Diocese announces retirements, new pastoral assignments

There are personnel changes coming to the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux.

Bishop, the Most Rev. Shelton J. Fabre announced new pastoral assignments last week — decisions he made after consultation with the Diocesan Priests’ Personnel Committee.

All appointments are effective, as of July 1, 2019.

They are announced below, as offered by the Diocese.

PASTORAL ASSIGNMENTS

• Rev. Cody Chatagnier has been appointed Pastor of St. Ann Catholic Church in Bourg for a six-year term. He has most recently served as Administrator of St. Ann Catholic Church in Bourg since May 2018.

• Rev. Msgr. Cletus Egbi has been appointed Pastor of St. Luke Catholic Church in Thibodaux and St. Lucy Catholic Church in Houma for a six-year term. He most recently served as Administrator of St. Luke Catholic Church in Thibodaux and St. Lucy Catholic Church since Jan. 2018.

• Rev. Clyde Mahler has been appointed Pastor of Saint Mary’s Nativity Catholic Church in Raceland for a six-year term. He has most recently served as Pastor of Holy Cross Catholic Church in Morgan City since July 2014.

• Rev. Thankachan (John) Nambusseril has been appointed Pastor of Our Lady of Prompt Succor Catholic Church in Golden Meadow for a six-year term. He has most recently served as Pastor of Holy Savior Catholic Church in Lockport since July 2015.

• Rev. Joseph (Henry) Sebastian, M.S.F.S., has been appointed Pastor of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Morgan City for a six-year term. He had most recently served as Pastor of Our Lady of Prompt Succor Catholic Church in Golden Meadow since July 2012.

• Rev. Joseph Tregre has been appointed Pastor of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Houma for a six-year term. He has most recently served as Chaplain of Thibodaux Regional Medical Center since July 2018.

ASSOCIATE PASTOR ASSIGNMENTS

• Rev. Brett Lapeyrouse has been appointed Associate Pastor of St. Genevieve Church in Thibodaux. His Ordination to the Priesthood is June 1 at 10 a.m. at the Cathedral of Saint Francis de Sales in Houma.

• Rev. Patrick Riviere has been appointed Associate Pastor at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish and Student Center at Nicholls State University. His Ordination to the Priesthood is June 1 at 10 a.m. at the Cathedral of Saint Francis de Sales in Houma.

• Rev. Romeo (Billy) Velasco has been appointed Associate Pastor of the Cathedral of Saint Francis de Sales in Houma. He has most recently served as Associate Pastor of Saint Genevieve Catholic Church in Thibodaux since July 2017.

DIOCESAN APPOINTMENTS

• Rev. Prentice Tipton, a priest of the Diocese of Saginaw, Michigan, has been given permission by his Apostolic Administrator, Bishop Walter Hurley, to serve in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, for one year. Rev. Tipton will serve as a Senior Liaison for the Diocesan Office of Parish Support. He has also been appointed Associate Pastor of Christ the Redeemer Church in Thibodaux.

DIOCESAN ASSIGNMENTS

• Rev. Rholando (Rolly) Grecia has been appointed Chaplain of Terrebonne General Medical Center in Houma. He most recently served as Pastor of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Houma since July 2014. He will live in residence at the Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales in Houma.

• Rev. Jacob Lipari III has been appointed Chaplain of Thibodaux Regional Medical Center in Thibodaux. He will live in residence at St. Joseph Co-Cathedral. He will continue to serve the Diocesan Tribunal, as well as continue his post-graduate study of Canon Law.

• Rev. Mitchel (Mitch) Semar has been appointed Director of Seminarians for both College Seminary and Major Seminary. He will continue to serve as Pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish and Student Center at Nicholls in Thibodaux.

ADMINISTRATOR ASSIGNMENTS

• Rev. Samuel (Brice) Higginbotham has been appointed Administrator of Holy Cross Catholic Church in Morgan City for a one-year term. He has most recently served as Associate Pastor of Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church in Thibodaux since Jan. 2018.

• Rev. John David (J.D.) Matherne has been appointed Administrator of Saint Hilary Catholic Church in Mathews for a one-year term. He has most recently served as Director of Vocations and Bishop’s Liaison for Youth Formation since July 2018. He will continue to serve as Diocesan Director of Vocations.

• Rev. Jean-Marie Nsambu has been appointed Administrator of Holy Savior Catholic Church in Lockport for a one-year term. He has most recently served as Associate Pastor of the Cathedral of Saint Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Houma since Nov. 2017.

• Rev. Antonio Maria Speedy has been re-appointed Administrator of Holy Family Catholic Church in Dulac for a one-year term. He has most recently served in specialized evangelization ministry since Dec. 2017.

PRIEST RETIREMENTS

In addition to the appointments and assignments, Bishop Fabre has also accepted the retirement of the following three priests:

• Rev. Wilfredo (Freddie) Decal, was ordained in Dec. 1977, and has been a priest for 41 years. Fr. Decal served the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux for 35 years. He most recently served as Pastor of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Morgan City since July 2016.

• Rev. Patrick (P.J.) Madden, was ordained in May 2014, and has been a priest for 15 years. Fr. Madden served the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux for nine years. He most recently served as Pastor of Saint Hilary Catholic Church in Mathews and St. Anthony Catholic Church in Gheens since July 2015.

• Rev. Charles (Charlie) Perkins, was ordained in Feb. 1978, and has served as a priest in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux his entire career — 41 years. Fr. Perkins most recently served as Pastor of Saint Mary’s Nativity Catholic Church in Raceland since July 2014. •

Bishop Fabre

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