It's official, Msgr Gilles to Tomah

Monsignor Richard Gilles
By Joseph O’Brien, Staff Writer LA CROSSE, Sept. 2, 2010 – After serving as diocesan administrator twice for the Diocese of La Crosse and moderator of the curia for the last nine years, Monsignor Richard Gilles is taking his first parish assignment as a pastor.
On Aug. 28, Bishop William P. Callahan appointed Monsignor Gilles as pastor of St. Mary Parish, Tomah, and St. Andrew Parish, Warrens. He  replaced Father Steven Kachel, who was recently appointed pastor of St. Patrick Parish, Onalaska.
“I am confident that Monsignor Gilles will pursue this task with his usual spiritual vigor and diligence,” Bishop Callahan said in an Aug. 28 email announcing the appointment. “I offer my sincere congratulations and thanks to Monsignor Gilles for his years of faithful service in the offices of the diocesan curia and especially his service to the diocesan bishop.”
 “While I enjoyed my work as moderator and my other administrative duties for the diocese, I am thrilled to be able to work with the faithful at the parish level for the first time since my ordination 16 years ago,” he said. “I look forward to meeting the members of St. Mary’s and St. Andrew’s and serving as spiritual father in both parishes.”
The Catholic TImes

4 comments:

Fr. John Mary, ISJ said...

He'll be a great pastor!
The Lord bless him; Mary keep him!

Brett said...

Why do they always shuffle these priests around?

Badger Catholic said...

This has always been done to some degree in the church. The primary reason is to prevent the priests from burning out in one parish. Similar to how most people change jobs several times within their lifetime, so priests also are in need of a change of scenery. Also the priests are not slaves so their feedback is also taken into account when the bishop decides where to place them. Msgr. Gilles is a great example of an administrator who really wanted to get into parish life. Nice to see he was able to serve the people of God in this way.

Anonymous said...

I'm sure the "shuffle" is in light with all this priest/boy abuse.