2025 Clergy Appointments

Msgr. James Bartylla, Vicar for Clergy, announces the following priest appointments made by Most Reverend Donald J. Hying, Bishop of Madison, effective Tuesday, July 1, 2025, unless otherwise noted, and announced Saturday and Sunday, May 10 and 11, 2025:

• Rev. Msgr. James Bartylla, to Formation Advisor on the residential faculty of St. Francis de Sales Seminary in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, by the permission of the Bishop of Madison with appointment by the Archbishop of Milwaukee, per canon 239, from Episcopal Vicar for Clergy, Diocese of Madison.
  
  
• Rev. Fr. Scott Jablonski, to Episcopal Vicar for Clergy, Diocese of Madison, per canon 476, remaining as pastor, Holy Cross Parish, Cross Plains, and from Director of the Continuing Formation of Priests, Diocese of Madison.
  
  
• Rev. Fr. Enan Zelinski, to Director of the Continuing Formation of Priests, Diocese of Madison, remaining as parochial vicar, St. Paul Parish, Madison.
  
  
• Rev. Fr. John Del Priore, SJS, to ministry outside the Diocese of Madison according to the needs of the Society of Jesus Christ the Priest, from parochial administrator, St. Augustine Parish, Platteville.
  
  
• Rev. Fr. Eric Nielsen, to pastor, St. Augustine Parish, Platteville, per canon 523, from parochial vicar, Mater Dei Parish, Berlin.
  
  
• (Rev. Fr.) William Kearley, to parochial vicar, Mater Dei Parish, Berlin, per canon 545, predicated upon earlier ordination to the presbyterate.
  
  
• Rev. Fr. Peter Auer, resignation from parochial vicar, St. Patrick Parish, Benton, St. Rose of Lima Parish, Cuba City, Holy Ghost Parish, Dickeyville, St. Francis de Sales Parish, Hazel Green, Immaculate Conception Parish, Kieler, St. Mary Parish, Platteville, and St. Joseph Parish, Sinsinawa (St. Dominic Pastorate), to retirement from full-time active ministry.
  
  
• Rev. Fr. Bernard Rott, resignation from parochial vicar, St. Patrick Parish, Benton, St. Rose of Lima Parish, Cuba City, Holy Ghost Parish, Dickeyville, St. Francis de Sales Parish, Hazel Green, Immaculate Conception Parish, Kieler, St. Mary Parish, Platteville, and St. Joseph Parish, Sinsinawa (St. Dominic Pastorate), to retirement from full-time active ministry.
  
  
• Rev. Fr. Joseph Bellamkonda, to parochial vicar, St. Patrick Parish, Benton, St. Rose of Lima Parish, Cuba City, Holy Ghost Parish, Dickeyville, St. Francis de Sales Parish, Hazel Green, Immaculate Conception Parish, Kieler, St. Mary Parish, Platteville, and St. Joseph Parish, Sinsinawa (St. Dominic Pastorate), per canon 545, from parochial vicar, St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Belleville, St. Clare of Assisi Parish, Monroe (Christ the King Pastorate).
  
  
• Rev. Fr. Christopher Gernetzke, to parochial vicar, St. John Vianney Parish, Janesville, Nativity of Mary Parish, Janesville, St. Patrick Parish, Janesville, and St. William Parish, Janesville (St. Jane Frances de Chantal Pastorate), per canon 545, from parochial administrator, St. Philomena Parish, Belmont, Our Lady of Fatima Parish, Darlington, St. Joseph Parish, Gratiot, St. Matthew Parish, Shullsburg, and St. John Parish, South Wayne (St. Isidore the Farmer Pastorate).
  
  
• Rev. Fr. William Vernon, to parochial administrator, St. Philomena Parish, Belmont, Our Lady of Fatima Parish, Darlington, St. Joseph Parish, Gratiot, St. Matthew Parish, Shullsburg, and St. John Parish, South Wayne (St. Isidore the Farmer Pastorate), per canon 539, from parochial vicar, Epiphany of the Lord Parish, Sun Prairie.
  
