Bishop Edward J. Burns, top center, poses with the newly ordained priests — Father Kevin Kolker, Father Juan Estaban Rojas, Father César García, Father Alex Fry, Father Mark Nguyễn, Father Dennis O’Donnell, Father Miguel Sotelo, and Father Eugene Udemba — on May 20. (Photo by Michael Gresham/The Texas Catholic)
Diocese of Dallas announces clergy assignments and appointments
From staff reports
ALLEN — More than 2,200 people gathered in celebration at St. Jude Catholic Church as eight men answered the Lord’s call and stepped forth to be ordained as priests for the Diocese of Dallas on May 20. Loved ones, friends and well-wishers packed the sanctuary to witness the dawn of the ministries of Father Kevin Kolker, Father Juan Estaban Rojas, Father César García, Father Alex Fry, Father Mark Nguyễn, Father Dennis O’Donnell, Father Miguel Sotelo, and Father Eugene Udemba.
“Open your lives to the fact that God uses you to bring forth His love, His mercy, His compassion to all the world and that through you, the Lord brings his very self to his people — people who are in need of healing, compassion, and mercy,” said Bishop Edward J. Burns in his homily to the newly ordained. “May God continue to bless you in those moments.
“And, in those moments as you reflect upon this day, the day of your priestly ordination, I pray that you will remember the words that Jesus Christ our Lord spoke to you,” the bishop said. “It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go forth and to bear fruit so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.”
Bishop Burns, in concelebrating the Mass with Auxiliary Bishop Greg Kelly and his brother priests, thanked the new priests for answering God’s call.
“Thank you for following that voice. Thank you for answering His call. Thank you for stepping up. Thank you for the love, the conviction and the compassion that you have,” he said. “We’re proud to have you in our midst, and we rejoice in this moment.”
July 1 will mark the start of the new priests’ assignments with Father Kolker serving as parochial vicar at Christ the King Parish in Dallas, Father Rojas serving as parochial vicar at St. Patrick Parish in Dallas, Father García serving as parochial vicar at St. Joseph Parish in Richardson, Father Nguyễn serving as parochial vicar at St. Rita Parish in Dallas, Father O’Donnell serving as parochial vicar of Holy Family of Nazareth Parish in Irving, Father Udemba serving as parochial vicar at Prince of Peace Parish in Plano, Father Sotelo serving as parochial vicar at St. Mark the Evangelist Parish in Plano, and Father Fry being appointed as a priest in residence at Mary Immaculate Parish in Farmers Branch before returning to Rome to complete further graduate studies.
‘Come follow me’
Father Kolker said the priestly vocation has been “knocking on the door” for his family for quite some time.
“My father spent a year in seminary before he married my mom, and my brother spent a couple years in seminary, too. The third time’s the charm,” he said. “My family played a tremendous role in my vocational discernment, which was deepened by my youth group at St. Ann and by my time in the campus ministry at Texas A&M University.”
Father Kolker remembers initially feeling the pull of a priestly vocation personally while preparing and receiving the sacrament of confirmation as an eighth grader.
“In that sacrament I came to know God’s personal love for me,” he said. “My brother, who was a seminarian at that time, was my sponsor, which planted a seed that God might actually be calling me to become a priest. I remember thinking how amazing it would be to help people every day to encounter Jesus.”
Father Kolker, who attended seminary at Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans, grew up in the St. Ann Catholic Parish in Coppell and spent his pastoral year at St. Mary Catholic Church in Sherman. He also served a diaconate assignment at St. Paul the Apostle Parish in Richardson.
As he looked out over the crowded sanctuary in Allen on May 20, Father Kolker said he felt great joy and blessings.
“I was overwhelmed with joy and gratitude for all the relationships God has blessed me with in every phase of my life and in every parish in which I’ve served,” he explained. “I was also overwhelmed by the goodness of God and by the way He is at work in our diocese.”
As he enters his priestly vocation, Father Kolker said he is humbled by the opportunities for service that he will have. He most looks forward to providing “spiritual fatherhood,” especially in confession.
“I love speaking to God the Father in prayer, so the realization that as people call me ‘Father’ they are hoping to experience the love of the Heavenly Father through me is humbling,” Father Kolker said.
Born in Dallas and growing up in the St. John Nepomucene Parish in Ennis, Father Fry said he first felt the call to the priesthood as a teenager.
“I first began discerning the priesthood when I was 13 years old, while at the Pines Catholic summer camp,” he said. “It was the experience of God’s grace through the sacraments of the Eucharist and confession that first ignited the desire in my heart to serve as priest.”
Father Fry attended seminary at the Pontifical North Amercian College in Rome, Italy. He served his pastoral year at St. Ann Catholic Church in Coppell.
During the ordination Mass, Father Fry recalled being overwhelmed with gratitude for the support he had received throughout the years.
