Priests receive new assignments

Sixteen priests received new or updated pastoral assignments from Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz this month. The list includes newly appointed pastors, administrators and a new rector for the Cathedral of the Assumption.

While transitions in parish leadership typically happen in late June, this year’s transitions have been delayed to Aug. 5 because of the coronavirus pandemic.

“Parish stability amid the crisis, the feasibility of making actual moves and adequate time for communities to pastorally respond to the changes were considered in selecting the new date,” said Father Jeffrey P. Shooner, the vicar for priests. “We want parishes and priests to have a safe, healthy and
pastoral transition.”

He noted that the transition will be more complex than usual for parishes with schools, since August tends to be a busy time.

“I hope that schools and parishes can offer enhanced understanding, cooperation and coordination during the transition,” he said.

Father Shooner also noted the uncertainties presented by the pandemic.

“It is hoped that this date will remain firm, but unanticipated developments could delay it further.”

Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz has made the following appointments, effective Aug. 5, 2020, unless otherwise noted:

Very Reverend Martin A. Linebach, V.G., has been appointed rector of the Cathedral of the Assumption, while continuing as vicar general for the Archdiocese of Louisville. As rector, Father Linebach possesses all the rights and duties of pastor, and thus possesses all the usual faculties and powers to delegate as a result. This assignment will coincide with the termination of his responsibilities at St. James Church in Elizabethtown, Ky.

Father Linebach, born in Louisville, was ordained on May 30, 1987. He attended seminary at Theological College, the Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C.

He has served as pastor of St. James, Elizabethtown since June 18, 2014. He has also served as presbyteral moderator of Holy Family Church from June 8, 2018, to present.

Since his ordination, he has been assigned to the following parishes: Mother of Good Counsel, Holy Trinity, Cathedral of the Assumption, St. Ignatius Martyr and St. Patrick in Louisville and St. Aloysius, Pewee Valley;  St. Ignatius, White Mills, Ky.; and St. Ambrose, Cecilia, Ky. He served as director of the archdiocese’s Office of Ecumenical and Interreligious Relations from 2006 to 2016.

Father Linebach received a bachelor of arts degree in English from Bellarmine University in 1978 and a master of divinity degree from the Theological College, the Catholic University of America in 1987. He was assigned to graduate studies at the Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley from 1993-94. Father earned a master of science degree in organization development from Loyola University of Chicago in 2002.

He has served several terms on the Archdiocesan Priests’ Council and the College of Consultors. Father Linebach was appointed vicar general for the archdiocese on Feb. 1, 2018.

Reverend Nicholas J. Brown has been appointed pastor of Sts. Simon and Jude and Most Blessed Sacrament churches. This assignment will coincide with the termination of his responsibilities at St. Bartholomew Church.

Father Brown, born in Louisville, was ordained on May 25, 2013. He attended Bishop Simon Bruté College Seminary in Indianapolis and St. Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology, St. Meinrad, Ind.

Father Brown has served as pastor of St. Bartholomew since June 20, 2018. Since his ordination, he has been assigned to the following parishes: St. James, Elizabethtown; St. Ambrose, Cecilia; St. Ignatius, White Mills; Holy Trinity; Holy Spirit, Jamestown; Holy Redeemer, Greensburg, Ky.; and Good Shepherd, Columbia. In his current assignment at St. Bartholomew, he has also worked closely with John Paul II Academy.

Reverend L. Wilfredo Fernandez has been appointed pastor of St. Joseph Church in Butchertown. This assignment will coincide with the termination of his responsibilities at Christ the Healer Church in Edmonton, Ky., and Christ the King Church in Tompkinsville, Ky.

Father Fernandez, born in Tarija, Bolivia, was ordained on May 28, 2016. He attended Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology, Hales Corners, Wisconsin.

Father Fernandez has served as pastor of Christ the Healer and Christ the King since Jan. 1, 2019, and had been administrator since June 20, 2018. Since his ordination, he has been assigned to the following parishes: Basilica of St. Joseph Proto-Cathedral in Bardstown, Ky; St. Michael in Fairfield, Ky.; Holy Trinity and Holy Name.

