News

Summary of 2024 Priest Assignment Changes for the Diocese of Orange

June 04, 2024 at 3:52 pm

    Bishop Vann is pleased to announce the following appointments, effective July 1, 2024.

    PASTORS

    REV. BRUCE ALAN PATTERSON

    From Episcopal Vicar of Priests, Pastoral Center, Garden Grove

    To Pastor, St. Martin de Porres, Yorba Linda effective February 5

    ADMINISTRATORS/DIRECTORS

    REV. CHEEYOON TIMOTHY CHUN

    From Parochial Vicar, Holy Family Church, Orange and Associate Director of Vocations, Garden Grove

    To Director of Vocations, Pastoral Center, Garden Grove. In residence at Cypress residence, Anaheim

    REV. BRANDON LONG DANG

    From Director of Vocations, Pastoral Center, Garden Grove

    To Parochial Administrator, Corpus Christi Church, Aliso Viejo

    REV. MICHAEL DUC NGUYEN

    From Parochial Administrator Pro-Tempore, Santa Clara de Asís Church, Yorba Linda

    To Parochial Administrator, Santa Clara de Asís Church, Yorba Linda, effective March 11, 2024 and Episcopal Vicar of Canonical Affairs

    REV. TONY KEY PARK

    From Director Pro-Tempore, St. Thomas Korean Catholic Center, Anaheim

    To Director, St. Thomas Korean Catholic Center, Anaheim

    REV. MICHAEL JOHN RIZZO

    From Parochial Administrator Pro-Tem, Corpus Christi Church, Aliso Viejo

    To Parochial Administrator, St. Edward the Confessor Church, Dana Point

    REV. TUAN VAN PHAM

    From Parochial Vicar, St. Columban Church, Garden Grove

    To Parochial Administrator, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, Irvine

    REV. RUBEN RUIZ

    From Parochial Vicar, St. Bonaventure Church, Huntington Beach

    To Parochial Administrator, St. Joseph Church, Santa Ana

    REV. QUYEN VAN TRUONG

    From Parochial Vicar, Christ Cathedral, Garden Grove

    To Parochial Administrator, St. John Neumann Church, Irvine


    REV. MARTIN DUC ANH VU

    From Parochial Vicar, St. Cecilia Church, Tustin

    To Parochial Administrator, St. Joseph Church, Placentia

    REV. ANTHONY HIEN VU

    From Parochial Vicar, Our Lady Queen of Angels Church, Newport Beach

    To Parochial Administrator, Blessed Sacrament Church, Westminster

    PAROCHIAL VICARS

    REV. GASTON MENDIOLA ARROYO

    From Parochial Vicar, La Purisima, Church, Orange

    To Parochial Vicar, Our Lady of Gaudalupe Church, La Habra

    REV. IAN MICHAEL GASTON

    From Parochial Vicar, St. Irenaeus Church, Cypress

    To Parochial Vicar, Christ Cathedral, Garden Grove

    REV. ALEX HA

    From Director of St. Thomas Korean Catholic Center, Anaheim

    To Parochial Vicar, St. Joseph Church, Placentia

    REV. MICHAEL PATRICK HANIFIN

    From Senior Priest, St. Joachim Church, Costa Mesa, and Chaplain for Neo-Catechumenal Way

    To Senior Priest, Holy Family Church, Orange; remaining Chaplain for Neo-Catechumenal Way

