SELINSGROVE — Several Catholic parishes and campus ministries across the region will see new clergy assignments this summer.
In Elysburg, Reverend Joseph Scanlin will retire from Elyburg. Effective June 15, Reverend Matthew Morelli will come from Lancaster to become pastor in Elysburg. He’ll also be chaplain at Lourdes School in Coal Township.
In Selinsgrove, Reverend Joshua Cavender will leave Saint Pius X Parish and Susquehanna University. Reverend Thomas Kappes will become pastor of Saint Pius X in Selinsgrove and chaplain at Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove.
In Shamokin, Coal Township, and Trevorton, Reverend Nicholas Spano will become the new pastor of Mother Cabrini Parish in Shamokin. He will remain pastor of Our Lady of Hope Parish in Coal Township and Saint Patrick Parish in Trevorton.
The Diocese of Harrisburg says Bishop Timothy Senior announced the annual changes over the weekend. The diocese says assignments are based on parish needs, clergy availability, health, experience, and ministry gifts.
There are many other changes in assignments, here is the full release:
HARRISBURG, Pa. – The Most Reverend Timothy C. Senior, Bishop of Harrisburg, announced changes to clergy assignments this weekend. Every year the Diocesan Bishop works with the Priest Personnel Board to make assignment decisions for the Diocesan clergy, in an effort to meet the needs of our parishes and fulfill the mission of the Church.
Priests and deacons are selected for assignments based on a variety of factors, including local needs and the clergy member’s skills, experience, availability, and health. Priests and deacons within the Diocese of Harrisburg can be reassigned for a number of reasons, including requests from the clergy member, an opening due to a retirement or death, or a clergy member has the skills and talents that are considered a good match for a specific ministry.
The following clergy changes will be effective as of June 15, 2026:
Retirement
- Reverend Joseph T. Scanlin, from Pastor, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Parish, Elysburg, to Retired Priest, Diocese of Harrisburg.
- Reverend Lawrence W. Sherdel, from Pastor, Saint Philip the Apostle Parish, Millersville, to Retired Priest, Diocese of Harrisburg.
- Reverend Kenneth G. Smith, from Pastor, Saint Katharine Drexel Parish, to Retired Priest, Diocese of Harrisburg.
Pastor
- Reverend Joshua R. Cavender, from Pastor, Saint Pius X Parish, Selinsgrove and Chaplain, Susquehanna University, Selinsgrove, to Pastor, Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, Lewistown, and Saint Jude Thaddeus Parish, Mifflintown.
- Reverend Kevin J. Coyle, from Pastor, Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, Lewistown, and Saint Jude Thaddeus Parish, Mifflintown, to Pastor, Saint Catherine Labouré Parish, Harrisburg.
- Reverend Benjamin J. Dunkelberger, from Pastor, Our Lady of the Visitation Parish, Shippensburg and Chaplain, Shippensburg University, Shippensburg, to Pastor, Saint Philip the Apostle Parish, Millersville and Chaplain, Millersville University, Millersville.
- Reverend Thomas M. Kappes, from Parochial Vicar, Saint Leo the Great Parish, Lancaster, to Pastor, Saint Pius X Parish, Selinsgrove and Chaplain, Susquehanna University, Selinsgrove.
- Reverend James E. Lease, from Pastor, Saint Catherine Labouré Parish, Harrisburg, to Pastor, Saint Katharine Drexel Parish, Mechanicsburg.
- Reverend Chiedozie F. Ononuju, from Parochial Vicar, Saint Patrick Parish, Carlisle and Chaplain, Dickinson College, Carlisle, to Pastor, Our Lady of the Visitation Parish, Shippensburg and Chaplain, Shippensburg University, Shippensburg.
- Reverend Richard J. McAlister, from Parochial Vicar, Holy Name of Jesus Parish, Harrisburg, to Pastor, Holy Infant Parish, Manchester and Chaplain, York College, York.
- Reverend Matthew C. Morelli, from Pastor, Saint Anthony of Padua Parish, Lancaster, to Pastor, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Parish, Elysburg and Chaplain, Our Lady of Lourdes Regional School, Coal Township.
- Reverend Luis R. Rodriguez, to Pastor, Saint Anthony of Padua Parish, Lancaster and remains Pastor of San Juan Bautista Parish, Lancaster.