Reverend Pablo A. Hernández has been appointed pastor of St. Bartholomew Church. This assignment will coincide with the termination of his responsibilities at Our Lady of Mercy Church in Hodgenville, Ky., and St. Ann Church in Howardstown, Ky.

Father Hernández, born in San Vicente, El Salvador, was ordained on Aug. 12, 2006. He attended St. Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology, St. Meinrad, Ind.

Father Hernández has served as pastor of Our Lady of Mercy and St. Ann since June 20, 2012, and June 20, 2018, respectively. He was administrator at Our Lady of Mercy from June 22, 2011, to June 20, 2012, while serving as sacramental minister to the Latino Community of Hardin County, Ky. Since his ordination, he has been assigned to the following parishes: Basilica of St. Joseph, Bardstown; St. Michael, Fairfield, Ky.; St. Augustine, Lebanon, Ky.; and Holy Name of Mary, Calvary, Ky.; and St. Peter the Apostle.

Reverend Brian A. Kenney has been appointed pastor of Our Lady of Mercy Church in Hodgenville, Ky., and St. Ann Church in Howardstown. This assignment will coincide with the termination of his responsibilities at St. Thomas More and Our Lady of Mount Carmel churches.

Father Kenney, born in Louisville, was ordained on June 8, 2002. He attended St. Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology, St. Meinrad, Ind.

Father Kenney has served as pastor of St. Thomas More and Our Lady of Mount Carmel since June 19, 2019. Since his ordination, he has been assigned to the following parishes: St. Aloysius, Shepherdsville, Ky.; St. Benedict, Lebanon Junction, Ky.; Basilica of St. Joseph, Bardstown; St. Margaret Mary; St. Charles in St. Mary, Ky.; and St. Augustine, Lebanon. He has also served as co-chaplain for Sacred Heart Academy.

Reverend Troy D. Overton has been appointed pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and St. Thomas More churches. This assignment will coincide with the termination of his responsibilities at St. Edward Church.

Father Overton, born in Jeffersonville, Ind., was ordained on Sept. 1, 1989, as a Conventual Franciscan and was incardinated in the Archdiocese of Louisville on July 20, 2011. He attended seminary at Washington Theological Union, Washington, D.C.

Father Overton has served as pastor of St. Edward since June 17, 2015. Since his incardination, he has been assigned to the following parishes: Basilica of St. Joseph, Bardstown; St. Catherine, New Haven, Ky.; and Immaculate Conception, Culvertown, Ky. He also served as development director, chaplain and teacher for Holy Cross High School.

Prior to incardination, Father Overton served the Archdiocese of Dubuque in Ames, Iowa, and at Cardinal Ritter High School, Indianapolis.

Reverend Sebi Palamattath, C.M.I. has been appointed pastor of Christ the Healer Church in Edmonton, Ky., and Christ the King Church in Tompkinsville, Ky.

Father Palamattath, born in India, was ordained a priest on Dec. 28, 1991. He attended seminary at the Pontifical Athenaeum of Philosophy, Theology and Canon Law in Bangalore, India.

Father Palamattath has previously served as a vicar, parochial vicar, prior, principal and teacher in Thrissur, Kerala, India.

Reverend David G. Sánchez has been appointed pastor of Church of the Annunciation in Shelbyville, Ky., and St. John Chrysostom in Eminence, Ky. This assignment will coincide with the termination of Father Sánchez’s responsibilities at St. Joseph Church in Butchertown.

Father Sánchez, born in Caguas, Puerto Rico, was ordained on June 8, 2002. He attended St. Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology in St. Meinrad, Ind.

He has served as pastor of St. Joseph since June 20, 2007, and had served as pastor of Holy Name from 2008 to 2016. Since his ordination, he has been assigned to the following parishes: St. Augustine in Lebanon and Holy Spirit. He was assigned as administrator of St. Joseph while serving as minister for the Hispanic and Latino communities of Region VII. He did postgraduate studies at the University of Puerto Rico and earned a masters in public health in biostatistics.

