Summary of 2023 Priest Assignment Changes for the Diocese of Orange
Summary of Priests Assignment Changes
Bishop Vann is pleased to announce the following appointments, effective July 1, 2023
PASTORS
REV. JOSEPH LUAN NGUYEN
From Pastor, Our Lady of La Vang Church, Santa Ana
To Pastor, St. Columban Church, Garden Grove
REV. MSGR. TUAN JOSEPH PHAM
From Pastor, St. Columban Church, Garden Grove
To Pastor, San Antonio de Padua del Cañon Church, Anaheim Hills
REV. VINCENT HUNG PHAM
From Director, Vietnamese Catholic Center, Santa Ana
To Pastor, St. Bonaventure Church, Huntington Beach
VERY REV. DANIEL BRIAN READER
From Chancellor and Director of Priests’ Personnel, Pastoral Center, Garden Grove
To Pastor, St. Angela Merici Church, Brea
REV. QUAN DINH TRAN
From Administrator, St. Hedwig Church, Los Alamitos
To Pastor, St. Hedwig Church, Los Alamitos
PASTORS RENEWED OR EXTENDED:
REV. BILL TUYEN CAO
From Pastor, St. Anthony Claret Church, Anaheim
To Pastor Renewed, St. Anthony Claret Church, Anaheim
REV. MSGR. DOUGLAS JAMES COOK
From Pastor, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, Newport Beach
To Pastor Renewed, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, Newport Beach
REV. EDWARD LEE POETTGEN
From Pastor, St. Boniface Church, Anaheim
To Pastor Renewed, St. Boniface Church, Anaheim
REV. MICHAEL M. PONTARELLI, O.S.M.
From Pastor, St. Juliana Falconieri Church, Fullerton
To Pastor Renewed, St. Juliana Falconieri Church, Fullerton
ADMINISTRATORS/ DIRECTORS:
REV. WAYNE ADAJAR
From Parochial Vicar, Holy Spirit Church, Fountain Valley
To Parochial Administrator, St. Pius V Church, Buena Park
REV. MARTIN PHUOC BUI
From Parochial Vicar, St. Nicholas Church, Laguna Woods
To Parochial Administrator, St. Nicholas Church, Laguna Woods
REV. ROBERT PETER CAPONE
From Campus Minister, University of San Diego, San Diego
To Parochial Administrator, St. Joachim Church, Costa Mesa
REV. WILLIAM BREWER GOLDIN
From Parochial Vicar, St. Vincent de Paul Church, Huntington Bch.
To Parochial Administrator, Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, La Habra
REV. JOSEPH THAI NGUYEN
From Parochial Vicar, Our Lady of La Vang Church, Santa Ana
To Director, Vietnamese Catholic Center, Santa Ana
REV. MICHAEL DUC NGUYEN
From Parochial Vicar, St. Cecilia Church, Tustin
To Parochial Administrator Pro-Tem, Santa Clara de Asís Church, Yorba Linda, Effective Feb. 1, 2023
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REV. STEVEN G. SALLOT
From Pastor, Our Lady Queen of Angels Church, Newport Beach
St. John Vianney Chapel remaining under the Administration of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Newport Beach
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REV. LUÍS GERARDO SEGURA
From Parochial Vicar, St. Polycarp Church, Stanton
To Parochial Administrator, St. Joseph Church, Santa Ana
REV. KIET ANH TA
From Parochial Vicar, St. Thomas More Church, Irvine
To Parochial Administrator, Our Lady of La Vang Church, Santa Ana
PAROCHIAL VICARS:
REV. SAÚL ALBA-INFANTE
From Parochial Administrator, St. Joseph Church, Santa Ana
To Parochial Vicar, St. Polycarp Church, Stanton
REV. ERIALDO RAMÍREZ ALFARO
From Parochial Vicar, St. Cecilia Church, Tustin
To Parochial Vicar, St. Norbert Church, Orange
REV. RUDOLPH ALUMAM
From Parochial Vicar, Holy Family Church, Orange
To Parochial Vicar, St. Joseph Church, Santa Ana
REV. GABRIEL ATIDOO
From Diocese of Navrongo–Bolgatanga, Ghana
To Parochial Vicar, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, Newport Beach
REV. EDWARD GERARD BECKER
From Pastor, Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, La Habra
To Parochial Vicar, Holy Trinity Church, Ladera Ranch
VERY REV. ERNEST SCOTT BORGMAN
From Judicial Vicar, Tribunal and Office of Canonical Services, Garden Grove and Formation Faculty, Mt. Angel Seminary, OR
To Parochial Vicar, Our Lady of Fatima Church, San Clemente and Episcopal Vicar for Philanthropy
REV. NAM LINH DOAN
From Parochial Vicar, St. Norbert Church, Orange
To Parochial Vicar, St. Anthony Claret Church, Anaheim
REV. HUMBERTO CRUZ FLORES, O.A.R.
