Community
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.