Pastoral announcements

Announcements

Pastoral and administrative announcements for 13 diocesan priests

Rev. Dean Danos

Rev. Stephen Castille Rev. Mitchel Semar Rev. Rusty Bruce Rev. Evelio (Toto) Buenaflor

Very Rev. P.J. Madden, diocesan administrator, after consultation with the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux’s College of Consultors, announced the following pastoral appointments, effective July 1, 2022.

Retirement

Father Dean Danos, who has been serving as pastor of St. Eloi Church parish in Theriot since July 2016, will be retiring from active ministry. Father Danos, a native of Larose, was ordained to the priesthood May 24, 1980.

Diocesan Appointments

Father Stephen Castille, has been appointed special assistant to the Office of the Bishop and will be in residence at St. Hilary of Poitiers Church parish in Mathews, with weekend pastoral ministry at St. Hilary and the Community of St. Anthony in Gheens. Father Castille, a native of Church Point, was ordained to the priesthood June 4, 2022.

Father Mitchel Semar, who has been serving as pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas Church parish in Thibodaux since January 2018, has been appointed full-time diocesan director of the Offices of Vocations and Seminarians. Father Semar, a native of Sulphur, was ordained to the priesthood May 26, 2012.

Administrator Appointments

Father Rusty Bruce, who has been serving as associate pastor of St. Hilary of Poitiers Church parish in Mathews and the Community of St. Anthony in Gheens since May 2020, has been appointed administrator of St. Hilary and the Community of St. Anthony in Gheens, for a one-year term. Father Bruce, a native of Cut Off, was ordained to the priesthood June 6, 2020.

Father Evelio (Toto) Buenaflor, who has been serving as pastor of St. Lawrence Church parish in Chacahoula since July 2021, has been appointed administrator of St. Charles Borromeo Church parish in Pointe-aux-Chenes and Sacred Heart Church parish in Montegut, for a one-year term. Father Buenaflor, a native of M’lang, Cotabato, Philippines, was ordained to the priesthood May 24, 1985.

Father Rajasekar (Raja)

Karumelnathan, who has been serving as pastor of Sacred Heart Church parish in Montegut and St. Charles Borromeo Church parish in Pointe-aux-Chenes since July 2019, has been appointed administrator of St. Lawrence Church parish in Chacahoula, for a one-year term. Father Karumelnathan, a native of India, was ordained to the priesthood April 27, 2009.

Father Brett Lapeyrouse, who has been serving as associate pastor of St. Bernadette Church parish in Houma since February 2022, has been appointed administrator of Sacred

Announcements

Rev. Rajasekar Karumelnathan Rev. Brett Lapeyrouse Rev. Joey Lirette Rev. John David (J.D.) Matherne

Rev. Antonio Maria Speedy Rev. James Rome Rev. Sabino (Benie) Rebosura Rev. Joseph Henry Sebastian

Heart Church parish in Morgan City, for a one-year term. Father Lapeyrouse, a native of Chauvin/Bourg, was ordained to the priesthood June 1, 2019.

Father Joey Lirette, who has been serving as associate pastor of Sacred Heart Church parish in Cut Off since July 2018, has been appointed administrator of Our Lady of Prompt Succor Church parish in Chackbay, for a one-year term. Father Lirette, a native of Chauvin, was ordained to the priesthood June 2, 2018.

Father John David (J.D.) Matherne, who has been serving as pastor of St. Hilary of Poitiers Church parish in Mathews and the Community of St. Anthony in Gheens since July 2020, has been appointed administrator of St. Thomas Aquinas Church parish in Thibodaux, for a one-year term. Father Matherne, a native of Raceland, was ordained to the priesthood June 3, 2017.

Father Antonio Maria Speedy, who has been serving as administrator of Holy Family Church parish in Grand Caillou since January 2019, has been appointed administrator of St. Eloi Church parish in Theriot, effective July 1, 2022, for a one-year term, in addition to his role as administrator of St. Eloi. Father Speedy, a native of Adelaide, South Australia, was ordained to the priesthood Dec. 6, 2014. parish in Chackbay since July 2015, will be returning to the Philippines. Father Rebosura, a native of Bohol, Philippines, was ordained to the priesthood April 22, 1987, for the Diocese of Tagbilaran in the Philippines. He has been serving in the diocese since April 1993, and was incardinated in the Diocese of HoumaThibodaux July 1, 1997.

Father Joseph Henry Sebastian, who has been serving as pastor of Sacred Heart Church parish in Morgan City since July 2019, will be returning to India. Father Sebastian, a native of Tamil Nadu, India, was ordained to the priesthood April 26, 1989, for the order of the Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales in India. He has been serving in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux since September 2010. BC

Associate Pastor Appointment

Father James Rome, has been appointed associate pastor of St. Bernadette Church parish in Houma. Father Rome, a native of Golden Meadow, was ordained to the priesthood June 4, 2022.

Returning Home

Father Sabino (Benie) Rebosura

II, who has been serving as pastor of Our Lady of Prompt Succor Church