THELEAVEN.ORG | VOL. 47, NO. 35 | MAY 15, 2026
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Decree of Appointment
hereas the vacancies created by the transfer of priests must be filled for the pastoral care of the faithful and good order of the life of the Church; and whereas Having considered the parishes in need of pastoral care and having consulted the Priest Personnel Board, the Vicar General, and the Vicar for Clergy to determine suitable candidates to serve them, I hereby decree the following APPOINTMENTS Pastor: - The Reverend Nicholas Ashmore, formerly Pastor of St. Catherine Catholic Church and Director of the Didde Catholic Center in Emporia, KS to Pastor of Our Lady of Unity Catholic Parish in Kansas City, KS, while continuing long-distance studies in Canon Law at the Catholic University of America, effective 1 August 2026;
King Church and Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Kansas City, KS; - The Reverend Agustin Martinez, from Parochial Vicar of St. Paul Catholic Church in Olathe, KS and further studies in Canon Law at the Catholic University of America to Parochial Administrator of Church of the Holy Cross in Overland Park, KS; Father Nicholas Ashmore
Father Scott Wallisch
Father Nicholas Blaha
Father Colm Larkin
Father Nathan Haverland
Father Agustin Martinez
Father Anthony Mersmann
Father Daniel Morris
- The Reverend Nicholas Blaha, formerly Pastor of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Kansas City, KS to Pastor of St. Bernard Catholic Church in Wamego, KS and St. Joseph Catholic Church in St. George, KS (Flush); - The Reverend Nathan Haverland, formerly Pastor of Most Pure Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Topeka, KS to Pastor of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Shawnee, KS;
Parochial Administrator: - The Reverend Miguelangel Arenas, M.N.M., in consultation with his religious superior, from Parochial Vicar of All Saints Catholic Church in Kansas City, KS to Parochial Administrator of All Saints Catholic Church in Kansas City, KS; - The Reverend Colm Larkin, from Parochial Vicar of Church of the Ascension in Overland Park, KS and Chaplain of St. Thomas Aquinas High School to Director of the Didde Catholic Campus Center in Emporia, KS and Parochial Administrator of St. Mary Catholic Church in Hartford, KS; - The Reverend Marco Lopez, c.s. in consultation with his religious superior, from Parochial Vicar of Church of the Holy Cross in Overland Park, KS to Parochial Administrator of Christ the
Parochial Vicar: - The Reverend Marco Antonio Cepeda, M.N.M., in consultation with his religious superior, from Parochial Vicar of St. Mary-St. Anthony Catholic Church in Kansas City, KS to Parochial Vicar of All Saints Catholic Church in Kansas City, KS; - The Reverend Andrew Gaffney, from Parochial Vicar of Prince of Peace Catholic Church in Olathe, KS to Parochial Vicar of St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church in Leawood, KS;
Father Andrew Gaffney
Father Wilson Garnica
Father Cesar Gomez
Father Rick Halvorson
- The Reverend Anthony Mersmann, formerly Pastor of St. Mary Catholic Church in Hartford, KS to Pastor of St. Catherine Catholic Church in Emporia, KS, while continuing as Pastor of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Olpe, KS, effective 1 June 2026; - The Reverend Scott Wallisch, formerly Pastor of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Shawnee, KS and Co-Director for Seminarians to Pastor of Church of the Ascension in Overland Park, KS.
- The Reverend Daniel Morris, from Archdiocesan Vocations Director to Parochial Administrator of Most Pure Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Topeka, KS, continuing as Director of Seminarians;
- The Reverend Wilson Garnica, from Parochial Vicar of Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Shawnee, KS to Parochial Vicar of Our Lady of Unity Catholic Parish in Kansas City, KS; - The Reverend Cesar Gomez, from Parochial Vicar of Our Lady of Unity Catholic Parish to Parochial Vicar of Church of the Holy Cross in Overland Park, KS and Assistant Master of Ceremonies;
Father Aaron Waldeck
Father Joseph Chontos
Father Gary Pennings
Father Michael Peterson
- The Reverend Rick Halvorson, from work in priestly formation at the University of St. Mary of the Lake in Mundelein, IL to Parochial Vicar of Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Lenexa, KS; - The Rev. Richard Antwi-Boasiako, in consultation with his bishop, from ministry outside the Archdiocese to Parochial Vicar of Prince of Peace in Olathe, KS;
Father John Pilcher
Father Peter Jaramillo
Father Daniel Mauro
Father Oswaldo Sandoval
- The Reverend Aaron Waldeck, from Parochial Vicar of St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church in Leawood, KS to Parochial Vicar of Church of the Ascension in Overland Park and Chaplain of St. Thomas Aquinas High School; Other - The Reverend Joseph Chontos, from Chaplaincy of the Topeka Juvenile Prison to retirement from active ministry;
Father Timothy Skoch
Father Brent Stull
- The Reverend Gary Pennings, formerly Pastor of Church of the Ascension in Overland Park, KS to retirement from active ministry; >> See “ARCHBISHOP” on page 2