Priest Assignment Changes
The Most Reverend Donald E. DeGrood has decreed the following priest assignment changes effective July 1, 2025:
Those who will be entering senior status after many years of service:
Fr. Chester Murtha from parochial vicar of St. Agatha Parish, Howard; St. William of Vercelli Parish, Ramona; St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, and DSU Newman outreach, Madison to senior status.
Fr. Gregory Tschakert from parochial vicar, Sacred Heart Parish, St Mary Parish, and St. Thomas Aquinas Newman Center, Aberdeen; St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Groton and St Joseph Parish,
Turton to senior status.
Fr. Terry Weber from parochial vicar of Holy Trinity Parish in Huron; St. Joseph Parish, Wessington Springs; St. Wilfrid Parish, Woonsocket and St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, DeSmet to senior status.
The following deacons will be entering into senior status on July 1 2025 after many years of service to our Diocese:
Deacon Michael Wambach from Holy Trinity Parish in Huron; St. Joseph Parish, Wessington Springs; St. Wilfrid Parish, Woonsocket and St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, DeSmet to senior status.
Those who will be serving in new pastoral and specialized/chaplaincy ministry assignments:
Fr. Ernest Aburgri from the Diocese of Navrungo-Bolgatanga (Ghana) to parochial vicar of St. Mary Parish, Dell Rapids; St. Peter Parish, Coleman; SS Simon & Jude Parish, Flandreau; and St. Joseph the Workman Parish, Huntimer.
Fr. Mario Castagnola, PES from Pro Ecclesia Sancta religious order serving outside of the Diocese to parochial vicar of St. Michael Parish in Sioux Falls and St. George Parish, Hartford.
Fr. Brian Eckrich from pastor of St. Lawrence, Milbank; St. Charles, Big Stone City; Annunciation, Revillo, St. Mary, Clear Lake and oversight of the Hispanic Ministry within these parishes to parochial vicar of St. Thomas the Apostle, Faulkton; St. Liborius, Polo; St. Mary, Highmore; St. Ann, Miller; St. Bernard’s, Redfield; and All Saints, Mellette.
Fr. David Garza from parochial vicar of St. Lawrence, Milbank; St. Charles, Big Stone City; Annunciation, Revillo, St. Mary, Clear Lake to parochial vicar of Holy Trinity Parish in Huron; St. Joseph Parish, Wessington Springs; St. Wilfrid Parish, Woonsocket and St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, DeSmet.
Fr. Bill Hamak from parochial vicar of Church of Epiphany Parish, Epiphany; St. Ann Parish, Humboldt; St. Martin Parish, Emery; St. Mary Parish, Salem; St. Mary of Mercy Parish, Alexandria; St. Patrick Parish, Montrose; and St. Stephen, Bridgewater to parochial vicar of St. Mary Parish, Dell Rapids; St. Peter Parish, Coleman; SS Simon & Jude Parish, Flandreau; and St. Joseph the Workman Parish, Huntimer.
Fr. Tom Hartman from pastor of St. Michael Parish in Sioux Falls; St. George Parish, Hartford and oversight of the Prison Ministry to pastor of St. Lawrence, Milbank; St. Charles, Big Stone City;
Annunciation, Revillo, St. Mary, Clear Lake and oversight of the Hispanic Ministry within these parishes.
Fr. John Helmueller from parochial vicar of St. Michael Parish in Sioux Falls; St. George Parish, Hartford to parochial vicar of St. Lawrence, Milbank; St. Charles, Big Stone City; Annunciation, Revillo, St. Mary, Clear Lake.
Fr. Russell Homic from serving outside of the Diocese of Sioux Falls to parochial vicar of St. Katharine Drexel Parish, Sioux Falls; St. Nicholas Parish, Tea; St. Magdalen Parish, Lennox; and St. Christina Parish, Parker.
Fr. Yamato Icochea from parochial vicar to priest in solidum of Holy Spirit Parish and Holy Family Parish, Mitchell.
Fr. Steven Jones from parochial vicar of Holy Spirit Parish, Sioux Falls and St. Dominic Parish, Canton to parochial vicar of Church of Epiphany Parish, Epiphany; St. Ann Parish, Humboldt; St.
Martin Parish, Emery; St. Mary Parish, Salem; St. Mary of Mercy Parish, Alexandria; St. Patrick Parish, Montrose; and St. Stephen, Bridgewater.
Msgr. Charles Mangan from parochial vicar of St. Thomas the Apostle, Faulkton; St. Liborius, Polo; St. Mary, Highmore; St. Ann, Miller; St. Bernard, Redfield; and All Saints, Mellette to spiritual director and faculty member at Mount Saint Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, MD.
Fr. Tyler Mattson from parochial vicar of St. Katharine Drexel Parish, Sioux Falls; St. Nicholas Parish, Tea; St. Magdalen Parish, Lennox; and St. Christina Parish, Parker to discipleship and evangelization director/parochial vicar of St. Thomas the Apostle, Faulkton; St. Liborius, Polo; St. Mary, Highmore; St. Ann, Miller; St. Bernard’s, Redfield; and All Saints, Mellette.
Fr. Scott Miller from parochial vicar of St. Mary Parish, Dell Rapids; St. Peter Parish, Coleman; SS Simon & Jude Parish, Flandreau; and St. Joseph the Workman Parish, Huntimer to chaplain, Aberdeen Roncalli Catholic School and parochial vicar, Sacred Heart Parish, St Mary Parish, and St. Thomas Aquinas Newman Center, Aberdeen; St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Groton and St. Joseph
Parish, Turton.
Fr. Desmond Murtala from the Diocese of Navrungo-Bolgatanga (Ghana) to parochial vicar of Holy Spirit Parish, Sioux Falls and St. Dominic Parish, Canton.
Fr. Daniel Smith from Chaplain of Sanford Hospital and Avera Prince of Peace to full-time Chaplain at Sanford Hospital.
Fr. Timothy Smith from parochial vicar of St. Mary Parish, Dell Rapids; St. Peter Parish, Coleman; SS Simon & Jude Parish, Flandreau; and St. Joseph the Workman Parish, Huntimer to full-time
Judicial Vicar for the Diocese and support within the Bishop’s Office.
Fr. Andy Thuringer from parochial vicar of St. Michael Parish in Sioux Falls; St. George Parish, Hartford to discipleship and evangelization director/parochial vicar of St. Michael Parish, Herreid;
St. Joseph Parish, Mobridge; St. Anthony Parish, Selby; St. Augustine Parish, Bowdle; St. Joseph Parish, Eureka; Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Leola; Holy Cross Parish, Ipswich; and St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, Roscoe.
Fr. Cesar Valencia, PES from pastor to priest in solidum, serving as moderator, of Holy Spirit Parish and Holy Family Parish, Mitchell and Pastor of St. Michael Parish in Sioux Falls and St.
George Parish, Hartford.
Fr. Juan Carlos Villavicencio, PES, continuing role as chaplain at the Pro Ecclesia Sancta Formation House to additionally serving as parochial vicar of Holy Spirit Parish and Holy Family Parish, Mitchell.
Those who will be serving in new pastoral and specialized/chaplaincy ministry assignments:
Fr. Gerald Thornton assigned as parochial vicar, Sacred Heart Parish, St Mary Parish, and St. Thomas Aquinas Newman Center, Aberdeen; St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Groton and St Joseph Parish.
Thank you for holding each of these priests and deacons in prayer as they undergo these transitions in their ministry.
Respectfully Submitted,
Mr. Thad Pals
Chancellor