“As I looked out, I could recognize friends and family who have journeyed with me over the last 14 years of discernment and formation, and the feeling was one of immense gratitude,” he said. “It really takes a community to raise a vocation.”
As a new priest for the diocese, Father Fry most looks forward to “being an instrument of God’s mercy and healing in the sacrament of reconciliation.”
“I am most excited about hearing confessions and celebrating Mass,” he explained. “These two sacraments have been a source of nourishment and healing for me on my journey to priesthood, and I look forward to offering them for others.”
Father Rojas comes to the Diocese of Dallas from Bogota, Colombia, the third of seven children. He said he first heard the call to the priesthood shortly before his graduation from high school.
“The Lord found me at a very important time in my life and invited me to live my faith in a small community,” said Father Rojas, who at the time entered the community of the Neo Catechumenal Way. “A group of catechists announced to me that God loved me, the way I was. To listen to the Good News was a real cause of joy, because I encountered something that I had never encountered. Then, by living my faith in a small community, I was able to listen to the voice of God, calling me to be a missionary priest for the New Evangelization.”
After a time of discernment in a vocational group in Bogota, Father Rojas was sent to Redemptoris Mater Seminary of Dallas. He graduated from the University of Dallas with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2016, and after two years of theology in Denver, he was sent on missions in Belize as well as Pennsylvania and Oklahoma.
“Those years confirmed my calling to the priesthood, since I saw the immense need for the Gospel to be announced,” said Father Rojas, who returned in 2022 for his ordination to the transitional diaconate and to serve at St. Pius X Catholic Church. “The time in the parish was a beautiful experience, where under the guidance of the pastor, I was able to learn a lot. After all these years, I can only express my gratitude to the Lord, who has been very patient with me, and has defended my vocation.”
On May 20 at St. Jude, Father Rojas said he could not help but thank the Lord “for calling me despite my sins.”
“As we processed in, I offered Him my willingness to follow Him anywhere, for it is the only thing that I can offer. Everything else is the fruit of his mercy and abundant gifts,” he said. “I am looking forward to being able to participate in the redemptive mission of Christ and the church, and to serve as an instrument for others to encounter God, just as those catechists did for me so many years ago.”
Father Eugene Udemba, a native of Nigeria, said he was raised in a devout Catholic family that emphasized the faith through the family rosary and daily Mass. He said the call to the priesthood came to him as a teenager, with his time as an altar server providing him motivation to discern the vocation.
“As a teenager, my desire of answering this call was informed by love of God and love of neighbor,” he said. “It is a choice that is likened to the parable in the Gospel of Matthew 13:45; ‘The kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.’ God is my point of reference in my choice because ‘for this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.’”
In pursuit of his vocation, Father Udemba joined the religious congregation of Sons of Immaculate Conception in Milan, Italy, which has the charism of taking care of the sick and education of orphans. Throughout his adult life, Father Udemba said he has been involved in activities that promote the Catholic faith, virtues, and principles in various parishes.
“I had the good fortune of encountering several pastors and people in different countries that have inspired me by their words and actions,” said Father Udemba.
Father Udemba earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Salesian Pontifical University and graduate degree in healthcare from Liberty University and a Master of Arts in theology from Notre Dame Seminary Graduate School of Theology, New Orleans. He served pastoral years at Prince of Peace Catholic Community in Plano and St. Monica Catholic Church.
Father O’Donnell was born in Elk Grove Village, Illinois and attended Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans, where he earned a Master of Divinity degree. He said he was inspired to discern his vocation after seeing a website claim that Catholics prayed the rosary daily.
“The only person I knew that prayed the rosary daily was my mother,” he said. “I learned how to pray the rosary with the different mysteries. After about two months of reading everything, it was finally committed to memory. I began speaking to Mary as if she was sitting beside me. I encountered Mary through the rosary and shortly after, I found myself praying with Jesus.”
Father O’Donnell served a diaconate assignment at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Dallas.
A native of California, Father García credited priests he knew growing up as helping to guide him toward the priesthood.
“I heard the call to the priesthood during my years in high school,” he explained. “Thanks to many good priests in my life from my high school, and my parish as well, that formed and nurtured my vocation to the priesthood.”
Father García attended St. Joseph Seminary College in Covington, La., earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy before attending Theological College Seminary in Washington, D.C. to obtain a Master of Divinity and Bachelor of Sacred Theology. He spent his pastoral year at St. Monica Catholic Church and served a diaconate assignment St. Michael the Archangel Parish in McKinney.
During his ordination Mass, Father García recalled feeling an immense joy to feel the support of God’s people.
“As well as a tremendous peace to know that these are the people that I have been called to give my life for in service,” he explained. “As I enter priesthood, I am excited to journey with the people as well as celebrate with them the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and the sacrament of confession.”
