On the recommendation of the Priests’ Personnel Board, The Most Reverend Patrick M. Neary, C.S.C., Bishop of the Diocese of Saint Cloud, makes the following priest assignments, effective at noon, July 1, 2025:
Reverend Joseph Backowski from parochial administrator of the parish of Saint Marcus, Clear Lake, while remaining as parochial administrator of the parish of Saint Lawrence, Duelm.
Deacon Nathaniel Daubner, following ordination to the priesthood, to parochial vicar of the parishes of Holy Cross, Butler; Sacred Heart, Dent; Saint Henry, Perham; and Saint Lawrence, Rush Lake, the Northern Cross Area Catholic Community.
Reverend Brady Keller to parochial vicar of the parishes of Saint Michael, St. Cloud; Saint Paul, St. Cloud; Saint Peter, St. Cloud; and Saint Joseph, Waite Park, the Together as One Area Catholic Community.
Reverend Michael Kellogg to pastor of the parish of Saint Marcus, Clear Lake; while continuing as pastor of the parish of Mary of the Visitation, Becker/Big Lake.
Reverend Jeremy Ploof to pastor of the parishes of Saint Michael, St. Cloud; and Saint Joseph, Waite Park; while continuing as pastor of the parishes of Saint Paul, St. Cloud; and Saint Peter, St. Cloud.
Reverend Gregory Sauer to parochial vicar of the parishes of Saint Joseph, Bertha; Saint Hubert, Bluegrass; Saint John the Baptist, Bluffton; Assumption of Our Lady, Menahga; Saint Michael, Motley; Sacred Heart, Staples; Saint Frederick, Verndale; and Saint Ann, Wadena, the Mary, Mother of the Church Area Catholic Community.
Reverend Thomas Skaja to academic studies pursuing a licentiate of canon law at Saint Paul University, Ottawa, Canada.
Reverend Kevin Soenneker to pastor of the parishes of Saint Francis de Sales, Belgrade; Saint Donatus, Brooten; Saints Peter and Paul, Elrosa; Our Lady of the Angels, Sauk Centre; Saint Paul, Sauk Centre; and Saint Alexius, West Union, the Parishes on the Prairie Area Catholic Community.
Deacon Joseph VanDenheuvel, following ordination to the priesthood, to parochial vicar of the parishes of Saint Boniface, Cold Spring; Saint James, Jacobs Prairie; Saints Peter and Paul, Richmond; and Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Rockville, the Centered on Christ Area Catholic Community.
Reverend Ronald Weyrens to parochial administrator of the parishes of Saint Francis Xavier, Sartell; and Saint Stephen, St. Stephen.
Given at the Chancery
Saint Cloud, Minnesota
May 9, 2025
Joseph C. Towalski
Chancellor
What does parochial administrator mean vs pastor?
Great question! A parochial vicar is an assistant priest to the pastor. He is an extension of the pastor, and he stands beneath the pastor in the hierarchy. Unless determined otherwise, the parochial vicar is assigned by the bishop to assist the pastor with the entire parochial ministry of the parish(es). The pastor can then appoint a parochial vicar responsibility over groups of parishioners or over specific ministries. For example: a pastor could appoint his parochial vicar to care for a whole parish within the Area Catholic Community for a period of time, or to visit the homebound, or to care for youth ministry (cf. can. 545).
A parochial administrator is assigned by the bishop when the parish has no pastor or the pastor is unable to exercise his ministry for some cause. He is like a replacement pastor, as he makes decisions like a pastor, though he is not to make significant changes that would go against the rights of the pastor or cause harm to parish property. He stands on the same level as a pastor in church hierarchy (cf. canons 539-541).
In an emergency, at the moment the parish is empty (e.g., the pastor dies), or the moment a pastor is impeded from exercising his pastoral office, AND until the moment a parochial administrator is assigned by the bishop, the parochial vicar has the responsibility of governance. The law provides this quick fix so that the people of God have a pastor-like figure as soon as possible.
Who will be doing the Rice, Bowlus, Royalton, etc. cluster