Bishop Richard J. Malone has announced new clergy assignments at several parishes in the Diocese of Buffalo. The appointments include welcoming three priests to the diocese.

Effective July 1, Father Jerome E. Kopec began his third term of six years as pastor of SS. Peter & Paul Parish, Williamsville. He was ordained in 1979 and has served at the Main Street parish since 2005. His previous assignments include serving as pastor at St. John de La Salle Parish, Niagara Falls, and St. John Kanty, Buffalo. He also was parochial vicar at St. John Kanty and St. Gregory the Great, Williamsville, as well as a full-time judge for the Diocesan Tribunal. 

  
Father Bernard U. Nowak, pastor at Nativity of Our Lord Parish, Orchard Park, will assume his new duties as pastor at the Niagara County parish of Our Lady of the Lake, Barker, on Aug. 22. A priest for more than 43 years, Father Nowak has served in more than a dozen other parishes throughout the diocese in Erie, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Wyoming and Allegany counties. He was pastor or administrator at Assumption, Portageville; St. Mary, Canaseraga; Our Lady of Perpetual Help and St. Valentine, both in Buffalo; Sacred Heart, Portville; St. Mary, Bolivar; Most Precious Blood, Angola; St. Mary, Mayville; St. Isaac Jogues, Sherman; Our Lady of the Snows, Panama; St. Matthias, French Creek; Our Lady of Lourdes, Bemus Point; and St. Mary of Lourdes, the merged parish of St. Mary, Mayville, and Our Lady of Lourdes, Bemus Point. In addition, Father Nowak had also served as the secretary for Bishop Pius A. Benincasa and as a navy chaplain. 

Father Dominik Jezierski came to the Diocese of Buffalo after working at three parishes in his native Poland since his ordination in 2004. Raised in Jelenia Gora, he attended the seminary for the Diocese of Legnica and was assigned to Assumption of Mary in Boleslawiec, Divine Mercy in Jawor and St. Michael Archangel in Polkowice. He began his new assignment as parochial vicar at St. John Gualbert Parish, Cheektowaga, and St. John Kanty Parish, Buffalo, on July 3. His appointment at both parishes is for three years. 

Also new to the diocese are Father Gregory Gallagher, OMI, and Father Francesco Gomez, OMI. They are pastor and parochial vicar, respectively, at Holy Angels, Holy Cross and Our Lady of Hope parishes, all in Buffalo. Father Gallagher and Father Gomez are members of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate religious congregation. At Holy Angels, Holy Cross and Our Lady of Hope parishes, they take over for Father Quilin Bouzi, OMI, and Father David Munoz, OMI, who have been given assignments outside of the Diocese of Buffalo by their religious superior.