Father Nguyễn’s journey started in high school when he began to delve deeper into understanding his Catholic faith.
“My search led me to Matthew 16:18, where Jesus establishes his Church,” Father Nguyễn explained. “As I followed that history, I discovered a Church that is filled with both heroism and frailty, but still always guided by the Holy Spirit.”
Father Nguyễn graduated from the University of Notre Dame, first entering a career in marketing.
“But, as I considered starting a family, I desired to give my life in a radical way, like the Apostles did: to help people develop an intentional faith, to love their spouses and children joyfully, and to share the meaning that they’ve found in their lives,” he said.
Father Nguyễn added that he has entrusted his vocation to Our Lady of Guadalupe and is excited to serve the people of the diocese. He attended Notre Dame Seminary and served a diaconate assignment at St. Rita Catholic Community.
A native of Dallas who grew up in the Santa Clara of Assisi Parish, Father Sotelo said he has felt the call to the priesthood all his life.
“I remember when I was 5 years old, I realized a feeling of being called to the priesthood,” Father Sotelo said. “My family and I are very close with each other and, as I was growing up, we would pray the rosary daily and go to Mass together.”
As a junior in high school, Father Sotelo said he began to take his prayer life even more seriously.
“I felt very close to the Lord, especially in the Blessed Sacrament,” he explained. “It is because of this love and encounter that I seek to serve God and the people of Dallas because this is how I feel God is calling me to live happily.”
Father Sotelo attended Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans and served his pastoral year at St. Gabriel the Archangel in McKinney. He served his diaconate assignment at Holy Cross Catholic Church. As a new priest, Father Sotelo said he looks forward to every aspect of the priesthood.
“From celebrating the sacraments with the people to the friendships and relationships that will be formed in the parish,” he said. “Most particularly, I look forward to Confessions and spiritual direction. It is my deep desire for people to know that God loves them and that he has come to set us free from our sins beginning with his mercy. And that through spiritual direction, they may know God who walks with them in every aspect of life.”
After the celebration of the Mass, the following clergy appointments and assignments were announced. The assignments and appointments are effective July 1, 2023, unless otherwise noted.
*Indicates a Newly Ordained Priest.
Central Deanery
Reverend Ryan Hiaeshutter has been appointed Parochial Vicar of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, Dallas. Father Hiaeshutter has been serving as Parochial Vicar of Christ the King Parish, Dallas.
*Reverend Kevin Kolker has been appointed Parochial Vicar of Christ the King Parish, Dallas Father Kolker is a newly ordained Priest of the Diocese.
Reverend Adam Musielak has been relieved of his duties as Parochial Vicar of St. Patrick Parish, Dallas. Father Musielak will be pursuing further graduate studies.
*Reverend Juan Esteban Rojas has been appointed Parochial Vicar of St. Patrick Parish, Dallas. Father Rojas is a newly ordained Priest of the Diocese.
North Central Deanery
Reverend Ramiro A. Alvarez has been appointed Parochial Vicar of Mary Immaculate Parish, Farmers Branch. Father Alvarez has been serving as Parochial Vicar of St. Ann Parish, Coppell.
Reverend Michael Baynham has been relieved of his duties as Parochial Vicar of St. Rita Parish, Dallas, but will remain there as a Priest in Residence. Father Baynham will be pursuing further graduate studies.
Reverend Aristeo Berrum has been appointed Parochial Vicar of St. Ann Parish, Coppell. Father Berrum has been serving as Parochial Vicar of Mary Immaculate Parish, Farmers Branch.
*Reverend César García has been appointed Parochial Vicar of St. Joseph Parish, Richardson. Father García is a newly ordained Priest of the Diocese.
*Reverend Alex Fry has been appointed Priest in Residence at Mary Immaculate Parish, Farmers Branch, where he will serve until he returns to Rome to complete further graduate studies in the Fall. Father Fry is a newly ordained Priest of the Diocese.
Reverend Sinu Joseph has been appointed Parochial Vicar of All Saints Parish, Dallas. Father Joseph has been serving as Parochial Vicar of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Plano.
Reverend Lucas Moreira de Sales has been appointed Parochial Vicar of St. Paul the Apostle Parish, Richardson. Father Moreira de Sales has been serving as Parochial Vicar of Prince of Peace Parish, Plano.
*Reverend Mark Nguyễn has been appointed Parochial Vicar of St. Rita Parish, Dallas. Father Nguyễn is a newly ordained Priest of the Diocese.
*Reverend Dennis O’Donnell has been appointed Parochial Vicar of Holy Family of Nazareth Parish, Irving. Father O’Donnell is a newly ordained Priest of the Diocese.
Reverend Kevin Wilwert has been appointed Parochial Vicar of St. Ann Parish, Coppell. Father Wilwert has been serving as Associate Director of Formation at Holy Trinity Seminary, Irving.
