Bishop releases pastoral changes April 26

Published: April 29, 2019

Bishop Anthony B. Taylor announced the following pastoral appointments Friday, April 26, 2019, for the Diocese of Little Rock:

Effective Feb. 27:

• Rev. John C. Wakube excardinated from the Apostles of Jesus and incardinated into the Diocese of Little Rock. He remains pastor of Immaculate Conception Church in North Little Rock.        

Effective June 12:

• Rev. George Sanders appointed pastor of the Church of St. John the Baptist in Hot Springs. He remains chaplain of St. Vincent Hospital in Hot Springs. He is relieved of his responsibilities as pastor of St. Mary of the Springs Church in Hot Springs.
• Rev. Ravi Rayappa Gudipalli appointed pastor of St. Mary of the Springs Church in Hot Springs, with residence at the Church of St. John the Baptist in Hot Springs. He is relieved of his responsibilities as pastor of the Church of St. John the Baptist in Hot Springs.
• Rev. Clayton Gould relieved of his responsibilities as pastor of Holy Rosary Church in Stuttgart to become a senior priest.
• Rev. Shaun Wesley appointed to Spanish-language ministry at St. James Church in Searcy. This is in addition to his current responsibilities as pastor of St. Rosa of Lima Church in Carlisle and Sts. Cyril and Methodius Church in Slovak. He is relieved of his responsibilities as pastor of Holy Trinity Church in England.
• Rev. Andrew Hart, JCL, appointed pastor of Holy Rosary Church in Stuttgart and Holy Trinity Church in England. This is in addition to his service in the tribunal of the Diocese of Little Rock. He is relieved of his responsibilities as pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas University Parish in Fayetteville and as sacramental minister of Blessed Stanley Rother Church in Decatur and St. Mary Church in Siloam Springs.
• Rev. Jason Sharbaugh appointed from associate pastor to pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas University Parish in Fayetteville. This is in addition to his current responsibilities as sacramental minister of Blessed Stanley Rother Church in Decatur and St. Mary Church in Siloam Springs.
• Rev. Alfhones Perikala appointed from associate pastor to administrator of St. John the Evangelist Church in Huntsville, associate pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas University Parish in Fayetteville and to assist with the liturgical schedule at Blessed Stanley Rother Church in Decatur and St. Mary Church in Siloam Springs. He is relieved of his responsibilities as associate pastor of St. Joseph Church in Fayetteville and Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Lincoln.
• Rev. Jason Tyler, STL, relieved of his responsibilities as pastor of St. John the Evangelist Church in Huntsville. He remains pastor of St. Joseph Church in Fayetteville and Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Lincoln.
• Rev. Jules Norbert Njopmo relieved of his responsibilities as associate pastor of St. John the Evangelist Church in Huntsville. He remains associate pastor of St. Joseph Church in Fayetteville and Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Lincoln.
• Rev. Patrick Watikha, AJ, relieved of his responsibilities as pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Charleston to continue his ministry with the Apostles of Jesus outside of Arkansas.
• Rev. Norman McFall appointed pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Charleston. He remains chaplain of Mercy Hospital in Fort Smith. He is relieved of his responsibilities as associate pastor of Christ the King Church in Fort Smith.
• Rev. J. Lucas Womack appointed from administrator to pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Church in Fairfield Bay and St. Jude Thaddeus Church in Clinton and to Spanish-language ministry at St. Albert Church in Heber Springs.
• Rev. Toshio Sato, CM, relieved of his responsibilities as pastor of St. Anne Church in North Little Rock, Spanish-language ministry at St. Mary of the Springs Church in Hot Springs and as spiritual advisor for Misioneros Vicentinos to continue his ministry with the Congregation of the Mission outside of Arkansas.
• Rev. Luis Ariel Ramírez, CM, relieved of his responsibilities as associate pastor of St. Anne Church in North Little Rock, Spanish-language ministry at St. Mary of the Springs Church in Hot Springs and as spiritual advisor for Misioneros Vicentinos to continue his ministry with the Congregation of the Mission outside of Arkansas.
• Rev. Alejandro Puello appointed pastor of St. Anne Church in North Little Rock and spiritual advisor for Misioneros Vicentinos. He will reside at Immaculate Conception Church in North Little Rock. He is relieved of his responsibilities as pastor of Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Booneville and St. Jude Thaddeus Church in Waldron.
