The Most Reverend Robert W. Marshall, Jr., Bishop of Alexandria, has made the following clergy appointments, to be effective on July 1, 2026: Father Joshua Burch, presently Parochial Vicar of Sacred Heart and Our Lady of Sorrows Churches, Moreauville, is appointed Pastoral Administrator of Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Vidalia. Father Wade DeCoste, presently Pastor …
The Most Reverend Robert W. Marshall, Jr., Bishop of Alexandria, has made the following clergy appointments, to be effective on July 1, 2026:
Father Joshua Burch, presently Parochial Vicar of Sacred Heart and Our Lady of Sorrows Churches, Moreauville, is appointed Pastoral Administrator of Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Vidalia.
Father Wade DeCoste, presently Pastor of St. Joseph Church, Marksville, is additionally appointed Pastor of Holy Ghost Church, Marksville and St. Genevieve Church, Brouillette.
Father Dwight DeJesus, presently Pastor of St. Francis de Sales Church, Echo, is additionally appointed Pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Fifth Ward. He is relieved of his responsibility as Pastor of St. Joseph Church, Cheneyville.
Father Joseph Desimone, presently Pastor of Holy Ghost Church, Marksville, is appointed Parochial Vicar of St. Rita Church, Alexandria.
Father Anthony Dharmaraj, MSFS, presently Pastor of St. Rita Church, Alexandria, and is additionally appointed Pastor of St. Margaret Church, Boyce.
Father Peter Faulk, presently Pastor of St. Margaret Church, Boyce, is appointed Pastor of St. Juliana Church, Alexandria. He will continue to serve as Judicial Vicar for the Diocese of Alexandria.
Monsignor James Ferguson, presently Rector of St. Francis Xavier Cathedral, is granted permission to retire from parish ministry. He will continue to serve as Defender of the Bond in the Diocesan Tribunal.
Father Thomas Kennedy, presently Parochial Vicar of Our Lady of Prompt Succor Church, Alexandria, is appointed Pastoral Administrator of Christ the King Church, Simmesport; St. Peter Church, Bordelonville; and St. Michael Church, Rexmere.
Father Peter Kuligowski, presently on medical leave, is granted permission to retire from active ministry.
Father Paul Kunnumpuram, MSFS, presently Pastor of St. Peter Church, Bordelonville and St. Michael Church, Rexmere, is appointed Parochial Vicar of Mater Dolorosa Church, Plaucheville, and Immaculate Conception Church, Dupont.
Father Donald Kuzma, presently Parochial Vicar of Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, Pineville, is appointed Parochial Vicar of Our Lady of Prompt Succor Church, Alexandria. He will also serve as the Assistant Vocations Director for the Diocese of Alexandria.
Father Luke LaFleur is relieved of his responsibilities as Pastor of St. Juliana Church, Alexandria. He will continue to serve as Chaplain of Holy Savior Menard Central High School, Alexandria, and as Diocesan Vocations Director for the Diocese of Alexandria.
Father Martin Laird, presently Pastor of Mater Dolorosa Church, Plaucheville, is additionally appointed Pastor of Immaculate Conception Church, Dupont.
Father Kenneth Michiels, presently Pastor of St. Alphonsus Church, Hessmer, is additionally appointed Pastor of St. Martin of Tours Church, Belledeau.
Father Marc Noel, presently Pastor of St. Martin Church, Lecompte, and Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, Forest Hill, is relieved of his responsibilities as Pastor of St. Martin Church. He remains Pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church.
Father Kenneth Obiekwe, presently Pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Fifth Ward, and St. Martin of Tours Church, Belledeau, is appointed Pastor of St. Joseph Church, St. Joseph, and St. Francis of Assisi Church, Waterproof.
Father Daniel O’Connor, presently Pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Vidalia, is appointed Rector of St. Francis Xavier Cathedral, Alexandria.
Father Abraham Palakkattuchira, presently Pastor of St. Genevieve Church, Brouillette, is appointed Parochial Vicar of St. Joseph and Holy Ghost Churches, Marksville and of St. Genevieve Church, Brouillette.
Father Chad Partain, presently Pastor of St. Frances Cabrini Church, Alexandria, is appointed Pastor of St. Martin Church, Lecompte, and St. Joseph Church, Cheneyville.
Father Taylor Reynolds, presently Pastor of St. Joseph Church, St. Joseph, and St. Francis of Assisi Church, Waterproof, is appointed Pastor of St. Frances Cabrini Church, Alexandria.
Father Joseph Xavier, presently Parochial Vicar of St. Rita Church, Alexandria, is appointed Parochial Vicar of St. Anthony of Padua Church, Bunkie.
Father Abraham Varghese, presently Pastor of Immaculate Conception Church, Dupont, is appointed Parochial Vicar of Sacred Heart and Our Lady of Sorrows Churches, Moreauville.
Father Kurian Zachariah, presently Pastor of Christ the King Church, Simmesport, is granted permission to retire from parish ministry.
In addition, Deacon Matthew Bonner will be ordained to the priesthood on June 20, 2026. His appointment as a Parochial Vicar will be announced on the date of his ordination.
