Summary of 2024 Priest Assignment Changes for the Diocese of Orange
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