Northern Deanery
Reverend Paul Nguyen has been appointed Parochial Vicar of St. Jude Parish, Allen. Father Nguyen has been serving as Parochial Vicar of All Saints Parish, Dallas.
Reverend Simeon Nwankwo has been appointed Parochial Vicar of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Plano. Father Nwankwo has been serving as Parochial Vicar of St. Jude Parish, Allen.
Very Reverend Eugene Okoli, V.F., has been appointed Pastoral Administrator of St. Gabriel the Archangel Parish, McKinney. Father Okoli has been serving as Pastoral Administrator of Holy Spirit Parish, Duncanville.
Reverend Ricardo Regalado has been appointed Parochial Vicar of St. Jude Parish, Allen. Father Regalado has been serving as Parochial Vicar of St. Mark the Evangelist Parish, Plano.
*Reverend Miguel Sotelo has been appointed Parochial Vicar of St. Mark the Evangelist Parish, Plano. Father Sotelo is a newly ordained Priest of the Diocese.
*Reverend Eugene Udemba has been appointed Parochial Vicar of Prince of Peace Parish, Plano. Father Udemba is a newly ordained Priest of the Diocese.
Reverend Felipe Vives has been appointed Parochial Vicar of St. Michael the Archangel Parish, McKinney. Father Vives has been serving as Parochial Vicar of St. Joseph Parish, Richardson.
Southwest Deanery
Reverend Uchechukwu Aladi has been appointed Pastoral Administrator of Holy Spirit Parish, Duncanville. Father Aladi has been serving as Parochial Vicar of St. Elizabeth of Hungary Parish, Dallas.
Reverend John Peter Ambrose, M.S.F.S., has been assigned outside of the Diocese by his religious superior. Father Ambrose has been serving as Parochial Vicar of St. Michael the Archangel Parish, Grand Prairie.
Reverend Esteban Antes has been appointed Parochial Vicar of Immaculate Conception Parish, Corsicana. Father Antes has been serving as Parochial Vicar of Holy Spirit Parish, Duncanville.
Reverend Elmer Herrera-Guzman has been appointed Pastoral Administrator of Holy Cross Parish, Dallas. Father Herrera-Guzman has been serving as Parochial Vicar of Holy Cross Parish, Dallas.
Reverend Joshua Mavelil has been appointed Parochial Vicar of St. Michael the Archangel Parish, Grand Prairie. Father Mavelil has been serving as Parochial Vicar of Holy Family of Nazareth Parish, Irving.
Reverend Martin Moreno has been appointed Parochial Vicar of Holy Cross Parish, Dallas. Father Moreno has been serving as Priest in Residence at Holy Cross Parish, Dallas. Page 3 of 3
Reverend Francis Nwizu has been appointed Parochial Vicar of St. Elizabeth of Hungary Parish, Dallas. Father Nwizu is new to the Diocese.
Reverend Manuel Sabando has been appointed Parochial Vicar of Holy Spirit Parish, Duncanville.
Other Appointments
Reverend Joseph Paul Albin, O.P., has been assigned outside of the Diocese by his religious superior. Father Albin has been serving as Chaplain of the University of Dallas, Irving.
Reverend Paul Bechter has been appointed Director of the Propaedeutic Program for Holy Trinity Seminary. Father Bechter has been serving as Director of Vocations for the Diocese and Associate Chaplain of the University of Dallas, Irving.
Reverend Peter Chinnappan has been appointed Chaplain of the Plano and Richardson Hospital Cluster and the Tamil Catholic Community. Father Chinnappan has been serving as Parochial Vicar of St. Michael the Archangel Parish, McKinney.
Reverend Mark Garrett has been appointed Director of Vocations for the Diocese and will continue to serve as Chaplain of Bishop Lynch High School. Father Garrett has been serving as Parochial Vicar of the Cathedral Shrine of the Virgin of Guadalupe, Dallas.
Reverend James Martin Nobles, O.P., has been assigned to serve as Chaplain of the University of Dallas, Irving, by his religious superior. Father Nobles is new to the Diocese.
Reverend Reuben Ortiz-Montelongo has been appointed Chaplain of Parkland Memorial Hospital, Dallas, and Children’s Medical Center, Dallas. Father Ortiz-Montelongo has been serving as Parochial Vicar of St. Paul the Apostle Parish, Dallas.
Reverend Luke Turner, O.S.B., has been appointed Spiritual Director of the Propaedeutic Program for Holy Trinity Seminary. Father Turner has been serving as Parochial Vicar of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, Dallas.
Reverend Donald Zeiler has been appointed Vice Rector of Holy Trinity Seminary, Irving. Father Zeiler has been serving as Pastor of St. Gabriel the Archangel Parish, McKinney
