Bishop Thomas Zinkula has announced assignment changes for 17 priests, including one retirement. The changes will take effect June 30 or July 1.
Father Vitolds Valainis, 78, will retire June 30. Born in Aglona, Latvia, he was raised in Davenport. He graduated from St. Ambrose College in Davenport in 1962 and did his theological studies at Mt. St. Bernard Seminary in Dubuque. He was ordained to the priesthood June 4, 1966, by Bishop Ralph Hayes at Sacred
Heart Cathedral in Davenport.
Fr. Valainis served as an assistant pastor at St. Mary-Keokuk 1966-69, associate pastor at St. Mathias-Muscatine 1969-77 and pastor at St. Patrick-Burlington 1977-85. After a priestly renewal and continuing education, he has served as chaplain at University Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City since 1986. He has been a sacramental minister at St. Patrick-Iowa City since 2006.
Father Paul Appel, 40, will become pastor of St. Peter-Buffalo and St. Alphonsus-Davenport while remaining as judicial vicar, vice chancellor and delegate for the bishop in matrimonial matters. Born in Ottumwa, he graduated from St. Ambrose University and completed his theology studies and master of divinity at the University of St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein, Ill. He has a canon law degree from The Catholic University of America. He was ordained to the priesthood June 14, 2003, by Bishop William Franklin at Sacred Heart Cathedral.
Fr. Appel was parochial vicar at St. Paul the Apostle-Davenport, 2003-06; Our Lady of Victory-Davenport, 2004-06; Ss. Mary & Mathias-Muscatine and St. Joseph-Columbus Junction, 2006-08. He served as administrator and then pastor at St. James-Washington, 2008-10. Following advanced studies in canon law, he was appointed a judge in the tribunal and vice chancellor in 2013. Fr. Appel served as pastor of St. Peter-Buffalo and St. Alphonsus-Davenport from 2013-15, and in solidum at those two parishes and St. Mary-Davenport from 2015 until now. He was appointed judicial vicar in 2015.
Father David Brownfield, 61, will take a sabbatical. Born in South Bend, Ind., he attended schools in Illinois. He completed a BS in engineering from the University of Illinois and a PhD in economics from the University of Iowa. He completed theological studies at the Catholic University of America. Prior to the priesthood, he worked as a systems programmer and taught economics. He was ordained to the priesthood May 25, 1990, by Bishop Gerald O’Keefe at St. Thomas More-Iowa City.
Fr. Brownfield served as parochial vicar at Our Lady of Victory-Davenport, 1990-92 and St. Boniface-Farmington and St. Mary-String Prairie, 1992-93. He served as pastor at St. Joseph-East Pleasant Plain and St. Frances Xavier Carbini-Richland and attended the University of Iowa part-time, 1993-96. He taught at Mount St. Clare College and its successors in Clinton. He was sacramental minister at St. Joseph-DeWitt, 2001-05; Assumption & St. Patrick-Charlotte and Ss. Mary & Joseph-Sugar Creek, 2005-06; St. Joseph-DeWitt and Ss. Philip & James-Grand Mound in 2006. He served as pastor at St. Ann-Welton, St. Patrick-Delmar and Ss. Philip & James-Grand Mound, 2006-12. Since 2012, he has been pastor of Holy Trinity-Richmond, St. Mary-Riverside and St. Joseph-Wellman.
Father Robert Cloos, 60, will become pastor of St. Peter-Cosgrove and St. Mary-Oxford while remaining parochial vicar at St. Mary-Iowa City. Born in Springbrook, Iowa, he graduated from Western Colorado State University with a BA in finance. Prior to the priesthood, he served in the U.S. Air Force and Navy Reserves, 1976-81; and worked as an accountant, electrician and in maintenance. He completed his theology studies at Sacred Heart School of Theology in Hales Corners, Wis. He was ordained to the priesthood June 7, 2014, by Bishop Martin Amos at Sacred Heart Cathedral.
