Priests embrace new flocks to shepherd following appointments

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Change is biblical. That doesn’t mean it’s easy.

This year’s wave of new priest assignments that largely took effect July 1 changed who fills the role of pastor and parochial vicar at 21 parishes. The changes address pastoral needs across the Diocese of Phoenix. They also make room for both newly ordained and newly arriving priests.

A growing population at St. Anne Parish in Gilbert brought in Fr. Andres Arango as a second parochial vicar earlier this year. Fr. Dan Vanyo replaced him July 1 when Fr. Arango became parochial administrator at St. Gregory Parish. St. Matthew Parish received its first parochial vicar in recent memory to support its 800 families.

For parishioners at St. Charles Borromeo in Peoria, the need was a permanent pastor. They had been without one for a year since Fr. Loren Gonzalez passed away.

Fr. Arthur Nave, Jr. had served as parochial vicar for about three months before filling the gap as parochial administrator. He will officially be installed July 18 as the eighth pastor in the parish’s nearly 50-year history.

It marks his first time as pastor since his ordination seven years ago and his fifth parish assignment. Fr. Nave believes every Catholic parish is different and stressed the importance of openness and patience. Above all, though, is prayer.

“I always took a few days off between the transfer to take a breath and pray for the parish,” Fr. Nave told The Catholic Sun exactly one year after becoming parochial administrator.

When he arrives, he says it’s important not to downplay the fact that the parish is experiencing a change, which is different and can be hard.

“I’m not your predecessor,” nor the one who will be here in the future, Fr. Nave tells parishioners, “I’m the one God called to be here now.”

The people appreciate that honesty, he said. Fr. Nave also admits that he will make mistakes, but together they can figure things out. The strategy has been fruitful.

Listening sessions identified what’s going well, what could go better and what the focus for the next six months should be. The parish has doubled in size forcing the addition of a third English and a second Spanish Mass each weekend. They’ve made steady progress on capital improvements and opportunities for spiritual nourishment too.

Fr. Nave said the slight title change from parochial administrator to a pastor brings stability to a parish and better reflects a priest’s spiritual fatherhood. A three-year program for newly appointed pastors and parochial vicars at St. Meinrad Seminary paired with monthly follow up workshops at the Diocesan Pastoral Center has prepared him for the role of pastor.

Open discussions with staff and the parish council have paved the way for the role of a forthcoming parochial vicar too.

Fr. James Aboyi, VC, is one of four pioneer priests of the Via Christi Society and one of four newly arrived priests serving the Diocese of Phoenix. The new parochial vicar at Holy Cross in Mesa is not new to Arizona.

The Nigeria native has spent his entire priesthood — 11 years on July 3 — in the Diocese of Tucson. He has served at five parishes in the Tucson area with increasing leadership roles, most recently, as pastor in Superior.

“When I go to a new parish, I look in the directory to know who is who in the parish and to know the ministries they have,” Fr. Aboyi said.

He is eager to get to know the communities he serves by visiting ministry meetings and other parish groups, but noted that it’s far easier, especially as a parochial vicar, to be invited by group leaders. The priest, who has a masters in human relations and counseling from Northern Arizona University and is working on a doctorate in psychology, doesn’t want to intrude or step on the pastor’s toes.

“Of course, on the altar I introduce myself,” Fr. Aboyi said.

An introductory homily and note in the bulletin is a common way to announce a priest’s new assignment. Fr. Chuck Kieffer, pastor at St. Theresa, wrote a lengthy bulletin note that both saluted the outgoing parochial vicar and welcomed its new one, while making several connections to priests and places with which parishioners were already familiar.

It went on to offer a basic bio and personality description of its incoming parochial vicar, who is from the same diocese in Nigeria as a previous parochial vicar.

Fr. Nave said any switch within parish leadership should be seen as a celebration that it’s needed, “that we’re doing God’s will and God be praised.”