Saturday, May 13, 2023

New clergy assignments announced in Diocese of Baton Rouge

 May 13, 2023

by The Chancery
In consultation with the Clergy Personnel Board, Bishop Michael Duca makes the following appointments effective 01 July 2023: 

Retirement of Pastors 

Father Jeff Bayhi, currently Pastor of St. John the Baptist in Zachary, will retire from active parish administration. 

Father Paul Counce, currently Judicial Vicar, will retire from full-time ministry; he will continue to serve the diocese as Judicial Vicar with the cooperation of Ms. Claire Breaux, Director of the Diocesan Tribunal.  

Father Tom Ranzino, currently Pastor of St. Jean Vianney in Baton Rouge and Vicar General, will retire from active parish administration and as Vicar General.  He will continue to serve the diocese as Director of the Office of Worship. 

Father Rubin Reynolds, currently Pastor of St. Mark in Gonzales, will retire from active parish administration.  This retirement is effective 07 August 2023. 

The Diocese of Baton Rouge thanks these priests for their many years of service to the people of our local Church! 

Diocesan Appointments 

Father Jamin David, currently Pastor of St. Margaret, Queen of Scotland in Albany, Administrator of Holy Family in Port Allen, and Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia, will conclude his service as Pastor of St. Margaret and Administrator of Holy Family to assume full-time responsibilities as Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia.  This appointment is effective 17 July 2023.   

Father Tim Grimes, currently Parochial Vicar of Sacred Heart of Jesus in Baton Rouge, is assigned to Canonical Studies to pursue a licentiate in canon law at The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC for two years, or a total of six semesters of study. This appointment is effective 01 August 2023. 

Mr. John Ladouceur, a deacon candidate for the Diocese of Baton Rouge and an employee in the Diocesan Tribunal, is assigned to Canonical Studies to purse a licentiate in Canon Law, primarily through online studies, at The University of St. Paul in Ottawa, Canada, for four years, or a total of twelve trimesters of study.  This appointment is effective 01 August 2023.   

Pastor Appointments 

Father Mathew Dunn, currently Parochial Vicar of Christ the King at LSU in Baton Rouge, is appointed Pastor of Christ the King at LSU in Baton Rouge.   

Father Paul Gros, currently Parochial Vicar of St. Margaret, Queen of Scotland in Albany and Chaplain to St. Thomas Aquinas Diocesan Regional School in Hammond, is appointed Pastor of St. Margaret, Queen of Scotland in Albany.  He will retain his responsibilities as Formation Director for the Permanent Diaconate.  This appointment is effective 17 July 2023.   

Father Eric Gyan, currently Pastor of St. Theresa of Avila in Gonzales, is appointed Pastor of St. Jean Vianney in Baton Rouge.   

Father Gerard Martin, currently Pastor of St. John the Evangelist in Prairieville, is appointed Pastor of Holy Family in Port Allen

Father Matthew McCaughey, currently Pastor of St. James in St. James, St. Philip in Vacherie, and Our Lady of Peace in Vacherie, is appointed Pastor of St. Theresa of Avila in Gonzales

Father Andrew Merrick, currently Pastor of Christ the King at LSU in Baton Rouge, is appointed Pastor of St. John the Evangelist in Prairieville.  He will retain his responsibilities as diocesan Director of Seminarians.   

Administrator Appointments 

Father Martin Lawrence, a priest of the Diocese of Sioux-Falls in South Dakota, is appointed Administrator of St. Mark in GonzalesThis appointment is effective 07 August 2023. 

Father Michael O’Rourke, OP, a priest of the Order of Preachers (Dominicans) and currently Chaplain at St. Albert the Great in Hammond, is appointed Administrator of St. James in St. James, St. Philip in Vacherie, and Our Lady of Peace in Vacherie

Father Lamar Partin, CSsR, a priest of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (Redemptorists) and currently Parochial Vicar at St. John the Evangelist in Prairieville, is appointed Administrator of St. John the Baptist in Zachary.  

Chaplain/Director Appointments 

Father John Fahey Guerra, CSsR, a priest of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (Redemptorists), is appointed Chaplain of the Hispanic Apostolate and Director of Administrative Affairs for the community of the Hispanic Christian faithful who worship at St. Pius X Church in Baton Rouge.   

Father Taylor Sanford, currently Parochial Vicar of Immaculate Conception in Denham Springs and Chaplain to St. Michael the Archangel Diocesan Regional School in Baton Rouge, is appointed Chaplain and Director of St. Albert the Great Student Center in Hammond with residence at St. Margaret, Queen of Scotland in Albany. 

Parochial Vicar Appointments 

Father Albert Blount who is to be ordained 27 May 2023 is appointed Parochial Vicar of St. John the Evangelist in Prairieville.   

Father Joseph Bresowar who is to be ordained 27 May 2023 is appointed Parochial Vicar of Immaculate Conception in Denham Springs.   

Diaconate Appointments 

Deacon Chris Landry, currently Deacon Assistant at St. Jude the Apostle in Baton Rouge, is appointed as Deacon Assistant at Ascension of Our Lord in Donaldsonville.  This appointment is effective 14 August 2023. 

Deacon Paul Soileau is appointed as Associate Director of the Office of the Permanent Diaconate. He will retain his assignment as Deacon Assistant at St. Thomas More in Baton Rouge.    

Diaconate Appointments  

(Those Being Ordained 12 August 2023) 

In consultation with the Office of the Diaconate, the Office of Formation for the Permanent Diaconate, and the Clergy Personnel Board, Bishop Michael Duca makes the following appointments effective 14 August 2023: 

Deacon Don Allison is appointed as Deacon Assistant at St. Aloysius in Baton Rouge with his assigned Ministry of Charity to serve the needs of Prisoners throughout the Diocese of Baton Rouge. 

Deacon Terry Bellon is appointed as Deacon Assistant at St. George in Baton Rouge with his assigned Ministry of Charity to serve as co-chaplain of the EnCourage Ministry in the Diocese of Baton Rouge. 

Deacon Billy Francioni is appointed as Deacon Assistant at St. Jude the Apostle in Baton Rouge with his assigned Ministry of Charity to serve as co-chaplain of the EnCourage Ministry in the Diocese of Baton Rouge. 

Deacon Joseph Perry is appointed as Deacon Assistant at St. Gerard Majella in Baton Rouge with his assigned Ministry of Charity serving the needs of Redemptorist-St. Gerard School.   

Other Appointments 

Father Albert Blount is appointed Co-Chaplain to St. Michael the Archangel High School in Baton Rouge.  This assignment is in addition to his other assignment as Parochial Vicar of St. John the Evangelist in Prairieville.     

Father Joseph Bresowar is appointed Co-Chaplain to St. Michael the Archangel High School in Baton Rouge.  This assignment is in addition to his other assignment as Parochial Vicar of Immaculate Conception in Denham Springs. 

Father Taylor Sanford is appointed Chaplain to St. Thomas Aquinas Diocesan Regional School in Hammond. This assignment is in addition to his other assignment as Chaplain and Director of St. Albert the Great Student Center in Hammond. 


Congratulations to all these men on their new appointments! 

Given at the Chancery of Baton Rouge

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