2024 Priest Assignments

April 5, 2024
Friday in the Octave of Easter

I, the Most Rev. David A. Konderla, Bishop of Tulsa and Eastern Oklahoma, announce today the following priest assignments. Please pray for these priests as they begin this important transition in their ministry in a spirit of faithful obedience and with gratitude to the faithful for their continued support.

Pastors
Fr. Juan Grajeda, from Associate Pastor at St. Francis Xavier in Tulsa to Pastor at St. Clement in Bixby, effective July 1, 2024.

Fr. John Grant, from Pastor at St Catherine of Alexandria in Tulsa and St. Joseph in Bristow to Pastor at St. Pius X in Tulsa, in addition to his duties as Director of the Office of Divine Worship, effective July 1, 2024.

Fr. Gary Kastl, from Rector at Holy Family Cathedral in Tulsa and part-time Vicar General to full-time Vicar General, effective July 1, 2024.

Fr. Robert Kimpu, to Pastor at St. Catherine in Tulsa and St. Joseph in Bristow, in addition to being Pastor at Immaculate Heart of Mary in Tulsa, effective July 1, 2024.

Fr. Matthew La Chance, from Pastor at St. Henry in Owasso to Sacred Heart in Sapulpa, effective July 1, 2024.

Fr. Joshua Litwack, from Pastor at St. Pius X in Tulsa to St. Henry in Owasso, effective July 1, 2024.

Fr. Carlos Loaiza, from Associate Pastor at St. John Before the Latin Gate and St. James in Bartlesville to Pastor at St. Francis de Sales in Idabel, effective July 1, 2024.

Fr. Lawrence Nwachukwu, from Pastor at St. Francis Xavier in Sallisaw, St. Joseph in Webbers Falls, St. Kateri Tekakwitha in Roland, and St. John the Evangelist in Cookson to Pastor at St. Francis Xavier in Stillwater, effective July 1, 2024.

Fr. Louis Obirieze, from Pastor at Sacred Heart in Sapulpa to Pastor at Sacred Heart in Fairfax, St. Joseph in Cleveland, and St. Joseph in Hominy, effective July 1, 2024.

Fr. Brian O’Brien, from Pastor at St. Francis Xavier in Stillwater to Rector at Holy Family Cathedral in Tulsa, in addition to his duties as Vicar Forane for the Western Vicariate, effective July 1, 2024.

Fr. Jeffrey Polasek, from Pastor at St. Clement in Bixby to Pastor at St. Francis Xavier in Sallisaw, St. Joseph in Webbers Falls, St. Kateri Tekakwitha in Roland, and St. John the Evangelist in Cookson, effective July 1, 2024.

Associate Pastors
Fr. Alessandro Calderoni, from Associate Pastor at the Church of St. Benedict in Broken Arrow to
Associate Pastor at Saints Peter and Paul in Tulsa, effective September 16, 2024.

Fr. David Carvajal, from Associate Pastor at St. Pius X in Tulsa to Associate Pastor at St. John Before the Latin Gate and St. James in Bartlesville, effective July 1, 2024.

Fr. Hrudaya Raj Gade, from Pastor at Sacred Heart in Fairfax, St. Joseph in Cleveland, and St. Joseph in Hominy to Associate Pastor at St. Catherine in Tulsa and St. Joseph in Bristow.

Fr. Gabriel Garcia, from Associate Pastor at Saints Peter and Paul in Tulsa to Associate Pastor at the Church of St. Benedict in Broken Arrow, effective September 16, 2024.

Fr. Leonardo Morales, from Associate Pastor at St. Thomas More in Tulsa to Associate Pastor at St. Pius X in Tulsa, effective July 1, 2024.

Fr. Ovidio Vides, arriving from Mexico to be Associate Pastor at St. Francis Xavier in Tulsa.

Other Announcements
Fr. Steve Austin, Pastor of St. Francis de Sales in Idabel will be retiring effective July 1, 2024

Fr. Duy Nguyen, in addition to his other duties, he will assist Fr. Kerry Wakulich at St. John Catholic Student Center in Stillwater two days a week for the coming school year.

On behalf of the Diocese of Tulsa, her priests, and her faithful, please join me in expressing our gratitude to Fr. Steve Austin for his many years of service and faithful dedication in our diocese.