From Pastor, Guardian Angel Church, El Paso, Texas
To Parochial Vicar, Our Lady of the Pillar Church, Santa Ana, effective Feb. 1, 2023
REV. JAIMELITO GEALAN, SVD
From Society of the Divine Word, Philippines, Southern Province
To Parochial Vicar, St. Irenaeus Church, Cypress
REV. RANDY GUILLEN
From Parochial Administrator, St. Angela Merici Church, Brea
To Parochial Vicar, Mission Basilica San Juan Capistrano, SJC
REV. MANUEL LOPEZ
From Parochial Vicar, Mission Basilica San Juan Capistrano
To Parochial Vicar, St. Angela Merici Church, Brea
REV. PAW TUN LWIN
From Pastor, St. Pius V Church, Buena Park
ToParochial Vicar, Our Lady Queen of Angels Church, Newport Beach
REV. FRANCIS CHUNG KAY NG
From Parochial Vicar, St. Angela Merici Church, Brea
To Parochial Vicar, St. Timothy Church, Laguna Niguel
REV. JOSEPH DUNG NGUYEN
From Parochial Vicar, Vietnamese Catholic Center, Santa Ana; Part-time Parochial Vicar, IHM Church, Santa Ana
To Parochial Vicar, St. Barbara Church, Santa Ana
REV. THANH-TAI PETER NGUYEN
From Parochial Vicar Part-time, Christ Our Savior Church, Santa Ana and Parochial Vicar Part-time, St. Joseph Church, Santa Ana
To Parochial Vicar, Christ Our Savior Church, Santa Ana
REV. DAVID ALAN OTTO
From Parochial Vicar, St. Mary Church, Fullerton
To Parochial Vicar, St. Vincent de Paul Church, Huntington Beach
REV. HIEN VAN PHAM, S.V.D.
From Society of the Divine Word, Riverside
To Parochial Vicar, Our Lady of La Vang Church, Santa Ana
REV. TUAN VAN PHAM
From Parochial Vicar, St. Kilian Church, Mission Viejo
To Parochial Vicar, St. Columban Church, Garden Grove
REV. MARCO HERNANDEZ QUINTANILLA
From Parochial Vicar, St. Edward the Confessor Church, Dana Point
To Parochial Vicar, Santiago de Compostela Church, Lake Forest
REV. ARISTOTLE GEORGE QUAN
From Parochial Vicar, San Francisco Solano Church, Rancho Santa Margarita
To Parochial Vicar, St. Edward the Confessor Church, Dana Point
REV. JOSEPH VINCENT SQUILLACIOTI
From Parochial Vicar, St. Edward the Confessor Church, Dana Point
To Parochial Vicar, Holy Spirit Church, Fountain Valley
REV. ARUNDAS THOMAS
From Diocese of Quilon, India
To Parochial Vicar, St. Mary Church, Fullerton
REV. CHARLES TRAN
From Parochial Vicar, Holy Trinity Church, Ladera Ranch
To Parochial Vicar, Holy Family Church, Orange
REV. HOA XUAN TRAN
From Parochial Vicar, St. Bonaventure Church, Huntington Beach
To Parochial Vicar, St. Cecilia Church, Tustin
REV. THOMAS HENRY TRAN
From Parochial Vicar, Our Lady Queen of Angels Church, Newport Beach
To Parochial Vicar, St. Thomas More Church, Irvine
REV. DANH NGOC TRINH
From Parochial Vicar, St. Barbara Church, Santa Ana
To Parochial Vicar Part-time, Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, Santa Ana; Remaining Parochial Vicar, St. Barbara Church, Santa Ana
REV. MAURO TINOCO TRUJILLO
From Parochial Vicar, St. Irenaeus Church, Cypress
To Parochial Vicar, St. Edward the Confessor Church, Dana Point
REV. ANTHONY HIEN VU
From Parochial Vicar, St. Barbara Church, Santa Ana
To Parochial Vicar, St. Columban Church, Garden Grove
REV. MARTIN DUC ANH VU
From Parochial Vicar, Santiago de Compostela Church, Lake Forest
To Parochial Vicar, St. Cecilia Church, Tustin
REV. PAUL HOA VU
From Parochial Vicar Part-time, St. Columban Church, Garden Grove
To Parochial Vicar Part-time, St. Barbara Church, Santa Ana Remaining Adjutant Judicial Vicar, Canonical Services, Garden Grove
NEWLY ORDAINED:
REV. IAN GASTON
From Mt. Angel Seminary, St. Benedict, Oregon
To Parochial Vicar, St. Irenaeus Church, Cypress
REV. BENJAMIN MINH NGUYEN
From St. John Seminary, Camarillo
To Parochial Vicar, St. Kilian Church, Mission Viejo
REV. JESÚS DAVID MORENO-NORIEGA
From St. John Seminary, Camarillo
To Parochial Vicar, Christ Cathedral, Garden Grove
IN RESIDENCE:
REV. BRANDON LONG DANG
From Director of Vocations, Pastoral Center, Garden Grove
In residence at San Francisco Solano Church, Rancho Santa Margarita; Remains Director of Vocations, Pastoral Center, Garden Grove
SENIOR PRIESTS:
REV. GEORGE PAUL BLAIS
From Pastor, St. Nicholas Church, Laguna Woods
To Senior Priest, St. Catherine of Siena Church, Laguna Beach and Chaplain for Retrouvaille
REV. MICHAEL PATRICK HANIFIN
From Pastor, St. Joachim Church, Costa Mesa
To Senior Priest, St. Joachim Church, Costa Mesa and Chaplain for Neo-Catechumenal Way
REV. JOSEPH BARCLAY KNERR
From Pastor, St. Bonaventure Church, Huntington Beach
To Senior Priest, St. Bonaventure Church, Huntington Beach
REV. ALFRED STEPHEN BACA
From Senior Priest, St. Anne Church, Seal Beach
To Episcopal Vicar for Ecumenism and Interreligious Affairs, Pastoral Center, Garden Grove, effective February 27, 2023;
Remaining Senior Priest, St. Anne Church, Seal Beach
REV. CHEEYOON TIMOTHY CHUN
From Parochial Vicar, Holy Family Church, Orange
To Associate Director of Vocations Part-time, Pastoral Center, Garden Grove and Parochial Vicar Part-time, Holy Family Church, Orange
REV. JOHN EDGAR CARONAN, O.PRAEM.
