Pastors Appointed in Bronx, Manhattan

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Pastors have been named for two parishes in the Bronx and one in Manhattan, the Cardinal’s Office has announced.

Msgr. John Graham has been appointed pastor of St. Frances de Chantal parish in the Bronx, and Father James Cruz has been appointed pastor of St. Raymond’s parish in the Bronx. Both appointments became effective Sept. 6.

Father Robert VerEecke, S.J., was named pastor of St. Francis Xavier parish in Manhattan, effective July 1.

Msgr. Graham had served since 2004 as pastor and then for the past two months as administrator of St. Raymond’s, the Bronx. He was principal of Cardinal Hayes High School, the Bronx, 1989-2004. He served on the faculty at Hayes, 1980-1989. He was a parochial vicar at St. Martin of Tours parish, the Bronx, 1974-1980. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1974 and named a monsignor in 1995.

Father Cruz returns to St. Raymond’s, where he first served as a parochial vicar, 2005-2008. He had served since 2014 as pastor and before that as administrator of St. Mary’s, Wappingers Falls. He was priest secretary to Cardinal Dolan, 2009-2014. He served as pastor and administrator of St. John Vianney, the Bronx, 2008-2009. He was ordained in 2005.

Father VerEecke had served as pastor of a parish in the Archdiocese of Boston since 1989. He also was a campus minister at Boston College, 1978-1989. He was ordained for the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) in 1978 and serves the Jesuits’ USA Northeast Province.