Cardinal John Dew has made the following clergy appointments in the Diocese of Palmerston North.

The following clergy appointments take place on the weekend of 1/2 February 2020:

Fr Marcus Francis is appointed parish priest of the Parish of Hastings.

Fr Vaughan Leslie is appointed as the parish priest of the Parish of Whanganui.

Fr Vince Onesi is appointed as the parish priest of the Parishes of Pahiatua and Dannevirke.

Fr Anthony Zaw Tun is appointed as assistant priest of the Parish of Hastings.

Fr Joseph Saw Tha Khu is appointed as assistant priest of the Parish of Hawera.

The following clergy appointments take place from June 2020:

Fr Brian Carmine is appointed to the North Taranaki Pastoral Area, residing in Waitara.

Father Freddie Barte to remain as Parish Priest in Waitara and Inglewood.

Deacon Trung Nguyen is appointed, after priestly ordination, as assistant priest of the Parish of Hastings.

With Cardinal John, I thank the priests who have accepted new appointments and welcome to our Diocese Fr Vaughan Leslie, on loan from the Dunedin Diocese, also Father Anthony and Father Joseph who have newly arrived from Myanmar. We also look forward to Deacon Trung Nguyen’s ordination to the priesthood in April, and his first priestly appointment to the Catholic Parish of Hastings.

I thank you all for your prayers and support and pray for God’s continued blessings on our Diocese in this Advent and Christmas season.

Yours in Christ,

Monsignor Brian Walsh

Vicar General

Diocese of Palmerston North