DIOCESE OF BELLEVILLE
OFFICE OF THE BISHOP
OFFICIAL APPOINTMENTS
Most Reverend Godfrey Mullen, OSB, Bishop of Belleville, hereby announces the following appointments. All appointments are effective July 1, 2026, except where otherwise noted.
Vicar General (canon 479§1)
Reverend Nicholas Junker, Pastor of St. Nicholas Parish in O’Fallon, is appointed Vicar General of the Diocese of Belleville. This appointment is effective May 4, 2026, for a period of two years (renewable).
Ecclesiastical Notary (canon 483§1 and §2)
Reverend Nicholas Junker, Pastor of St. Nicholas Parish in O’Fallon, and Vicar General of the Diocese of Belleville, is appointed Ecclesiastical Notary, effective May 6, 2026, for a period of two years (renewable).
Mrs. Sharon Buckley, Vice Chancellor of the Diocese of Belleville, is appointed Ecclesiastical Notary, effective May 6, 2026, for a period of two years (renewable).
Pastors (canon 522)
Reverend Evaristus Akabueze, CM, until now the Administrator of St. James Parish in Millstadt, St. John the Baptist Parish in Smithton, and St. Michael Parish in Paderborn, is appointed Pastor of these same parishes.
Reverend Michaelsami Arockiam, until now, Pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Freeburg and St. Agatha Parish in New Athens, is appointed Pastor of St. Francis Xavier Parish in Carbondale and Chaplain of the Newman Catholic Student Center at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale.
Reverend Brian Barker, until now, Administrator of Immaculate Conception Parish in Columbia, is appointed Pastor of this same parish.
Monsignor David Darin, until now, Temporary Administrator of St. Mary the Immaculate Conception Parish in Mt. Vernon, is appointed Pastor of this same parish.
Reverend Iuvenis Iheme, CM, until now, Administrator of St. John the Baptist Parish in Red Bud and St. Patrick Parish in Ruma, is appointed Pastor of these same parishes.
Reverend Andrew Knopik, until now, Administrator of Holy Family Parish in Cahokia Heights and Sacred Heart Parish in Dupo, is appointed Pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Freeburg and St. Agatha Parish in New Athens.
Reverend Thomas Lugge, until now, Administrator of St. Boniface Parish in Germantown and St. Cecilia Parish in Bartelso, is appointed Pastor of these same parishes.
Very Reverend Mark D. Reyling, V.F., Pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Herrin and Holy Spirit Parish in Carterville, is re-appointed pastor of these same parishes.
Reverend Steven Pautler, until now, Administrator of St. Mary Parish in Carlyle, St. Teresa of Avila Parish in Marydale, and St. Lawrence Parish in Sandoval, is appointed Pastor of St. Lawrence Parish in Sandoval, while continuing as Pastor of St. Mary Parish in Centralia.
Reverend Linus Umoren, CM, Pastor of SS. Peter & Paul Parish in Waterloo, is re-appointed Pastor of this same parish.
Administrators (canon 539)
Reverend Larry Lemay, until now, Parochial Vicar of St. Paul Parish in Vienna, is appointed Administrator of St. Mary Parish in Anna.
Reverend Emmanuval Elayachanickal Thomas, SAC, a member of the Pallottine Fathers and BrothersMother of God Province, a priest new to the diocese, is appointed Administrator of Blessed Sacrament Parish and Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish in Belleville, with residence at Our Lady Queen of Peace Rectory.
Reverend Devarajulu Ubbarapu, until now, Parochial Vicar at St. Mary Parish in Carlyle, St. Mary Parish in Centralia, St. Teresa of Avila Parish in Marydale, and St. Lawrence Parish in Sandoval, is appointed Administrator of St. Mary Parish in Carlyle and St. Teresa of Avila Parish in Marydale.
NOTE: An appointment for Holy Family Parish in Cahokia Heights and Sacred Heart Parish in Dupo will be forthcoming.
