaw, is appointed Pastor of Saint Luke the Evangelist Parish in Raleigh.
Very Reverend Matthew Nwafor, V.F., Dean of the Fayetteville Deanery and Administrator of Saint Ann Parish in Fayetteville, is appointed Pastor of the same.
Reverend Andrew Okeyo Ogacho, C.P., Parochial Vicar at Saint Ann Parish in Clayton, is appointed Pastor of the same.
Reverend Erik R. Reyes, Administrator of Mother of Mercy Parish in Washington, is appointed Pastor of the same.
Reverend Edward Tembo, C.I.C.M., Administrator of Our Lady of the Rosary Parish in Louisburg, is appointed Pastor of the same.
Reverend Ryan W. Elder, Pastor of Holy Family Parish in Hillsborough, is appointed for an additional six-year term as Pastor.
Very Reverend John V. Gournas, V.F., Pastor of Infant of Prague Parish in Jacksonville and Dean of the New Bern Deanery, is appointed for an additional six-year term as Pastor.
Reverend Patrick A. Keane, Pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Raleigh, is appointed for an additional six-year term as Pastor.
Reverend Marcos A. Leon-Angulo, Pastor of Saint Bernadette Parish in Butner, is appointed for an additional six-year term as Pastor.
Reverend Thanh N. Nguyen, Pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Southport, is appointed for an additional six-year term as Pastor.
Reverend Gregory D. Spencer, Pastor of Saint Mark Parish in Wilmington, is appointed for an additional six-year term as Pastor.
Administrators
Reverend Arokiadass Soosai Arpudam, H.G.N., Parochial Vicar at Saint Ann Parish in Clayton, is appointed Administrator of Saint Ann Parish in Edenton.
Reverend Steven Costello, Parochial Vicar at Saint Paul Parish in New Bern, is appointed Administrator of the same.
Reverend Steven T. DiMassimo, Parochial Vicar at the Basilica Shrine of Saint Mary in Wilmington, is appointed Administrator of Saint Stanislaus Parish in Castle Hayne and Saint Joseph Parish in Burgaw.
Parochial Vicars
Reverend John M.P. De Guzman, Parochial Vicar at Saint Michael the Archangel Parish in Cary, is appointed Parochial Vicar at Saint Paul Parish in New Bern.
Reverend Genelio Garcia Antigua, C.P., a member of the Congregation of the Passion of Jesus Christ, Cristo Rey Province, Mexico, is appointed Parochial Vicar at Saint Ann Parish in Clayton.
Reverend Cong Viet Le, Parochial Vicar at Saint Mark Parish in Wilmington, is appointed Parochial Vicar at the Basilica Shrine of Saint Mary in Wilmington.
Reverend Linus Nyangu, C.P., a member of the Congregation of the Passion of Jesus Christ, Mother of Africa Vice Province, is appointed Parochial Vicar at Maria Reina de las Americas Parish in Mount Olive and the Mission of Santa Teresa in Beulaville
Reverend Nicholas Ochieng Otieno, C.P., a member of the Congregation of the Passion of Jesus Christ, Saint Charles Lwanga Vice Province, is appointed Parochial Vicar at Saint Ann Parish in Clayton.
Reverend Thomas S. Tully, assigned to form a new community around the diocesan land trust property in Holly Springs, with residence and sacramental ministry at Saint Bernadette Parish in Fuquay-Varina, is appointed Parochial Vicar at Saint Michael the Archangel Parish in Cary.
Effective May 1, 2025
Reverend Jesbin Pulavelil, M.S., a member of the Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette, La Salette Matha Province, is appointed Parochial Vicar at Saint Stephen the First Martyr Parish in Sanford.
Effective July 1, 2025
Reverend Mr. Kieran Halloran, 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.
Announcements
Bishop Luis Rafael Zarama expresses his sincere appreciation to the following priests for their generous priestly ministry:
Reverend Samuel J. Buchholz, Pastor of Annunciation Parish in Havelock, who retires from active ministry.
Reverend Thomas Elitz, S.J., Parochial Vicar at Saint Raphael the Archangel Parish in Raleigh, who completes his one-year term and will be assigned outside of the diocese by his community.
Reverend John Paul Murangi, Parochial Vicar at Saint Brendan the Navigator Parish in Shallotte, who will conclude his service in the Diocese of Raleigh and return home to the Diocese of Fort Portal, Uganda on May 19, 2025.
Reverend Thomas S. Tully for his work in forming a new community around the diocesan land trust property in Holly Springs.