Fr. Cloos served as parochial vicar at Ss. Mary & Mathias-Muscatine, 2014-15; Jesus Christ, Prince of Peace, 2015-17; and at the Cosgrove, Oxford and Iowa City parishes since 2017.
Father Hai Dinh, 55, will assume duties as parochial vicar at St. Joseph-Columbus Junction while remaining parochial vicar at Ss. Mary & Mathias-Muscatine. Born in Saigon, Vietnam, he graduated from the University of Technical Pedagogy in technical drawing in Saigon. After several attempts to escape from Vietnam, he arrived in the United States to join his family in Davenport. He completed theological studies at the University of St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein, Ill. He was ordained to the priesthood May 10, 2008, by Bishop Amos at Sacred Heart Cathedral. Fr. Dinh served as parochial vicar at St. Paul the Apostle-Davenport, 2008-10; Sacred Heart Cathedral-Davenport, 2008-13; Ss. John & Paul-Burlington, 2013-15; and in Muscatine since 2015.
Father Daniel Dorau, 58, will become parochial vicar at Divine Mercy-Burlington-West Burlington and St. Mary-Dodgeville. Born in Lincoln, Neb., he attended schools in Fort Dodge, Iowa. He graduated from Loras College in Dubuque with a BA in speech communication and an MS in information and communication science. Prior to the priesthood, he worked in information technology. He completed his theological studies at Sacred Heart Seminary. He was ordained to the priesthood May 27, 2017, by Bishop Amos. Fr. Dorau has served as parochial vicar at Our Lady of Victory-Davenport since ordination.
Father Edmond Dunn, 82, will serve as sacramental minister at St. Peter-Cosgrove and St. Mary-Oxford. Born in Oxford, he graduated from St. Ambrose College, the University of Iowa, and completed his PhD from Boston College. He completed theological studies at Pope John XXIII National Seminary in Weston, Mass. He was ordained to the priesthood June 3, 1972, by Bishop O’Keefe at St. Mary-Oxford.
Fr. Dunn served on faculty at St. Ambrose College/University, 1975-2010. He served as spiritual director of the college’s seminary department, 1975-78; as rector, 1978-85; and director of spiritual formation, 1985-2001. He was administrator, then pastor at the Cosgrove and Oxford parishes since 2001.
Father Ross Epping, 28, will serve as chaplain at Assumption High School-Davenport while remaining as parochial vicar at St. John Vianney-Bettendorf. Born in Rockford, Ill., he graduated from St. Ambrose University and completed his theological studies at the University of St. Mary of the Lake Seminary. He was ordained to the priesthood June 6, 2016, by Bishop Amos. Fr. Epping has been parochial vicar at St. John Vianney since ordination.
Father Thom Hennen, 39, will become the diocese’s associate director of vocations while remaining as chaplain and director of campus ministry at St. Ambrose University. A native of Ottumwa, he graduated from St. Ambrose with a BA in history and philosophy. He completed his STB from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. He was ordained to the priesthood July 10, 2004, by Bishop Franklin at Sacred Heart Cathedral. Fr. Hennen returned to Rome to complete his graduate studies. Afterwards, he served as parochial vicar at Jesus Christ, Prince of Peace-Clinton, 2005-10. He served as part-time parochial vicar at St. Mary-Iowa City and part-time campus minister at Newman Catholic Student Center-Iowa City, 2010-11. He was named diocesan director of vocations in 2011. He served on faculty at Assumption High School-Davenport, 2014-17, and has been chaplain and director of campus ministry at St. Ambrose and parochial vicar at St. Anthony-Davenport since 2017.
Father Rudolph Juarez, 64, will become pastor of St. Joseph-West Liberty while remaining as pastor at St. Patrick-Iowa City. Born in Davenport, he attended St. Ambrose College, the University of Iowa and St. Mary University in San Antonio, Texas. He undertook theological studies at Assumption Seminary in San Antonio and the University of Notre Dame’s Moreau Seminary. He was ordained to the priesthood July 19, 1980, by Bishop O’Keefe at Sacred Heart Cathedral. Fr. Juarez had temporary assignments until serving as an associate pastor at St. Anthony-Davenport, 1980-81, and Our Lady of Lourdes-Bettendorf, 1981-83. He was a missionary vicar for Our Lady of Guadalupe-Muscatine, 1983-89, and then completed graduate studies at Gregorian University in Rome. He served as administrator, then pastor at St. Mary-Davenport, 1991-2004. He has served as vicar for Hispanic ministry since 1991 and as pastor of St. Patrick-Iowa City since 2004.
