Transitions take place in Tier parishes, schools, Catholic Charities

As a new diocesan year began July 1, several transitions have taken place involving key parish, school and Catholic Charities positions across the Southern Tier.

‚Ä¢ Father Anthony Amato has left as parochial vicar of Blessed Trinity/St. Patrick parishes in Tioga County to serve in the same role at St. Maximilian Kolbe and St. Katharine Drexel parishes, both in Wayne County. Now serving as parochial vicar of Blessed Trinity/St. Patrick is Father Daniel L. White, who was ordained a new priest of the Diocese of Rochester June 1 and is a native of Owego’s St. Patrick Parish.

‚Ä¢ Tony Barbaro has retired as associate diocesan director of Catholic Charities after 34 years of service, including 18 years as executive director of Catholic Charities of the Southern Tier (1985-2003). Replacing Barbaro in the associate diocesan director’s role is Laura Opelt, who has been executive director of Catholic Charities of Steuben since 1998.

‚Ä¢ RoseMarie Bobnick has retired as the longtime secretary for Holy Cross Parish in Freeville/Dryden, Tompkins County. Her service also has included substantial committee and volunteer involvement. In addition, she donated the church’s current altar and ambo.

‚Ä¢ Kathy Broderick and Jane Ketcham have retired from their longtime teaching positions at All Saints Academy in Corning. Broderick began at the school in 1994 and has taught many elementary grades, as well as technology and music. She has been a part of the school advisory committee and the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools accreditation process, as well as the school’s grant writer and yearbook adviser. Meanwhile, Ketcham has taught at All Saints since 1993, mainly in lower elementary grades. She was the kindergarten teacher this past school year.

• Father Edward Dillon, parochial vicar of St. Luke the Evangelist Parish in Livingston County, has reached senior status. The new parochial vicar at St. Luke is Father Jeffrey Tunnicliff, who arrives at his assignment from the pastorate of St. Michael, Newark.

‚Ä¢ Father Hoan Q. Dinh has left as pastor of St. Mary, Honeoye, and St. Matthew, Livonia, to become the new parochial vicar at St. Louis, Pittsford. The Honeoye/Livonia cluster’s new pastor is Father William F. Laird, who comes from the pastorate of St. Katharine Drexel Parish in Wayne County.

‚Ä¢ Sister Mary Walter Hickey, RSM, has entered semi-retirement after 47 years at Elmira Notre Dame High School. Sister Hickey has stepped down from her role as president and principal of Notre Dame. She will transition to president emerita and focus her efforts on alumni relations. She has received several honors, including the “Twin Tiers Outstanding Educator Award” in 1999, the Chemung County Chamber of Commerce Athena Award in 2005 and the Catherine McAuley Award in 2007.

• Deacon David LaFortune has concluded his service as pastoral administrator of St. John Vianney Parish. Father James Jaeger, longtime assisting priest at St. John Vianney, has become pastor of the Steuben County parish.

‚Ä¢ Jane Sokolowski, senior housing counselor/program coordinator for Catholic Charities of Chemung/Schuyler’s Housing Counseling Services, has retired after 22 years. In 2012, she was recognized nationally by NeighborWorks America as its Housing Counselor of the Year. She has been instrumental in helping area residents avoid mortgage foreclosure and aiding low- to moderate-income families in purchasing homes.

• Father Mitchell Zygadlo has departed as temporary parochial administrator of Blessed Trinity/St. Patrick parishes to become pastor at St. Louis, Pittsford. The new Blessed Trinity/St. Patrick pastor, effective Aug. 1, will be Father Jeffrey R. Galens from the Archdiocese of New York.