  
• Rev. Fr. Robert Butz, to parochial vicar, Epiphany of the Lord Parish, Sun Prairie, per canon 545, from parochial administrator, St. Isidore Parish, Hollandale, St. Michael the Archangel Parish, Mount Horeb, and St. Bernadette Parish, Ridgeway (St. Francis of Assisi Pastorate).
  
  
• Rev. Fr. Patrick Wendler, to chaplain, University of Wisconsin Hospital & Clinics, Madison, and UnityPoint Health Meriter Hospital, Madison, per canon 565, from parochial vicar, St. Pius X Parish, Cambridge, St. Joseph Parish, Fort Atkinson, St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Jefferson, St. Mary Parish, Milton, St. Mary Parish, Palmyra, and St. Mary Help of Christians, Sullivan (St. Teresa of Calcutta Pastorate).
  
  
• Rev. Fr. John Silva, to parochial vicar, St. Pius X Parish, Cambridge, St. Joseph Parish, Fort Atkinson, St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Jefferson, St. Mary Parish, Milton, St. Mary Parish, Palmyra, and St. Mary Help of Christians, Sullivan (St. Teresa of Calcutta Pastorate), per canon 545, from chaplain, University of Wisconsin Hospital & Clinics, Madison, and UnityPoint Health Meriter Hospital, Madison.
  
  
• Rev. Fr. Brian Dulli, to parochial administrator, St. Isidore Parish, Hollandale, St. Michael the Archangel Parish, Mount Horeb, and St. Bernadette Parish, Ridgeway (St. Francis of Assisi Pastorate), per canon 539, from parochial vicar, Holy Cross Parish, Cross Plains.
  
  
• Rev. Fr. Grant Thies, to parochial vicar, Holy Cross Parish, Cross Plains, per canon 545, from parochial vicar, St. John Vianney Parish, Janesville, Nativity of Mary Parish, Janesville, St. Patrick Parish, Janesville, and St. William Parish, Janesville (St. Jane Frances de Chantal Pastorate).
  
  
• (Rev. Fr.) Bradley Grobbel, to parochial vicar, Holy Cross Parish, Cross Plains, per canon 545, predicated upon earlier ordination to the presbyterate.
  
  
• Rev. Fr. Chad Droessler, to parochial administrator, St. John Vianney Parish, Janesville, Nativity of Mary Parish, Janesville, St. Patrick Parish, Janesville, and St. William Parish, Janesville (St. Jane Frances de Chantal Pastorate), per canon 539, from parochial administrator, St. Patrick Parish, Cottage Grove, Christ the King Parish, McFarland, and Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, Monona (Stella Maris Pastorate).
  
  
• Rev. Fr. Matthew Pearson, to parochial vicar, St. Patrick Parish, Cottage Grove, Christ the King Parish, McFarland, and Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, Monona (Stella Maris Pastorate), per canon 545, from parochial administrator, St. John Vianney Parish, Janesville, Nativity of Mary Parish, Janesville, St. Patrick Parish, Janesville, and St. William Parish, Janesville (St. Jane Frances de Chantal Pastorate).
  
  
• Rev. Fr. Eric Sternberg, to parochial administrator, St. Patrick Parish, Cottage Grove, Christ the King Parish, McFarland, and Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, Monona (Stella Maris Pastorate), per canon 539, from pastor, St. Paul Parish, Madison.
  
  
• Rev. Fr. David Carrano, to pastor, St. Paul Parish, Madison, per canon 523, from parochial administrator, St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Belleville, and St. Clare of Assisi Parish, Monroe, and from parochial vicar, St. Isidore Parish, Hollandale - with ministry limited to St. Joseph Church, Argyle (Christ the King Pastorate).
  
  
• Rev. Fr. Chahm Gahng, to parochial administrator, St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Belleville, and St. Clare of Assisi Parish, Monroe, per canon 539, remaining as parochial vicar, St. Isidore Parish, Hollandale – with ministry limited to St. Joseph Church, Argyle (Christ the King Pastorate), from parochial vicar, St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Belleville, St. Clare of Assisi Parish, Monroe (Christ the King Pastorate).
  
