ALLENTOWN — The Roman Catholic Diocese of Allentown announced Monday new and additional pastoral assignments for 28 priests in the five-county diocese, including several in Schuylkill County, effective June 14.
The Rev. Paul L. Rothermel will become the new pastor at St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Ashland, which has been without a pastor after the death of the Rev. John W. Bambrick on March 11. Monsignor William F. Glosser, dean of the Schuylkill Deanery and pastor of St. Clare of Assisi Church in Saint Clair, has been the administrator.
Rothermel currently pastors Most Blessed Trinity Roman Catholic Church in Tremont. The parish also includes Ss. Peter and Paul Chapel in Tower City.
A Schuylkill County native, Rothermel was ordained in 1994 by the Most Rev. Thomas J. Welsh, then bishop of Allentown, in the Cathedral of St. Catharine of Sienna, Allentown.
The Rev. Jason Stokes has been appointed as administrator of Most Blessed Trinity Parish, along with prison ministry at State Correctional Institution/Mahanoy, SCI/Frackville, Federal Correctional Institution/Schuylkill, Minersville, and Schuylkill County Prison. His current assignment is parochial vicar at St. Ignatius Loyola Parish, Sinking Spring.
In Shenandoah, the Rev. G. Jose Kochuparambil (Father Johnson) will leave as parochial vicar of Divine Mercy Parish to become administrator of Our Lady Help of Christians Parish, Allentown. During his time at Divine Mercy, Father Johnson has provided ministry to the Hispanic population in the Shenandoah area. The diocesan announcement did not mention a replacement.
Diocesan Director of Communication Matt Kerr was contacted Monday and said that the regional priest coordinators from the Diocesan Office of Hispanic Affairs are working out a plan that will involve a rotation of priests to celebrate Masses and deacons to carry on the ministry.
The Rev. David W. Karns will leave as pastor of St. Stephen Parish, Port Carbon, and become the pastor emeritus of the parish, with residence in his private home, effective July 1.
In his place, Glosser will become the administrator of St. Stephen Parish. The Rev. Christopher M. Zelonis was assigned as part-time parochial vicar at St. Clare Parish and will continue in his pastoral ministry at Schuylkill Medical Center and area nursing homes.
The Rev. William N. Seifert, who had been pastor of St. Stephen of Hungary Parish, Allentown, will be part-time parochial vicar at St. Patrick Parish, Pottsville, and part-time pastoral ministry at Schuylkill Medical Center and area nursing homes.
The Rev. Kenneth A. Medve is reassigned from pastor of St. Katharine Drexel Parish, Lansford, to Special Ministry: Catholic Charities, Allentown, with residence at St. Patrick Parish, Pottsville.