• Rev. Rajasekhar Chittem appointed administrator of Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Booneville and St. Jude Thaddeus Church in Waldron. He is relieved of his responsibilities as associate pastor of St. Raphael Church in Springdale and St. Joseph Church in Tontitown.
• Deacon Jonathan Miskin, to be ordained to the priesthood May 25, appointed associate pastor of St. Raphael Church in Springdale and St. Joseph Church in Tontitown.
• Rev. Nelson Rubio appointed associate pastor of St. Theresa Church in Little Rock. He is relieved of his responsibilities as associate pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in North Little Rock (Marché) and St. Mary Church in North Little Rock.
• Rev. Joseph L. de Orbegozo appointed associate pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in North Little Rock (Marché) and St. Mary Church in North Little Rock. He remains part-time teacher at the House of Formation in Little Rock. He is relieved of his responsibilities as associate pastor of St. Theresa Church in Little Rock.
• Rev. Andrew Smith relieved of his responsibilities as pastor of St. Jude the Apostle Church in Jacksonville to become a senior priest.
• Rev. Martin J. Siebold appointed administrator of St. Jude the Apostle Church in Jacksonville. This is in addition to his current responsibilities as spiritual director of the English and Spanish Cursillo in the Diocese of Little Rock. He is relieved of his responsibilities as associate pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Church in Rogers.
• Rev. Michael L. Johns appointed associate pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Church in Rogers. He is relieved of his responsibilities as associate pastor of Church of St. John the Baptist in Hot Springs.
• Rev. Keith Higginbotham appointed associate pastor of the Church of St. John the Baptist in Hot Springs and to help with Misioneros Vicentinos. He is relieved of his responsibilities as associate pastor of St. Edward Church in Little Rock and as chaplain of Mount St. Mary Academy in Little Rock.
• Rev. Leon Ngandu, SVD, appointed chaplain of Mount St. Mary Academy in Little Rock. This is in addition to his current responsibilities as pastor of St. Augustine Church in North Little Rock and St. Bartholomew Church in Little Rock. He is relieved of his responsibilities as part-time chaplain of St. Vincent Hospital in Little Rock.
• Rev. Michael Sinkler relieved of his responsibilities as pastor of St. Norbert Church in Marked Tree. He remains pastor of St. Anthony Church in Weiner and chaplain of Holy Angels Convent and St. Bernard Medical Center in Jonesboro.
• Rev. Francis Madanu appointed administrator of Blessed John Newman University Parish in Jonesboro and St. Norbert Church in Marked Tree. This is in addition to his current responsibilities as associate pastor of Blessed Sacrament Church in Jonesboro.
• Rev. Alphonse Gollapalli relieved of his responsibilities as pastor of Blessed John Newman University Parish in Jonesboro. He remains pastor of Blessed Sacrament Church in Jonesboro.
• Rev. Stephen Mallanga, AJ, relieved of his responsibilities as pastor of St. Mary Church in Paragould and Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Walnut Ridge to continue his ministry with the Apostles of Jesus outside of Arkansas.
• Rev. Mariadass Vallapaneni appointed pastor of St. Mary Church in Paragould and Immaculate Heart of Mary in Walnut Ridge. He is relieved of his responsibilities as pastor of St. Paul the Apostle Church in Pocahontas, St. Joseph the Worker Church in Corning and St. John the Baptist Church in Engelberg.
• Rev. Stephen J. Elser, Phl, appointed administrator of St. Paul the Apostle Church in Pocahontas, St. Joseph the Worker Church in Corning and St. John the Baptist Church in Engelberg. He is relieved of his responsibilities as associate pastor of Immaculate Conception Church in Fort Smith and as chaplain of Trinity Junior High School in Fort Smith.
• Deacon Martín Amaro, to be ordained to the priesthood May 11, appointed associate pastor of Immaculate Conception Church in Fort Smith and chaplain of Trinity Junior High in Fort Smith as soon as he becomes available.
• Rev. Ramsés Mendieta appointed from administrator to pastor of St. Barbara Church in De Queen and St. Juan Diego Church in Wickes.
• Rev. William W. Burmester appointed from administrator to pastor of St. Louis Church in Camden and Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Magnolia.
• Rev. Stephen W. Hart appointed from administrator to pastor of Our Lady of the Lake Church in Lake Village, Holy Cross Church in Crossett and Holy Spirit Church in Hamburg.