Father Troy Richmond, 43, will become pastor at St. Joseph-Columbus Junction while remaining as pastor of Ss. Mary & Mathias-Muscatine. An Ottumwa native, he graduated from Iowa State University with a BA in music. He studied pre-theology at St. Ambrose University and completed his theological studies at University of St. Mary of the Lake Seminary. He was ordained to the priesthood June 14, 2003, by Bishop Franklin. Fr. Richmond served as parochial vicar at St. Patrick-Ottumwa and St. Mary of the Visitation-Ottumwa, 2003-04. He served as parochial vicar at Ss. Mary & Mathias-Muscatine and administrator at Our Lady of Guadalupe-Muscatine, 2004-06. He served as parochial vicar at St. Joseph-Columbus Junction and St. Mary-Wilton, 2004-06. He served as parochial vicar, administrator and then pastor at Ss. Mary & Joseph-Fort Madison, Sacred Heart-Fort Madison and St. Joseph-Montrose, 2006-2008. The Fort Madison parishes merged to form Holy Family in 2008. He served as pastor of the merged parish until 2010, and also St. Joseph-Montrose. He served as pastor of St. James-Washington, 2010-14, and as pastor in Muscatine since 2014.
Father William Roush, 64, will become pastor of Holy Trinity-Richmond, St. Mary-Riverside and St. Joseph-Wellman. Born in Iowa City, he graduated from Cardinal Stritch University. Before entering the seminary, he worked at Monsanto for 25 years and was a partner in two small businesses. He completed his theological studies at Sacred Heart Seminary. He was ordained to the priesthood June 6, 2015, by Bishop Amos at Sacred Heart Cathedral. He served as parochial vicar at Ss. John & Paul-Burlington since 2015 and at Ss. Mary & Patrick-West Burlington and St. Mary-Dodgeville since 2016. The Burlington-
West Burlington parishes merged in 2017.
Father Joseph Sia, 43, will become diocesan director of vocations for the Diocese of Davenport and serve as sacramental minister at St. Mary-Davenport with ministry to the Hispanic community in Davenport. Born in Manila, Philippines, he earned a BS in basic medical sciences and then a doctor of medicine from the University of Philippines. Before entering the priesthood, he was a university research associate at the Institute of Human Genetics, University of the Philippines, from 2000-02. He served as a graduate research assistant at the University of Iowa, 2002-03. He completed his theological studies at the University of St. Mary of the Lake Seminary. He was ordained to the priesthood May 10, 2008, by Bishop Amos at Sacred Heart Cathedral. Fr. Sia served as a parochial vicar at Ss. Mary & Mathias-Muscatine, 2008-13. He was parochial vicar, then pastor of St. Joseph-
Columbus Junction since 2008 and administrator, then sacramental minister at St. Joseph-West Liberty since 2013.
Father Greg Steckel, 65, will become chaplain at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Born in Moline, Ill., he graduated from Blackhawk College in Moline and Northern Illinois University in DeKalb with a BS in child development. He completed theological studies at St. John University Seminary in Collegeville, Minn. He was ordained to the priesthood July 12, 1981, by Bishop O’Keefe at St. Anthony-Davenport. Fr. Steckel was temporary administrator at St. Joseph-Sugar Creek in 1981 and acting chaplain at Mercy Hospital-Davenport in 1981. He served as associate pastor at Our Lady of Victory, 1981-82; administrator at St. Peter-Buffalo, 1982-85; and pastor at St. Boniface-Farmington and St. Mary-String Prairie in 1985. After a leave of absence, he returned to Farmington and String Prairie as pastor, 1986-87. Following a leave, he served as chaplain at the East Moline, Ill., correctional facility, 1988-2001. Fr. Steckel served as sacramental minister at St. Peter-Cosgrove and St. Mary-Oxford and assisted in the pastoral care department at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in 2001.
