Eight Hawaii parishes will receive new pastors or administrators on July 1, the date when most new routine clergy assignments are made in the Diocese of Honolulu. July 1 will also be the retirement date for three longtime diocesan parish priests.
Bishop Larry Silva announced a total of 20 new priest parish assignments since the beginning of the year through July 1, including the appointments of parochial vicars, formerly called associate pastors.
Retiring on July 1 are Father Sydney Fernandes, parochial vicar of Sts. Peter and Paul Parish in Honolulu, Father Adrian Gervacio, pastor of Our Lady of the Mount Parish in Kalihi Valley and Father William Shannon, pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish, Lihue.
Retiring earlier this year, on April 30, was the pastor of Malia Puka O Kalani Parish in Keaukaha on the Big Island, Father Joseph Hennen.
The following priests received new assignments as administrators or pastors this year. An administrator has the same duties as a pastor, but usually a more temporary status.
- Father Thomas Joseph (formerly Purayidathil) of the Diocese of Honolulu was named administrator of Maui’s Our Lady Queen of Angels Parish, also known as the Kula Catholic Community, on March 14.
- Father Stephen Macedo of the Diocese of Honolulu was named pastor of the Big Island’s Annunciation Parish, Waimea, on May 1.
- Father Oliver Ortega, a priest of the Diocese of Malolos in the Philippines, ordained on June 10, 2004, was appointed on May 1 as administrator of Malia Puka O Kalani Parish.
- Father Anthony Rapozo, ordained on Dec. 30, 2011, for the Diocese of Honolulu, was named pastor of St. Catherine Parish, Kapaa, on May 15. He was also appointed as vicar forane of the Kauai vicariate the same day.
- Father Ronie Pillos, was assigned as administrator of St. Theresa Parish, Mountain View on May 19. Ordained Aug. 23, 1999, he is a priest of the Diocese of Laoag in the Philippines.
- Father Exsequel Tuyor was promoted from parochial vicar to administrator of St. Anthony Parish, Kailua, on June 1. A priest of the Diocese of Tagum in the Philippines, he was ordained on April 21, 1994.
- Father Leonard Ssemppijja of the Archdiocese of Kampala, Uganda, ordained on July 16, 1994, was named administrator of St. Rita Parish, Haiku, Maui, on July 1.
- Father Rufino Gepiga, ordained Sept. 14, 1999, for the Diocese of Sorsogon, Philippines, was named administrator for two Big Island parishes, Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, Papaikou, and St. Anthony Parish, Papaaloa, effective July 1.
- Father Pascual Abaya of the Diocese of Honolulu was appointed pastor of Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish, Pearl City, on July 1.
- Father Edgar Brillantes of the Diocese of Honolulu was named pastor of Our Lady of the Mount Parish in Kalihi Valley on July 1.
- Father Khanh Hoang of the Diocese of Honolulu was appointed pastor of St. Jude Parish, Makakilo, on July 1.
- Father Khanh Pham-Nguyen of the Diocese of Honolulu was appointed pastor of Sts. Peter and Paul Parish in Honolulu on July 1.
- Father Mario Raquepo of the Diocese of Honolulu was named pastor of St. Stephen Parish, Nuuanu, on July 1.
- Jesuit Father Michael Scully was appointed pastor of Sacred Heart Parish, Hawi, on July 1.
The following priests received new assignments as parochial vicars this year.
- Father German Somera, a priest of the Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia, Philippines, was assigned Jan. 16 as a parochial vicar to Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Ewa Beach. He was ordained on April 2, 2001.
- Father Woongsuk Yang, a priest of the Diocese of Daejeon, Korea, ordained on Nov. 11, 2012, was named assistant chaplain (similar to parochial vicar) of the Korean Catholic Community on Feb. 12.
- Father Temistocles Tuyac, ordained on Dec. 26, 1995, for the Diocese of Tagum in the Philippines, was assigned as parochial vicar of St. Jude Parish, Kapolei, on March 15.
- Jesuit Father Mount Joseph Selvan Raj was appointed parochial vicar of St. Elizabeth Parish, Aiea, on April 1. He belongs to the Jesuits’ Madurai Province, Tamil Nadu, India.
- Father Rex Rilveria, a priest of the Philippine Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia was named parochial vicar of St. Catherine Parish, Kapaa, on May 14. He was ordained on Dec. 6, 2001.