  
• Rev. Fr. Garrett Kau, to parochial vicar, St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Belleville, St. Clare of Assisi Parish, Monroe, and St. Isidore Parish, Hollandale - with ministry limited to St. Joseph Church, Argyle (Christ the King Pastorate), per canon 545, from parochial vicar, St. Joseph Parish, Baraboo, Holy Angels Parish, La Valle - with ministry limited to Holy Family Church, La Valle, Sacred Heart Parish, Reedsburg, and St. Cecilia Parish, Wisconsin Dells (St. John Paul II Pastorate).
  
  
• Rev. Fr. William Van Wagner, to parochial vicar, St. Joseph Parish, Baraboo, Holy Angels Parish, La Valle - with ministry limited to Holy Family Church, La Valle, Sacred Heart Parish, Reedsburg, and St. Cecilia Parish, Wisconsin Dells (St. John Paul II Pastorate), per canon 545, from parochial vicar, St. Patrick Parish, Cottage Grove, Christ the King Parish, McFarland, and Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, Monona (Stella Maris Pastorate).
  
  
• Rev. Fr. Mark Niehaus, ISP, to pastor, Blessed Sacrament Parish, Madison, per canon 523, from parochial administrator, Blessed Sacrament Parish, Madison.
  
  
• Rev. Fr. Brian Wilk, to pastor, Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish, Madison, per canon 523, from parochial administrator, Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish, Madison, and St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, Madison.
  
  
• Rev. Fr. Jay Poster, from parochial vicar, St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, Madison, remaining as parochial vicar, Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish, Madison.
  
  
• Rev. Fr. Lawrence Oparaji, to parochial administrator, St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, Madison, per canon 539, from parochial vicar, Queen of Martyrs Parish, Beloit, but remaining on the parish staff, as the continuing Supervisor of the parochial formation program for Rev. Mr. Luis Reyes, Queen of Martyrs Parish, Beloit.
  
  
• (Rev. Fr.) David Jaramillo, to parochial vicar, Queen of Martyrs Parish, Beloit, per canon 545, predicated upon earlier ordination to the presbyterate.
  
  
• (Rev. Fr.) Ryan Ruhle, to parochial vicar, Divine Mercy Parish, Madison, per canon 545, predicated upon earlier ordination to the presbyterate.
  
  
• Rev. Fr. Faustino Ruiz, SJS, from parochial vicar (part-time), Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament Parish, Boscobel, remaining as the Local Superior, the Society of Jesus Christ the Priest.
  
  
• Rev. Fr. Juan Diego Borja, SJS, to parochial vicar, Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament Parish, Boscobel, per canon 545, while continuing internal responsibilities for the Society of Jesus Christ the Priest.
  
  
• Rev. Fr. Stephen Young Woo Nam, return to the Archdiocese of Seoul (South Korea), from chaplain, part-time ministry to the Madison Korean Catholic community, as an extern priest who served in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, effective Monday, March 31, 2025.

Msgr. James Bartylla, Vicar for Clergy, on behalf of Most Reverend Donald J. Hying, Bishop of Madison, also announces the following:

• (Rev. Mr.) Casey Cooney, to parish deacon summer assignment, St. Patrick Parish, Cottage Grove, Christ the King Parish, McFarland, and Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, Monona (Stella Maris Pastorate), predicated upon earlier ordination to the diaconate on Friday, May 16, 2025, and effective Saturday, May 24, 2025.
  
  
• (Rev. Mr.) Barry Meinholz, to parish deacon summer assignment, St. Pius X Parish, Cambridge, St. Joseph Parish, Fort Atkinson, St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Jefferson, St. Mary Parish, Milton, St. Mary Parish, Palmyra, and St. Mary Help of Christians, Sullivan (St. Teresa of Calcutta Pastorate), predicated upon earlier ordination to the diaconate on Friday, May 16, 2025, and effective Saturday, May 24, 2025.
  
  
• (Rev. Mr.) Luis Reyes, to parish deacon summer assignment, Queen of Martyrs Parish, Beloit, predicated upon earlier ordination to the diaconate on Friday, May 16, 2025, and effective Saturday, May 24, 2025.
  
  
• (Rev. Mr.) Mark Wagner, to parish deacon summer assignment, Epiphany of the Lord Parish, predicated upon earlier ordination to the diaconate on Friday, May 16, 2025, and effective Saturday, May 24, 2025