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Last Updated: Friday - 09/24/2010

Week of June 5, 2000

Collins chooses young chancellor

Bittman to serve 2 parishes as well as heading chancery office

By GLEN ARGAN
WCR Editor
Edmonton

The 39-year-old pastor of Christ the King Parish in Stettler has been chosen to serve as Archbishop Thomas Collins' right-hand man.

Father Greg Bittman will become chancellor of the Edmonton Archdiocese on Aug. 15, the fourth anniversary of his ordination. He will take over from Father Mike McCaffery, chancellor since 1993, who has been granted a sabbatical.

"It was a bit of a surprise, but also an honour," Bittman told the WCR. "The archbishop has confidence in me. I hope I can live up to it."

Bittman will also be pastor of St. Anthony and St. Agnes parishes on Edmonton's south side. He will receive the help of an associate pastor in serving those parishes.

Collins said Bittman is "a very fine priest. He has many wonderful qualities which will help him in his work."

The archbishop also paid tribute to McCaffery. "I'm very appreciative of Father Mike McCaffery for helping me to begin my time as archbishop and for helping me to get to know the diocese."

Marguerite Bilodeau will continue to serve as co-chancellor.

The priests' appointments announced by Collins also further the parish merger process of the archdiocesan Transformation of Parishes project.

Pastoral responsibility for the parishes in Evansburg and Drayton Valley will be combined. So will responsibility for parishes in Mayerthorpe and Onoway.

as well, responsibility for parishes at Gibbons and Lamont will be merged with that of the Fort Saskatchewan parish. Father Duncan MacDonnell will receive an associate pastor to assist him.

Collins also announced numerous other appointments. Unless otherwise noted, they will take effect Aug. 15:

Edmonton:

Annunciation Parish: Holy Cross Father Michael Toner, currently pastor at St. James Parish, becomes associate pastor June 5 assisting Holy Cross Father Joseph Doucet and replacing Holy Cross Father Robert MacInroy. Holy Cross Father Wilf Murchland will become priest in residence.

St. Agnes-St. Anthony parishes: Father Greg Bittman, now in Stettler, becomes the pastor assisted by Father Tesfu Kelati.

St. John Bosco Parish: Salesian Father Romano Venturelli becomes pastor.

St. Theresa Parish: Stephen Hero, to be ordained June 29, becomes associate pastor effective June 30.

St. Thomas More Parish: Father Ken West, now on sabbatical, becomes pastor.

Outside Edmonton:

Camrose: Father Nestor Watin of the Philippines becomes associate pastor of St. Francis Xavier Parish, assisting Father Micheal Laporte.

Drayton Valley: Father Stan Blaszkowski, currently pastor in Evansburg, accepts the added responsibility of being pastor for Drayton Valley effective June 30.

Edson: Father Patrick Baska, now associate pastor in Sherwood Park, becomes pastor of Sacred Heart Parish.

Gibbons-Lamont: Father Duncan MacDonnell, now pastor in Fort Saskatchewan, accepts the added responsibilities as pastor in Gibbons and in Lamont. He will be assisted by associate pastor Father Jozef Wroblewski. (See story on Page 13.)

Lloydminster: Father Tesfu Kelati, coming from Ethiopia, will look after St. Anthony Parish from June 1 until Aug. 15. On Aug. 15, Father Adam Lech, now pastor in Lamont, becomes pastor of St. Anthony Parish.

Onoway: Father Raymond Guimond, now pastor of Mayerthorpe, takes the added the responsibility of being pastor of St. Rose of Lima Parish effective June 30.

Red Deer: Father Donald Stein, now pastor in Sherwood Park, becomes pastor of Sacred Heart Parish.

Sherwood Park: Piarist Father Andrew Rybak, now on sabbatical, becomes pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish. Piarist Father Kazimierz Bukowski will be priest in residence.

Stettler: Father Mark McGee, now associate pastor of St. Theresa's Parish in Edmonton, becomes pastor of Christ the King Parish and attached parishes.

Thorsby: Spiritan Father Francis Laverty, now pastor in Devon, accepts the added responsibility of Our Lady of Victory Parish.

Other:

Father Emmett Crough, now pastor of St. Agnes and St. Anthony parishes in Edmonton, becomes full-time chaplain serving the Grey Nuns and University of Alberta hospitals.

Father Roger Keeler, currently pastor in Edson, is granted a sabbatical leave to study canon law effective June 1.

Salesian Father Luc Lantagne, now pastor of St. John Bosco Parish in Edmonton, has been elected provincial superior of his community.

Spiritan Father Tom Maguire, now pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Red Deer, is granted a sabbatical leave.

Father Mike McCaffery retires as chancellor and is granted a sabbatical leave.

Father Paul Mensah, now pastor in Drayton Valley, has completed his service in the archdiocese and will pursue further studies effective June 30.

Father Samuel Nuako, now pastor in Thorsby, has completed his service in the archdiocese and will pursue further studies.

Father Peter Sharpe, currently pastor in Lloydminster, is granted a temporary leave effective June 1.

Father Richard Theroux, now pastor of St. Thomas More Parish in Edmonton, retires.

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