From Adjutant Judicial Vicar and Defender of the Bond, Tribunal and Office of Canonical Services, Pastoral Center, Garden Grove
To Judicial Vicar, Tribunal and Office of Canonical Services, Pastoral Center, Garden Grove
REV. MICHAEL TUAN KHONG
From Secretary to the Bishop and Master of Ceremonies, Pastoral Center, Garden Grove
To Chancellor and Interim Director of Priests’ Personnel, Pastoral
Center, Garden Grove;
Remaining as Secretary to the Bishop and Master of Ceremonies.
REV. TIMOTHY JOHN DONOVAN
From Santa Margarita Catholic High School, Rancho Santa Margarita
To Released to promote Evangelization and Faith Formation Programs nationwide.
Private residence
REV. JOHN FRANCIS NENEMAN
From Pastor, San Antonio de Padua del Cañon Church, Anaheim Hills
To “Ecclesiastical Coordinator,” Knights of Columbus
Private residence
CHAPLAINCY:
REV. ISABELO ABUAN, III, A.M.
From Alagad ni Maria Religious Community, Philippines
To Chaplain, California State University Fullerton, Fullerton
REV. WEIPING (FRANCIS) LI
From Chaplain, CHOC Hospital, Orange
To Chaplain, Chinese Catholic Community at St. Thomas More Church, Irvine; Remaining Chaplain at CHOC Hospital, Orange
In residence at St. Norbert Church, Orange
REV. FLORANTE MOREN, A.M.
From Chaplain, California State University Fullerton, Fullerton
To Chaplain, Santa Margarita Catholic High School, Rancho Santa Margarita
REV. CHINNAPPAN MUDIYAPPAN, O.S.M.
From Aikiya Annai Province of the Servites, India
To Chaplain, Servite High School, Anaheim
In residence at Servite Community of St. Philip Benizi, Links House, Buena Park.
REV. BENJAMIN PHILIP TRAN
From Parochial Vicar, Our Lady of Fatima Church, San Clemente
To Chaplain, University of California Irvine, Irvine
In Residence at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, Irvine
RETIRED:
REV. JOHN LE VECKE
From Leave of Absence
To Retired Priest Status.
In current residence
Effective October 1, 2022
REV. KENNETH ALLEN SCHMIT
From Parochial Administrator Extended, St. John Vianney Chapel, Balboa Island
To Retired Priest Status. In private residence
Effective June 30, 2023
LEAVE OF ABSENCE/SICK LEAVE:
REV. FRED KEVIN BAILEY
From Pastor, Santa Clara de Asis Church, Yorba Linda
To Administrative Leave from ministry through June 30, 2024
REV. EFRAÍN FLORES
From Senior Priest, St. Anthony Claret Church, Anaheim
To Sick Leave, effective Nov. 19, 2022
In residence at St. Anne Church, Santa Ana
RETURNING TO RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES:
REV. THOMAS DEVINE, O.A.R.
From Parochial Vicar, Our Lady of the Pillar Church, Santa Ana
To Order of Augustinian Recollects, Montebello, CA
REV. AARON GALVIZO, A.M.
From Parochial Vicar, St. Irenaeus Church, Cypress
To Alagad ni Maria Religious Community, Diocese of Camden, New Jersey
REV. EVAN WILLIAM SIMINGTON
From Parochial Administrator, St. John Henry Newman Church, Irvine, In-residence at St. Timothy Church, Lake Forest, CA
To Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter, Outside diocese
REV. JOHN-FRANCIS TOAN VU, SJ
From Chaplain, Campus Ministry, University of California Irvine, Irvine
To Jesuits Western Province, Portland, Oregon
