HARRISBURG - A local parish will have a new priest at the helm in the coming weeks after an announcement from the Diocese of Harrisburg.
In a press release made by the Very Reverend Robert M. Gillelan Jr., diocesan administrator, notice was given that effective Monday, June 17, The Rev. John Szada, pastor of Divine Redeemer Church, Mount Carmel, will be transferred to become the new chaplain of the Carmel of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, of Elysburg.
Szada became pastor of Divine Redeemer in July 2011, assuming the leadership role from the Rev. Robert Yohe, who had been involved with the church since it was formed under consolidation of several area Catholic churches.
The Carmel of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, Elysburg, is the former Carmelite Monastery, Elysburg and the home of the Discalced Carmelite Nuns, an order in which the sisters are not seen by the public, living in seclusion in order to pray for the world's sins.
Gillelan, who became Diocesan administrator after the sudden death of Bishop Joseph McFadden on named the Rev. Martin O. Moran the new administrator of Divine Redeemer Parish, also effective June 17.
Joseph Aponick, director of communications for the Diocese, said the "administrator" title for Moran is a temporary one.
"A Diocesan administrator does not have the power to appoint a pastor, so he gives them the title of administrator," Aponick said. "When a new bishop is named, he will, in all likelihood, change the title from administrator to pastor."
The press release only says that Moran had been on assignment outside of the Diocese.
The only other local announcement made was, at the presentation of the Rev. Augustaine Idra, regional supervisor for the Apostles of Jesus, The Rev. Fred Wangwe, the campus minister at Bucknell University, Lewisburg, was named the new administrator of Saint Monica Parish, Sunbury, effective June 17. Idra presented the Rev. Bernard Wamayose as the new campus minister.