In 2018, he earned a masters in ecclesial administration and management from The Catholic University of America inWashington, D.C.

Father Sánchez currently serves as the vice-president of the National Association of Hispanic Priests, USA. He served previously in the U.S. Army Chaplain Corps.

Very Reverend Michael T. Wimsatt has been appointed pastor of St. James Church in Elizabethtown, Ky. This assignment will coincide with the termination of his responsibilities at the Cathedral of the Assumption.

Father Wimsatt, born in Bowling Green, Ky., was ordained on May 29, 2010. He attended St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore, Maryland.

Father Wimsatt has served as pastor of the Cathedral of the Assumption since June 21, 2017, and as administrator from June 22, 2016, to June 21, 2017. Since his ordination, he has been assigned to the following parishes: Basilica of St. Joseph, Bardstown, and St. Michael, Fairfield.

He served as the director of the Vocation Office from Sept. 1, 2014, to June 19, 2019. He resided at Holy Trinity during his first two years as vocation director for the Archdiocese of Louisville. He was the associate director for seminarians while completing graduate studies at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., where he earned a doctorate in sacred theology. He has also served as chaplain for Bethlehem High School.

Reverend Robert D. Barnell has been appointed administrator of Immaculate Conception Church in La Grange, Ky. This assignment will coincide with the termination of his responsibilities at St. Augustine Church in Lebanon and Holy Name of Mary Church in Calvary.

Father Barnell, born in Louisville, was ordained on May 26, 2018. He attended seminary at Mount Saint Mary’s Seminary, Cincinnati, Ohio.

Father Barnell has served as associate pastor of St. Augustine and Holy Name of Mary since June 19, 2019. Since his ordination, he has been assigned to the following parishes: St. Bartholomew and St. Edward, where he served the Hispanic community.

Reverend J. Scott Murphy, L.C., has been appointed administrator of St. Edward Church. This assignment will coincide with the termination of his responsibilities at St. James in Elizabethtown.

Father Murphy was born in Lebanon, Ky., and lived in Loretto, Ky., until joining the congregation of the Legionaries of Christ in 1996. After his novitiate in Dublin, Ireland, he studied at Regina Apostolorum at both the New York campus and in Rome, Italy. He was ordained on Dec. 12, 2009, at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls. After finishing further degrees in Rome, he served in Florence, Italy, at the parish of Santi Apostoli as chaplain of English speakers from 2012 to 2018.

Father Murphy has served as associate pastor of St. James since Feb. 11, 2019.

Reverend Minh D. Vu has been appointed administrator of St. Athanasius Church. This assignment will coincide with the termination of his responsibilities at the Basilica of Saint Joseph Proto-Cathedral, Bardstown.

Father Vu is from Xuan My, Nghi Dong, Nghi Loc Nghe An, Vietnam. He was ordained on May 26, 2018. He attended St. Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology, St. Meinrad, Ind.

Father Vu has served as associate pastor of the Basilica of St. Joseph since June 20, 2018.

Reverend Benedict J. Brown has been re-appointed as administrator of St. Ambrose, Cecilia, and St. Ignatius, White Mills, along with care of Saint Clare Oratory.

Reverend John R. Johnson will retire as pastor of St. Michael Church in Fairfield and All Saints Church in Taylorsville, Ky., while continuing as administrator of both parishes for one year.

Reverend Jeffrey S. Nicolas has been appointed presbyteral moderator of Immaculate Conception in La Grange. This assignment will coincide with his responsibilities as pastor of St. Bernadette Church in Prospect, Ky.

Reverend Peter Q. Do has been appointed presbyteral moderator of St. Athanasius. This assignment will coincide with his responsibilities as pastor of St. John Paul II Church and associate vocation director.

Associate Pastor official assignments will take place later and announced at that time.