Bishop announces new priest assignments

Bishop Richard F. Stika has announced the following new priest assignments in the Diocese of Knoxville:

Father Dominic Nguyen, CRM – Pastor of the Church of Divine Mercy in Knoxville, effective April 21, 2023.  (Father Nguyen previously served as parochial administrator of the Church of Divine Mercy.)

Father Antonio Giraldo – Pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Church in Townsend, effective May 6, 2023. (Father Giraldo previously served as parochial administrator of St. Francis of Assisi Church.)

Father Ray Powell – Pastor of St. Mary Church in Oak Ridge, effective June 17, 2023.  (Father Powell currently serves as Pastor of St. Thomas the Apostle in Lenoir City.)

Father Julian Cardona – Parochial administrator of St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Lenoir City, effective June 17, 2023. (Father Cardona currently serves as associate pastor of St. Thomas the Apostle.)

Father Dennis Kress – Pastor of St. Therese Church in Clinton and St. Joseph Church in Norris, effective July 1, 2023. (Father Kress currently serves as pastor of St. Elizabeth Church in Elizabethton and St. Anthony of Padua Church in Mountain City.)

Father Jesús Guerrero – Parochial administrator of St. Elizabeth Church in Elizabethton and St. Anthony of Padua Church in Mountain City, effective July 1, 2023.  (Father Guerrero currently serves as associate pastor of St. Mary Church in Johnson City.)

Father Tom Charters, GHM – Associate pastor of St. Michael the Archangel Church in Erwin effective July 1, 2023.  (Father Charters currently serves as pastor of St. Michael the Archangel, and he and the Superior of the Glenmary Home Missioners requested the appointment change. Father Charters will be on sabbatical beginning September 10, 2023, and returning back to St. Michael the Archangel Church on December 9, 2023 as associate pastor).

Father Kenneth Wandera, GHM – Parochial administrator of St. Michael the Archangel in Erwin effective July 1, 2023.  (Father Wandera currently serves as associate pastor of St. Michael the Archangel.)

Father Pontian Kiyimba, AJ – Parochial administrator of St. Mary Church in Gatlinburg and Good Shepherd Church in Newport, effective July 1, 2023.  (Father Kiyimba currently serves as associate pastor of St. Mary Church in Oak Ridge.)

Father Emmanuel Massawe, AJ – Associate pastor of St. Mary Church in Gatlinburg and Good Shepherd Church in Newport, effective July 1, 2023.  (Father Massawe currently serves as associate pastor of St. Dominic Church in Kingsport.)

Father Moises Moreno – Associate pastor of St. Mary Church in Johnson City, effective July 1, 2023.  (Father Moreno currently serves as associate pastor of St. Mary Church in Gatlinburg and Holy Cross Church in Pigeon Forge.)

Father Adam Royal – Associate pastor of St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Lenoir City, effective July 1, 2023.  (Father Royal currently serves as associate pastor of Our Lady of Fatima Church in Alcoa.)

Rev. Mr. Joseph Austin – Will be ordained a priest on June 10, 2023 and will serve as associate pastor of Our Lady of Fatima Church in Alcoa, effective July 1, 2023.

Rev. Mr. Neil Blatchford - Will be ordained a priest on June 10, 2023 and will serve as associate pastor of St. Mary Church in Oak Ridge, effective July 1, 2023.

Rev. Mr. Andrew Crabtree - Will be ordained a priest on June 10, 2023 and will assist at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus in Knoxville, from July 1 to August 6 and then serve as associate pastor of St. Dominic Church in Kingsport, effective August 7, 2023. 

Rev. Mr.  Renzo Alvarado Suarez – Will serve as a deacon at the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul in Chattanooga, effective May 30, 2023.

Mr. Bo Beaty – Will be ordained a transitional deacon on June 3, 2023 and will serve as a deacon at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus in Knoxville, from June 4 to August 13.

Mr. Daniel Herman – Will be ordained a transitional deacon on June 3, 2023 and will serve as a deacon at St. Alphonsus Church in Crossville, from June 4 to August 13.

Mr. Michael Willey – Will be ordained a transitional deacon on June 3, 2023 and will serve as a deacon at St. Patrick Church in Morristown, from June 4 to August 13.