Father Thomas Doyle is the temporary administrator of St. John Vianney Parish in Orchard Park. This was effective Aug. 17.

Father F. Patrick Melfi serves as the administrator of Holy Name of Mary Parish in Ellicottville effective Sept. 28.  Father Melfi continues to serve as the pastor of St. Philomena Parish in Franklinville, thus linking the two parishes. He had been the pastor of the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels and St. John Parish in Olean.

Father John W. Adams will become the parish administrator of the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels and St. John's, both in Olean, as well as the oratory of Sacred Heart in Portville. The appointment is also effective Sept. 28.  Father Adams was formerly assigned to Christ the King Seminary, East Aurora.

Father Josef Dudzik will serve as the administrator of Our Lady Help of Christians Parish in Cheektowaga, beginning Oct. 2. He will be leaving St. Brendan on the Lake Parish in Newfane and Wilson, with oratory in Olcott.

Father Martin F. Gallagher will serve as parochial vicar at Our Lady of Charity Parish in Buffalo, effective Oct. 5, for a three-year term. He has been the temporary administrator of Our Lady Help of Christians Parish in Cheektowaga.

Father Mark Itua has been appointed administrator of St. John Vianney Parish in Orchard Park, effective Sept. 29. Father Itua had been serving Christ Our Hope Parish in French Creek and Sherman.

Father Lukasz Kopala became the administrator of Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Bowmansville, effective Sept. 28. Father Kopala previously served at Holy Name of Mary Parish in Ellicottville.

Following their priestly ordination on Sept. 19, Father Denning Achidi now serves as parochial vicar at Queen of Heaven Parish in West Seneca, and Father Christopher Emminger serves as parochial vicar at St. Stephen Parish in Grand Island. Both assignments began Oct. 5.  

The recently ordained permanent deacons will serve in both parish ministry and a work of charity.

Deacon Stephen P. Czarnecki will serve at Christ the King, Snyder, and Little Portion Friary

Deacon Stephen M. Gajewski will serve at Good Shepherd, Pendleton, and Beechwood Continuing Care Facility, Getzville

Deacon Howard M. Morgan will serve at Immaculate Conception, Ransomville, and Diaconal Formation Program and Field Ministry

Deacon Christopher J. Privitera will serve at St. Vincent de Paul, Niagara Falls, and Pre-Cana administrator for the Western Niagara Vicariate

Deacon Walter W. Samick will serve at St. Joseph, Gowanda, and Parish Coordinator at St. Mary, Cattaraugus

Deacon Sutton will serve at St. Stephen, Grand Island, and Beechwood Continuing Care Facility, Getzville.

The four Buffalo seminarians who were ordained transitional deacons on Sept. 19 have received the following parish assignments for their diaconal year.

Rev. Mr. Charles Johnson will serve at Annunciation, Elma

Rev. Mr. Michael Johnson will serve at St. John Paul II, Lake View

Rev. Mr. Ryan Keating will serve at St. Mark/St. Rose of Lima, Buffalo

Rev. Mr. Daniel Ulmer will serve at Queen of Heaven, West Seneca

Father Robert Gebhard is the temporary administrator of Blessed Trinity Parish in Buffalo. He replaces Father Victor Ibhawa, an extern priest from Nigeria, who will no longer have priestly faculties in Buffalo. This became effective Oct. 1.

Father Gerard Skrzynski has been appointed parish administrator of St. John the Baptist Parish in Boston with the oratory of St. Mary in East Eden, effective Oct. 9.  Father Skrzynski has been serving as parochial vicar at St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Niagara Falls.

Father Paul I. Abhulimen has been appointed administrator of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Dunkirk. Father Abhulimen was originally ordained for the Diocese of Uromi, Nigeria, but has been in the Archdiocese of Newark for several years and is a permanent resident of the U.S.  He is able to minister in both Spanish and English. 

Father Joseph Porpiglia, pastor of Blessed Sacrament Parish in Buffalo, will take on the additional responsibility of serving as an on-call part-time chaplain at the Buffalo Veterans Administration Hospital.

Father Matt Nycz has been named administrator of SS. Peter & Paul Parish in Williamsville, effective Oct. 15. He has been serving as pastor of Blessed Sacrament Parish in Kenmore.

Father Douglas E. May, MM, will serve as the temporary administrator of Christ Our Hope Parish in French Creek and Sherman, effective Oct. 6.  Father May is a Maryknoll Missionary who has returned to our diocese for a few months.

Faculties have been given to Father Gabriel A. Scarfia, OFM, who returned to the diocese. He resides at SS. Columba-Brigid Parish in Buffalo as of Sept. 10.

The Franciscan Provincial has reassigned three of its friars. Father Gregory Jakubowicz, OFM, Father Xavier Seubert, OFM, and Brother Angel Vasquez, OFM, will serve at St. Bonaventure University