Bishop of Fall River Diocese announces reassignments, retirements involving Bristol County, Cape Cod, the Islands, Plymouth County

Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., D.D., Bishop of Fall River, has made the following appointments:

Reverend Monsignor Stephen J. Avila, V.P., from Pastor of Saint Joseph, Guardian of the Holy Family Parish in Falmouth, to Senior Pastor of Saint Joseph, Guardian of the Holy Family Parish in Falmouth

Effective April 1, 2025

Reverend John P. Garabedian, Parochial Vicar at Our Lady of Mount Carmel and Our Lady Queen Martyrs Parishes in Seekonk, while remaining Associate Director of Vocations

Reverend Balaswamy Thippabathini, from Parochial Vicar at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Seekonk, to Parochial Vicar at Our Lady of Victory Parish in Centerville and Our Lady of the Assumption Parish in Osterville

Effective April 22, 2025

Reverend Marek Chmurski, from Parochial Administrator at Saint Anthony-Saint Rita Parish in Mattapoisett, which includes Saint Anthony Parish in Mattapoisett and Saint Rita of Cascia Parish in Marion, to Parochial Vicar at Christ the King Parish in Mashpee

Reverend Paul C. Fedak, from Pastor of Good Shepherd Parish in Martha’s Vineyard, which includes Saint Augustine Church in Vineyard Haven, Saint Elizabeth Church in Edgartown and Our Lady Star of the Sea Church in Oak Bluffs, to Pastor of Saint Anthony-Saint Rita Parish  in Mattapoisett, which includes Saint Anthony Church in Mattapoisett  and Saint Rita of Cascia Church in Marion

Reverend Christopher D. Hughes, from Parochial Vicar at Our Lady of Victory Parish in Centerville and Our Lady of the Assumption Parish in Osterville, to Parochial Administrator of Our Lady of Victory Parish in Centerville and Our Lady of the Assumption Parish in Osterville, while remaining Chaplain at Saint John Paul II High School in Hyannis

Reverend Joseph Pasala, from Parochial Administrator at Saint Mary Parish in Norton, to Pastor of Good Shepherd Parish on Martha’s Vineyard, which includes Saint Augustine Church in Vineyard Haven, Saint Elizabeth Church in Edgartown and Our Lady Star of the Sea Church in Oak Bluffs

Reverend William M. Rodrigues, from Chaplain at Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River,  to Pastor of Saint Anthony and Saint Jude the Apostle Parishes in Taunton

Reverend Christopher Stanibula, from Parochial Administrator at Saint Anthony, Saint Jude the Apostle and Saint Mary Parishes in Taunton, to Pastor of Saint Mary Parish in Norton

Effective June 18, 2025

Very Reverend Gregory A. Mathias, V.F., from Pastor of Our Lady of Victory Parish  in Centerville and Our Lady of the Assumption Parish in Osterville,  and Interim Dean of the Cape Cod Deanery, to Pastor of Saint Mary Parish in Mansfield

Effective June 23, 2025

Reverend German Correa Agudelo, from Parochial Administrator at Our Lady of Guadalupe at Saint James Parish in New Bedford, to Pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe at Saint James Parish in New Bedford

Reverend Michael A. Ciryak, from Parochial Vicar at Saint John Neumann Parish in East Freetown, to Parochial Vicar at the Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption, Good Shepherd and Saint Stanislaus Parishes in Fall River

Reverend Kevin A. Cook, from Pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Parishes in Seekonk, to Pastor of Holy Name of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Saint Lawrence Martyr Parishes in New Bedford

Reverend David C. Deston, Jr., from Parochial Administrator at Annunciation of the Lord Parish in Taunton and Saint Nicholas of Myra Parish in North Dighton, to Pastor of Annunciation of the Lord Parish in Taunton and Saint Nicholas of Myra Parish in North Dighton

Reverend Gerard A. Hebert, from Pastor of Saint Bernard Parish in Assonet, to Senior Priest at Saint Michael Parish in Fall River

Reverend Matthew F. Laird, from Parochial Administrator at Saint Ann Parish in Raynham, to Pastor of Saint Ann Parish in Raynham

Reverend Juan Carlos Munoz-Montoya, from Parochial Vicar at the Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption, Good Shepherd and Saint Stanislaus Parishes in Fall River, to Chaplain at Saint Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford

Reverend Daniel M. Nunes, from Parochial Vicar at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish  in New Bedford and Chaplain at Saint Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford, to Chaplain at Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River

Reverend William J. O’Donnell III, from Parochial Administrator at Saint Mary Parish in South Dartmouth, to Pastor of Saint Mary Parish in South Dartmouth

Reverend Gregory K. Quenneville, Parochial Administrator at Saint Thersa of the Child Jesus Parish in South Attleboro, to Pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Parishes in Seekonk

Reverend Michael Racine, from Pastor of Holy Name of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Saint Lawrence Martyr Parishes in New Bedford and Parochial Administrator of Saint Francis of Assisi Parish in New Bedford, to Pastor of Saint Bernard Parish in Assonet and Saint John Neumann Parish in East Freetown

Reverend John A. Raposo, from Co-Pastor in Solidum of Saint Gabriel the Archangel Parish in New Bedford, to Senior Priest at Saint Gabriel the Archangel Parish in New Bedford

Reverend Laurent M. Valliere, from Parochial Administrator at Saint Julie Billiart Parish  in Dartmouth, to Pastor of Saint Julie Billiart Parish in Dartmouth

Effective July 1, 2025

Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., D.D., Bishop of Fall River, has accepted the retirement of:

Reverend Michael K. McManus, Pastor of Saint Mary Parish in Mansfield

Effective June 23, 2025

Every few years reassignments typically take place for several reasons. According to the Catholic News Agency, a priest might be moved because the priest has requested a change of assignment or to deal with a health problem, he or a member of his family is experiencing or to meet the specific ministerial needs of a parish.