Administrators Appointed in Three Parishes

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Father Thomas Colucci has been appointed administrator of Most Precious Blood parish in Walden, and two other priests, Father Cyprian Onyeihe and Father José Félix Ortega de La Fuente, L.C., have been named temporary parish administrators, the Cardinal’s Office has announced.
Father Colucci’s appointment became effective March 1. Father Onyeihe’s appointment as temporary administrator of Holy Rosary-Nativity of Our Blessed Lady, the Bronx, was effective Feb. 7, and Father Ortega’s appointment as temporary administrator of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and Our Lady of Refuge parishes, both in the Bronx, was effective Feb. 16.
Father Thomas Colucci had served as parochial vicar of St. Mary Mother of the Church, Fishkill, since his ordination in 2016.

Father Cyprian Onyeihe had most recently served as parochial vicar of Holy Rosary-Nativity of Our Blessed Lady. He also previously served as administrator of Holy Rosary-Nativity of Our Blessed Lady. From 1993 to 2010, he was in residence at St. Barnabas, the Bronx, where he worked with pro-life and Charismatic Renewal groups. A native of Nigeria, he was ordained for the Diocese of Okigwe in 1982.

Father Jose F. Ortega de La Fuente, L.C., had served as vice-charge of the Pontifical Institute of Notre Dame in Jerusalem since 2017. He was pastor of St. Peter-St. Denis parish in Yonkers, 2014-2017. From 2004 to 2014, he was territorial administrator for the Legionaries of Christ in North America. During that time, he was a weekend associate at several parishes in Westchester County. He was assistant to the territorial administrator, 2002-2004. A native of Valencia, Spain, he was ordained for the Legionaries of Christ in 2001. He entered the congregation in 1984 and made final vows in 1993.