Clergy changes to be effective in June, July

Published: April 17, 2023

Bishop Anthony B. Taylor announced the following pastoral appointments, April 14, 2023, for the Diocese of Little Rock.

Effective June 11:

• Cody Eveld, to be ordained to the transitional diaconate on May 19, assigned to serve as deacon at St. Mary Church in Batesville and St. Cecilia Church in Newport through Aug. 30.

Effective July 1:

• Rev. Jayaraju Sure appointed associate pastor of St. Raphael Church in Springdale. He is relieved of his responsibilities as associate administrator of St. John Church and St. Leo the Great University Parish in Russellville.
• Rev. Daniel Ramos appointed from administrator to pastor of St. John Church in Russellville. He is relieved of his responsibilities as administrator of St. Leo the Great University Parish in Russellville.
• Rev. Omar Galván appointed associate pastor of St. Leo the Great University Parish in Russellville, Church of the Assumption in Atkins, St. Augustine Church in Dardanelle and St. Andrew Church in Danville. He is relieved of his responsibilities as associate pastor of St. Raphael Church in Springdale.
• Rev. Mauricio Carrasco appointed pastor of St. Leo the Great University Parish in Russellville. This is in addition to his current responsibilities as pastor of Church of the Assumption in Atkins, St. Augustine Church in Dardanelle and St. Andrew Church in Danville.
• Dcn. John Paul Hartnedy, to be ordained to the priesthood on May 27, appointed associate pastor of St. Edward Church in Texarkana, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in Ashdown and Sacred Heart Church in Foreman.
• Rev. Balaraju Desam appointed administrator of Immaculate Conception Church in North Little Rock. He is relieved of his responsibilities as temporary administrator of St. Joseph Church in Conway, St. Boniface Church in Bigelow (New Dixie) and St. Oscar Romero Catholic Community in Greenbrier.
• Rev. John C. Wakube appointed pastor of St. Peter Church in Wynne and St. Mary Church in McCrory. He is relieved of his responsibilities as pastor of Immaculate Conception Church in North Little Rock.
• Rev. Alfhones Perikala appointed pastor of St. Jude the Apostle Church in Jacksonville. He is relieved of his responsibilities as pastor of St. Peter Church in Wynne and St. Mary Church in McCrory.
• Rev. Martin Siebold appointed pastor of Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Lincoln and associate pastor of St. Raphael Church in Springdale. He will reside at St. Raphael Church in Springdale. He is relieved of his responsibilities as pastor of St. Jude the Apostle Church in Jacksonville.
• Rev. Jason M. Tyler, STL, relieved of his responsibilities as pastor of Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Lincoln. He remains pastor of St. Joseph Church in Fayetteville and director of Continuing Education of the Clergy.
• Rev. Manikjaraju Kotha relieved of his responsibilities as associate pastor of Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Lincoln. He remains associate pastor of St. Joseph Church in Fayetteville.
• Dcn. Marcelino Vázquez relieved of his responsibilities as administrator and preacher of Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Lincoln. He remains deacon at St. Joseph Church in Fayetteville and Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Lincoln.
• Rev. Chanda Pillai PJ, IMS, relieved of his responsibilities as associate pastor of Christ the King Church in Little Rock and St. Francis of Assisi Church in Roland (Little Italy) to continue his ministry with the Indian Missionary Society in India.
• Dcn. Nathan Ashburn, to be ordained to the priesthood on May 27, appointed associate pastor of Christ the King Church in Little Rock and St. Francis of Assisi Church in Roland (Little Italy).
• Rev. Leon Ngandu, SVD, relieved of his responsibilities as pastor of St. Augustine Church in North Little Rock, St. Bartholomew Church in Little Rock and as chaplain of Mount St. Mary Academy in Little Rock to continue his ministry with the Society of the Divine Word.
• Rev. Riroin Emanuel Tanu, SVD, a priest of the Society of the Divine Word, appointed administrator of St. Augustine Church in North Little Rock and St. Bartholomew Church in Little Rock.
• Rev. John Connell, VG, appointed moderator of the curia for the Diocese of Little Rock, and pastor of St. Joseph Church in Conway, St. Boniface Church in Bigelow (New Dixie), St. Oscar Romero Catholic Community in Greenbrier and minister of Catholic Campus Ministry in Conway. He is relieved of his responsibilities as pastor of St. Raphael Church in Springdale.
• Msgr. Jack D. Harris relieved of his responsibilities as minister of Catholic Campus Ministry in Conway. He remains associate pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Morrilton, St. Elizabeth Church in Oppelo and pastor of St. Joseph Church in Center Ridge.
• Rev. Daniel Wendel appointed associate pastor of St. Joseph Church in Conway, St. Boniface Church in Bigelow (New Dixie), St. Oscar Romero Catholic Community in Greenbrier and minister of Catholic Campus Ministry in Conway. He is relieved of his responsibilities as associate pastor of St. Raphael Church in Springdale.
• Rev. Alejandro Puello appointed pastor of St. Raphael Church in Springdale. He is relieved of his responsibilities as pastor of St. Anne Church in North Little Rock and spiritual advisor for the Misioneros Vicentinos Laicos (Vincentian Lay Mission Center).
• Rev. Martín Amaro appointed administrator of St. Anne Church in North Little Rock and spiritual advisor for the Misioneros Vicentinos Laicos (Vincentian Lay Mission Center). He is relieved of his responsibilities as associate pastor of Blessed Sacrament Church in Jonesboro.
• Rev. Alex Smith appointed associate pastor of Blessed Sacrament Church in Jonesboro and administrator of St. John Newman University Parish in Jonesboro. He will reside at Blessed Sacrament Church in Jonesboro. He is relieved of his responsibilities as associate pastor of St. Joseph Church in Fayetteville and Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Lincoln.
• Rev. Tuyen Ngoc Do appointed pastor of St. Norbert Church in Marked Tree and minister to the Vietnamese Catholic community at St. John Newman University Parish in Jonesboro. This is in addition to his current responsibilities as pastor of St. Anthony Church in Weiner. He is relieved of his responsibilities as pastor of St. John Newman University Parish in Jonesboro.
• Rev. Francis Madanu relieved of his responsibilities as pastor of St. Norbert Church in Marked Tree. He remains pastor of Immaculate Conception Church in Blytheville and St. Matthew Church in Osceola.
• Rev. Irudaya Raj Nalazala Augustine, appointed associate pastor of Blessed Sacrament Church in Jonesboro. He is relieved of his responsibilities as associate pastor of St. Joseph Church in Conway, St. Boniface Church in Bigelow (New Dixie) and St. Oscar Romero Catholic Community in Greenbrier.
• Rev. Andrew Hart, JCL, appointed associate pastor of Our Lady of Good Counsel Church in Little Rock. This is in addition to his current responsibilities as adjutant judicial vicar and judge, and theological advisor for the Diocese of Little Rock.
• Rev. Ben Riley appointed from administrator to pastor of Mary Mother of God Church in Harrison and St. Andrew Church in Yellville.
• Rev. Brian L. Cundall appointed from administrator to pastor of Christ the King Church in Fort Smith.
• Rev. Jon Miskin appointed from administrator to pastor of St. Mary Church in Batesville and St. Cecilia Church in Newport.
• Rev. Nelson Rubio appointed from administrator to pastor of St. James Church in Searcy and St. Richard Church in Bald Knob.
• Rev. Daniel Velasco appointed from administrator to pastor of Our Lady of the Holy Souls Church in Little Rock. He remains director of spiritual direction formation for the Diocese of Little Rock and director of spiritual formation for the House of Formation in Little Rock.