- Reverend Matthew G. Smith, from Parochial Vicar, Saint Joseph Parish, Mechanicsburg, to Pastor, Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Enola, and Chaplain, Messiah University, Grantham.
- Reverend Nicholas C. Spano, OFM Conv, to Pastor, Mother Cabrini Parish, Shamokin and remains Pastor of Our Lady of Hope Parish, Coal Township and Saint Patrick Parish, Trevorton.
- Reverend Mark T. Wilke, to Pastor, Saint Peter Parish, Columbia and remains Pastor of Holy Trinity Parish, Columbia.
Parochial Vicar
- Reverend Gregory Aabaa, OP, from Chaplain, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, to Parochial Vicar, Saint John Neumann Parish, Lancaster.
- Reverend Steven J. Arena, from Replacement Ministry to Parochial Vicar, Holy Name of Jesus Parish, Harrisburg.
- Reverend Mr. Andrew C. Heidelbaugh, upon ordination to the priesthood on June 6, 2026, to Parochial Vicar, Saint Joseph Parish, Mechanicsburg.
- Reverend Augustine Joseph, MSFS, from Pastor, Saint Peter Parish, Columbia, to Parochial Vicar, Saint Philip the Apostle Parish, Millersville.
- Reverend Kevin M. Key, from Parochial Vicar, Saint Joan of Arc Parish, Hershey, to Parochial Vicar, Saint Anthony Parish, Lancaster and San Juan Bautista Parish, Lancaster.
- Reverend Thomas L. Meinert, from Chaplain, Millersville University, Millersville, to Parochial Vicar, Saint Leo the Great Parish, Lancaster and remains Chaplain, Lancaster Catholic High School, Lancaster.
- Reverend Xuan Chuong Nguyen, from ministry outside of the Diocese of Harrisburg, to Parochial Vicar, Saint Anne and Our Lady of La Vang Parish, Lancaster and Chaplain to the Vietnamese Apostolate.
- Reverend Tiburtius A. Raja, from Chaplain, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, to Parochial Vicar, Saint Catherine Labouré Parish, Harrisburg.
- Reverend Clark A. Stiteler, from Parochial Vicar, Saint John Neumann Parish, Lancaster, to Parochial Vicar, Saint Joan of Arc Parish, Hershey and Chaplain, Bishop McDevitt High School, Harrisburg.
- Reverend George Valliamthadathil, MSFS, from ministry outside of the Diocese of Harrisburg, to Parochial Vicar, Saint Patrick Parish, Carlisle and Chaplain, Dickinson College, Carlisle.
Chaplain
- Reverend Samuel E. Miller, to Chaplain, Delone Catholic High School, McSherrystown and remains Pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, Abbottstown.
- Reverend Christopher Oranyeli, OP, from Administrator, Saint Joseph Parish, Dallastown, to Chaplain, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, with residence at Saint Joan of Arc Parish, Hershey.
- Reverend Drew E. Tanguay, from Parochial Vicar, Saint Catherine Labouré Parish, Harrisburg, to Chaplain, Bucknell University, Lewisburg.
- Reverend Robert A. Yohe, from Pastor, Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Enola, to Chaplain, West Shore Medical Centers, Camp Hill and Enola, with residence at Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Mechanicsburg.
Appointment Outside the Diocese of Harrisburg
- Reverend Olusola H. Adewole, OP, from Administrator, Holy Infant Parish, Manchester, to an assignment outside of the Diocese of Harrisburg.
Appointments Effective July 1, 2026
- Reverend Andrew Santamauro, OFM Conv, from ministry outside of the Diocese of Harrisburg, to Parochial Vicar, Mother Cabrini Parish, Shamokin, Our Lady of Hope Parish, Coal Township and Saint Patrick Parish, Trevorton.
- Reverend James Fukes, OFM Conv, from Pastor, Mother Cabrini Parish, Shamokin, to an assignment outside of the Diocese of Harrisburg.
- Reverend Timothy Geiger, OFM Conv, from Parochial Vicar, Mother Cabrini Parish, Shamokin, Our Lady of Hope Parish, Coal Township, and Saint Patrick Parish, Trevorton to an assignment outside of the Diocese of Harrisburg.
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The Diocese of Harrisburg was established on March 3, 1868. It has 88 parishes, 6 missions, 2 communities, 32 Catholic schools, and is home to approximately 201,000 registered Catholics throughout its 15 counties. To learn more about the Diocese and its ministries, visit www.hbgdiocese.org.
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