    REV. ALEJANDRO NICOLAT HERRERA

    From Parochial Vicar, St. Justin Martyr Church, Anaheim

    To Parochial Vicar, St. Boniface Church, Anaheim

    REV. SAL LANDA

    From Parochial Vicar, St. Boniface Church, Anaheim

    To Parochial Vicar, Blessed Sacrament Church, Westminster

    REV. CARLOS LUY

    From Parochial Administrator Pro-Tem, St. Joseph Church, Placentia

    To Parochial Vicar, La Purisima Church, Orange

    REV. GUILLERMO MARTINEZ

    From Diocese of Texcoco, Mexico

    To Parochial Vicar, St. Justin Martyr Church, Anaheim

    REV. BENJAMIN MINH NGUYEN

    From Parochial Vicar, St. Kilian Church, Mission Viejo

    To Parochial Vicar, Holy Family Church, Orange

    REV. JOHN DUY NGUYEN

    From Parochial Vicar, Holy Spirit Church, Fountain Valley

    To Parochial Vicar, St. Columban Church, Garden Grove

    REV. NICOLAS TOAN NGUYEN

    From Parochial Vicar, St. Polycarp Church, Stanton

    To Parochial Vicar, St. Boniface Church, Anaheim

    REV. JESÚS DAVID MORENO-NORIEGA

    From Parochial Vicar, Christ Cathedral, Garden Grove

    To Parochial Vicar, St. Cecilia Church, Tustin

    REV. LUÍS GERARDO SEGURA

    From Parochial Administrator, St. Joseph Church, Santa Ana

    To Parochial Vicar, St. Polycarp Church, Stanton

    REV. JOSE SUAREZ

    To Parochial Vicar, Part-time, St. Anne Church, Santa Ana

    To Parochial Vicar Full-time, Our Lady of Guadalupe Church (Delhi), Santa Ana

    REV. NICOLAUS DUY THAI

    From Parochial Vicar, St. Martin de Porres Church, Yorba Linda

    To Parochial Vicar, St. Polycarp Church, Stanton

    REV. CHARLES TRAN

    From Parochial Vicar, Holy Family Church, Orange

    To Parochial Vicar, Holy Spirit Church, Fountain Valley

    REV. PAUL THAI TRINH

    From Pastor, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, Irvine

    To Parochial Vicar, Our Lady Queen of Angels, Newport Beach

    REV. JOSEPH NGU TRUONG

    To Parochial Vicar, St. Boniface Church, Anaheim

    To Parochial Vicar, St. Joachim Church, Costa Mesa

    REV. BALA SHOWRY REDDY UDUMALA

    From Diocese of Vijayawada

    To Parochial Vicar, Holy Trinity Church, Ladera Ranch

    REV. LEONEL VARGAS

    From Parochial Vicar, Our Lady of Guadalupe, La Habra

    To Parochial Vicar, St. Irenaeus Church, Cypress

    REV. DOUGLAS ZAVALA

    From Parochial Vicar, Blessed Sacrament Church, Westminster

    To Parochial Vicar, Santiago de Compostela Church, Lake Forest

    REV. SAUL ALBA INFANTE

    From Parochial Vicar, St. Polycarp Church, Stanton

    To Parochial Vicar, St. Bonaventure Church, Huntington Beach

    NEWLY ORDAINED

    REV. COLE BUZON

    From St. John Seminary, Camarillo, CA

    To Parochial Vicar, San Francisco Solano Church, Rancho Santa Margarita

    REV. GREGORY WALGENBACH

    From Director, Life, Peace & Justice and Director, Mission Office

    To Supply Priest for St. Bonaventure Church, Huntington Beach,remaining Director, Life, Peace, & Justice and Director, Mission Office

    RETIRED

    REV. FRED KEVIN BAILEY

    From Pastor, Santa Clara de Asís Church, Yorba Linda

    To Retired Priest Status in private residence, Effective March 11, 2024

    REV. WILLIAM DOUGLAS BARMAN

    From Director Special Projects

    To Retired Priest Status in private residence, Effective December 11, 2024

    REV. JEFFERY ALAN DROESSLER

    From Pastor, St. John Neumann Church, Irvine

    To Retired Priest Status in private residence, Effective June 30, 2024

    REV. JOSEPH BARCLAY KNERR

    From Pastor, St. Bonaventure Church, Huntington Beach

    To Retired Priest Status at St. Kilian Church, Mission Viejo, Effective August 1, 2024

    REV. TUYEN NGUYEN

    From Pastor, Blessed Sacrament Church, Westminster

    To Retired Priest Status at Blessed Sacrament Church, Westminster, Effective June 30, 2024

    REV. TIMOTHY LEE RAMAEKERS

    From Pastor, Corpus Christi Church, Aliso Viejo

    To Retired Priest Status in private residence, Effective December 1, 2024

    REV. JOHN BERNARD WELING

    From Administrative Leave

    To Retired Priest Status in private residence, Effective June 30, 2024

    IN RESIDENCE

    REV. EDWARD GERARD BECKER

    From Parochial Vicar, Holy Trinity Church, Ladera Ranch

    To Our Lady of Fatima Church, San Clemente

    REV. DIEGO MENNITI

    From Archdiocese of Catanzaro-Squillace

    To St. Kilian Church, Mission Viejo

    REV. MICHAEL TUAN KHONG

    From Chancellor, Director of Priests’ Personnel Board, Priest

    Secretary to the Bishop & Master of Ceremonies
    To Catholic University of America, Washington DC, Licentiate Canon Law Summer 2024-2028, remaining Chancellor, Priest Secretary to the Bishop & Master of Ceremonies

    REV. KEVIN J. SWEENEY

    From Pastor, St. Vincent de Paul Church, Huntington Beach

    To Pastor, St. Vincent de Paul Church, Huntington Beach & Director of Priests’ Personnel

    REV. JOHN M. SHIMOTSU

    From Pastor, St. Anne Church, Seal Beach

    To Pastor, St. Anne Church, Seal Beach & Episcopal Vicar for Priests

    REV. JOHN FRANCIS NENEMAN

    From Ecclesiastical Coordinator, Knights of Columbus

    To Ministry outside of the Diocese

    RETURNING TO RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES

    REV. FLORANTE M. MOREN, AM

    From Chaplain, Santa Margarita Catholic High School, Rancho Santa Margarita

    To Alagad ni Maria Religious Community, Philippines