Vicars Forane (canons 553-555)
Very Reverend Von C. Deeke, Pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Aviston, is appointed Vicar Forane for the North Central Vicariate.
Very Reverend Mark D. Reyling, VF, Pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Herrin and Holy Spirit Parish in Carterville, is re-appointed Vicar Forane for the South Vicariate.
Very Reverend Sebastian Ukoh, CM, Pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Prairie du Rocher, St. Mary Help of Christians Parish in Chester, and St. Mary of Divine Maternity Parish in Ellis Grove, is appointed Vicar Forane for the West Vicariate.
Very Reverend Linus Umoren, CM, Pastor of SS. Peter & Paul Parish in Waterloo, is appointed Vicar Forane for the Metro East Vicariate.
Very Reverend Robert Zwillings, VF, Pastor of St. Mary Parish in Mt. Carmel and St. Sebastian Parish in St. Sebastian, is re-appointed Vicar Forane for the East Vicariate.
Conclusion of Appointments:
Monsignor James Buerster’s appointment as Temporary Administrator of Blessed Sacrament Parish and Our Lady queen of Peace Parish in Belleville is concluded with the appointment of a new Administrator, effective July 1.
Monsignor William P. McGhee’s appointment as Administrator of St. Mary Parish in Belleville is concluded with Bishop Godfrey Mullen, OSB, as Pastor of the parish which is partnered with the Cathedral of St. Peter.
Reverend Uriel Salamanca’s appointment as Administrator of St. Mary Parish in Anna is concluded with the appointment of Reverend Larry Lemay as Administrator of this same parish.
Reverend Joel Seipp’s appointment as Temporary Administrator of St. Francis Xavier Parish in Carbondale and Chaplain of the Newman Catholic Student Center is concluded with the appointment of Reverend Michaelsami Arockiam as Pastor of the parish and Chaplain of the Newman Center.
Reverend Steven Pautler’s appointment as Administrator of St. Mary Parish in Carlyle and St. Teresa of Avila Parish in Marydale is concluded with the appointment of Reverend Devarajulu Ubbarapu as Administrator of these same parishes.
Reverend Linus Umoren, CM’s appointment as Pastor of St. Augustine of Canterbury Parish in Hecker and St. Mary Parish in Valmeyer is concluded with the appointment of Reverend Balaiah Ery as Administrator of these same parishes. Father Linus will continue as Pastor of SS. Peter & Paul Parish in Waterloo and provide mentorship to Fr. Bala.
Moderator (canon 571§2)
Mr. Bill Harper, Pastoral Associate at Holy Spirit Parish in Carterville, is appointed Moderator of Holy Spirit Parish under the direction of Very Reverend Mark D. Reyling, V.F., Pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Herrin and Holy Spirit Parish in Carterville.
Seminarian Summer Assignments
Mr. Casmir Cozzi, Mundelein Seminary, will be participating in a Spanish immersion program in Guatemala under the oversight of Reverend Steven Beatty, Director of Seminarians.
Mr. Grant Fender, Kenrick-Glennon College, will be assisting at St. Boniface Parish in Germantown and St. Cecilia Parish in Bartelso under the direction of Reverend Thomas Lugge, Pastor.
Mr. Greg Kassen, Mundelein Seminary, is appointed to summer ministry at St. Joseph Parish in Olney, St, Joseph Parish in Stringtown, Holy Cross Parish in Wendelin, and St. Lawrence Parish in Lawrenceville, under the direction of Reverend Steven Beatty, Pastor.
Mr. Kyle Kellerman, Kenrick-Glennon College, is appointed to summer ministry at St. Boniface Parish in Germantown and St. Cecilia Parish in Bartelso, under the direction of Reverend Thomas Lugge, Pastor.
Mr. Terry Marmion, Mundelein Seminary, will be participating in the Rome Experience and, upon return, is appointed to summer ministry at St. Nicholas Parish in O’Fallon, under the direction of Very Reverend Nicholas Junker, V.G., Pastor.
Given this 6th day of May in the Year of Our Lord 2026