Father Matt M. Nycz (left), Father Darrell G. Duffy.

Bishop Richard J. Malone recently announced the following clergy assignments.

Father Matt M. Nycz was named pastor at Blessed Sacrament Parish, Kenmore, for a term of six years, effective Dec. 15. A native of Poland, Father Nycz studied at Christ the King Seminary, East Aurora, and was ordained by Bishop Edward D. Head at Our Lady of Czestochowa Church, North Tonawanda, in 1994. He most recently served as pastor at Blessed Mary Angela Parish in Dunkirk and also was pastor at Most Precious Blood Parish, Angola, for five years prior to moving to Dunkirk. He had also served as parochial vicar at three parishes, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Niagara Falls; Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Orchard Park; and Queen of Heaven, West Seneca.    

Father Darrell G. Duffy, pastor of St. James Parish, Jamestown, has taken on the additional responsibility as vicar forane for the Vicariate of Chautauqua for a three-year term. As vicar forane, he oversees the priests at the 14 parishes in his geographical area and coordinates common pastoral activity within the vicariate.

Following his ordination in May 2005, Father Duffy was named parochial vicar at Queen of Heaven Parish, West Seneca, and two years later, he moved north to become parochial vicar at St. Gregory the Great Parish, Williamsville, the largest parish in the diocese. Father Duffy received his first pastorate in 2009 when Bishop Edward U. Kmiec named him pastor at St. James.  

Father Gary Szczepankiewicz, a priest for more than 40 years, was reappointed to a second term of six years as pastor at Our Lady of Czestochowa Parish, North Tonawanda. Father Szczepankiewicz was first named pastor at the parish in 2010. His earlier assignments have been as assistant pastor at St. Rose of Lima, Buffalo; and St. Josaphat, Cheektowaga. He was named pastor of St. Leo the Great Parish, Amherst, in 1984 and went on to also serve as pastor at St. Isaac Jogues, Sherman; St. Mary, Mayville; Ascension, North Tonawanda; St. Casimir and St. Bernard, both in Buffalo.