He was chaplain at the Federal Bureau of Prisons, Leavenworth, Kan., 2001-05 and at the federal prison camp in Yankton, S.D., 2005-08. He served as parochial vicar at Ss. Mary & Joseph and Sacred Heart-Fort Madison (which merged to form Holy Family-Fort Madison), 2008-2009 and at St. Joseph-Montrose. He was administrator pro-tem and then administrator at Sacred Heart-Lost Nation, Sacred Heart-Oxford Junction and St. James-Toronto, 2009-2012. He was administrator, then pastor of St. Bernadette-West Branch, 2012 until now. He served as parochial vicar, administrator and then as pastor of St. Joseph-West Liberty since 2012.
Father David Steinle, 67, will become pastor of St. Bernadette-West Branch while remaining pastor of St. Mary-Wilton. The Burlington native graduated from the University of Iowa with a BA in business administration. He completed his theological studies at St. Paul Seminary in St. Paul, Minn. He was ordained to the priesthood June 7, 1979, by Bishop O’Keefe at St. Paul-Burlington. Fr. Steinle served as an associate pastor at Holy Family-Davenport, 1979-81. He served on faculty at Assumption High School-Davenport, 1981-92, and was pastor of Assumption-Charlotte and St. Patrick-Villa Nova, 1989-93. He served on faculty at Mater Dei High School-Clinton and as pastor of Assumption/St. Patrick-Charlotte, 1992-98. He served as pastor of St. Alphonsus-Davenport and St. Peter-Buffalo, 1997-2007, and St. Andrew-Blue Grass, 1997-2000. He served as pastor of St. Mary-Wilton, 1997-98; Ss. Mary & Patrick-West Burlington and St. Mary-Dodgeville, 2007-16; and pastor of St. Mary-Wilton and parochial vicar of Ss. Mary & Mathias-Muscatine since 2016.
Father Guillermo Trevino, Jr., 32, will become parochial vicar at St. Patrick-Iowa City and St. Joseph-West Liberty and chaplain at Regina Catholic Education Center-Iowa City. Born in San Antonio, Texas, he was raised in Moline, Ill. He graduated from Blackhawk College in Moline and Conception Seminary, Conception, Mo. He completed his theological studies at the University of St. Mary of the Lake Seminary. He was ordained to the priesthood June 6, 2015, by Bishop Amos at Sacred Heart Cathedral. Since ordination, Fr. Trevino has served in solidum at St. Peter-Buffalo, St. Alphonsus and St. Mary-Davenport.
Father Christopher Young, 57, will become pastor of St. Mary-Davenport. Born in Fullerton, Calif., he graduated from California Polytechnique State University with a BS in ag business management; the University of Arizona at Tucson with an MS in agricultural education-international extension and a BA in English. He did theological studies for the Anglican Church at St. Joseph of Arimathea Anglican Theological Seminary in Berkeley, Calif., and Nashotah House Theological Seminary in Nashotah, Wis. Before joining the Catholic Church, he served on staff at the University of Arizona Library special collections and media center, 1987-91. He also taught in high schools in California and Arizona. He served in Anglican churches in California, Wisconsin and Illinois. After converting to Catholicism, he entered a Catholic studies program for former Episcopal priests at Immaculate Conception Seminary at Seton Hall University, East Orange, N.J. He was ordained to the priesthood June 7, 2014, by Bishop Amos at Sacred Heart Cathedral. Fr. Young was parochial vicar, and then served in solidum at St. Alphonsus-Davenport and St. Peter-Buffalo since 2017 and St. Mary-Davenport since 2015. He taught part-time at Assumption High School-Davenport from 2014-15.
We are certainly going to miss Father Trevino at St. Alphonsus. With his down to earth sense of humor and his sincerity, he’s a treasure. May God bless him, abundantly, in his new assignments.