Priests to get new assignments

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By Anne Marie Amacher
Another round of priest assignments effective July 1 has been announced by Bishop Martin Amos. Four involve parish assignments and two are diocesan positions.

Fr. Crossen

Father Jason Crossen, 40, will become the new pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Bettendorf.
He attended schools in Durant and graduated from St. Ambrose University in Davenport. He completed his theology studies and a master’s degree in spirituality at the University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome.
On June 24, 2000, Bishop William Franklin ordained Crossen to the prie­st­hood at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Daven­port. Fr. Crossen served as parochial vicar at Holy Family Parish in Davenport from 2000-03, Ss. Mary & Mathias Parish in Muscatine from 2003-06, and St. Joseph Parish in Columbus Junction and St. Mary Parish in Wilton from 2004-06. Fr. Crossen then served as administrator of the Muscatine and Columbus Junction parishes from 2006-07, then as pastor at Columbus Junction from 2007-12. He has been pastor of the Muscatine parish since 2007.

Fr. Ebel

Fr. Stephen Ebel, 69, who retires June 30, will become vicar for priests.

Fr. Greiner

Father Jacob Greiner, 32, will become administrator of St. Anthony Parish in Knoxville and Sacred Heart in Melcher. He attended schools in Keota and graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a bachelor’s degree in political science and philosophy. He was in the novitiate for the Congre­gation of Holy Cross from 2006-07 and a substitute teacher for the Iowa City School District from 2007-09. Greiner did his theology studies at St. Paul Seminary School of Divinity in St. Paul, Minn. On May 25, 2013, he was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Martin Amos at Sacred Heart Cathedral.
He has been the parochial vicar at Ss. Mary & Mathias Parish in Muscatine since 2013.

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Fr. Henricksen

Msgr. Francis Henrick­sen, 85, will be relieved of his appointments as vicar for clergy and vicar for religious.

Fr. Okumu

Father Richard Okumu, 57, will become pastor of St. Mary Parish in Mechanicsville and St. Mary Parish in Tipton. He was born in Uganda, East Africa, where he attended Katigando National Major Seminary and earned a bachelor’s in philosophy. He also did studies at Cambridge University in England. He did theology studies at Gregorian University in Rome. On Aug. 8, 1981, he was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Gerald O’Keefe at Sacred Heart Parish in Newton.
Fr. Okumu served on faculty at Assumption High School in Daven­port from 1982-83 and then as par­o­chial vic­ar at St. Patrick Parish in Iowa City from 1983-88. He served as pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Kinross, Holy Trinity in Richmond and St. Joseph in Wellman from 1988-90. After taking a leave of absence for studies, he was temporary administrator, administrator and then pastor of St. Peter Parish in Cosgrove and St. Michael Parish in Holbrook from 1991-96. He then served as pastor of St. Bridget Parish in Victor from 1996-2004 and sacramental minister, then pastor, of St. Patrick Parish in Brooklyn from 1998-2004. He has been pastor of Church of the Visitation Parish in Camanche since 2004.

Fr. Wolf

Father Joseph Wolf, 45, will become pastor of Church of the Visitation in Camanche while also remaining as pastor of Our Lady of the River Parish in LeClaire. He graduated from St. Ambrose University and did theology studies at the University of St. Mary of the Lake in Mundelein, Ill. On July 2, 1994, he was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Franklin at Sacred Heart Cathedral.
He served as parochial vicar at Jesus Christ, Prince of Peace Parish in Clinton from 1994-97 and St. Alphonsus Parish in Davenport from 1997-98. He also served as sacramental minister at St. Andrew Parish in Blue Grass, St. Peter Parish in Buffalo and St. Mary Parish in Wilton from 1997-98. Fr. Wolf then took a leave of absence from 1997-2000 for canon law studies at St. Paul University and the University of Ottawa, both in Canada. Upon his return he began service in the marriage tribunal of the Diocese of Davenport. He is the judicial vicar and vice chancellor for the diocese. He was administrator, then pastor of Our Lady of the River from 2008 to the present.
On Dec. 12, Bishop Amos announced the upcoming retirements of Fr. Ebel, Father David Hitch, Father Robert McAleer and Father John Stecher. He also announced Father James Vrba would become pastor of St. John Vianney Parish in Bettendorf. On Jan. 30, the bishop announced that Father Tim Sheedy would become pastor of St. Mary Parish in Solon.


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