Pastors Named for Six Parishes in the Archdiocese

Six priests, including five who are members of religious orders, have been named pastors of parishes in the archdiocese, the Cardinal’s Office has announced.

Two other priests have been named administrators, and two were appointed as parochial vicars.

The appointments became effective in August unless otherwise noted.

The new pastors are Father Salvatore DeStefano, St. Francis Xavier parish, the Bronx, effective Sept. 1; Father Thomas Faiola, O.F.M. Cap., Good Shepherd, Manhattan; Father Francis Gasparik, O.F.M. Cap., Holy Cross-St. John the Baptist, Manhattan; Father Emilio Sotomayor Raymond, Sch. P., Annunciation, Manhattan; Father Matthew Janeczko, O.F.M. Cap., Sacred Heart, Yonkers; and Father Thomas McNamara, O.F.M. Cap., Our Lady of Sorrows, Manhattan.

Father Esteban Sanchez Guanga was appointed administrator of Assumption, Peekskill, effective Sept. 1, and Father Patrick Angelucci, S.D.B, has been named administrator of the newly formed Parish of St. John Bosco in Port Chester. (CNY, Aug. 17).

Father Christian Amah was appointed parochial vicar at St. Patrick, Yorktown Heights, and Father Robert Verrigni was named parochial vicar at Holy Family, New Rochelle, effective Sept. 1.

Father Salvatore DeStefano has been temporary administrator of St. John the Evangelist, Pawling, and St. Charles Borromeo, Dover Plains, since 2016. He was parochial vicar at St. Clare of Assisi, the Bronx, 2012-2016, and SS. John and Paul, Larchmont, 2008-2012. He was ordained in 2008.

Father Patrick Angelucci, S.D.B., had served as pastor of Corpus Christi-Our Lady of Rosary, Port Chester, since 2015. He was director/president of Salesian High School, New Rochelle, 2005-2014; provincial of the Salesians’ Eastern U.S. Province, New Rochelle, 1991-1997; and director of Marian Shrine, Stony Point, 1988-1991. He also served in New Jersey and Louisiana. He professed final vows with the Salesians of Don Bosco in 1972 and was ordained in 1976.

Father Thomas Faiola, O.F.M. Cap., had been pastor of Our Lady of Sorrows, Lower Manhattan, since 2008. He taught at Iona College, New Rochelle, 2007-2008. He was guardian of Our Lady of Sorrows Friary, Manhattan, 2000-2002. He served at Our Lady of Sorrows, Manhattan, 1993-1996, and St. John the Baptist, 1996-1997. He also served in Maryland, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Honduras and Nicaragua. He professed final vows with the Capuchin Franciscans’ Province of St. Mary in 1984 and was ordained in 1985.

Father Francis Gasparik, O.F.M. Cap., was provincial minister of the Capuchin Franciscan Province of St. Mary, 2011-2017. He was pastor of St. John the Baptist, Manhattan, 1991-2003, and later did development work for the province. He also served the Capuchins as vocations director, 1986-1990, and vocations coordinator, 1990-1991. He professed final vows with the Capuchin Franciscans’ Province of St. Mary in 1985 and was ordained in 1986.

Father Matthew Janeczko, O.F.M. Cap., had served as parochial vicar of Sacred Heart, Yonkers, since 2014. He professed final vows with the Capuchin Franciscans’ Province of St. Mary in 2013 and was ordained in 2014.

Father Thomas McNamara, O.F.M. Cap., was parochial vicar at Our Lady of Sorrows, Lower Manhattan, 2009-2013. He served in Honduras, 2013-2017, and in the Diocese of Rockville Centre, 2007-2009. He professed final vows with the Capuchin Franciscans’ Province of St. Mary in 2006 and was ordained in 2007.

Father Emilio Sotomayor Raymond, Sch. P., was pastor of St. Helena, the Bronx, 2014-2015, before serving as headmaster of Colegio Ponceno in Ponce, Puerto Rico, 2015-2017. He was parochial vicar at Annunciation, Manhattan, 2013-2014. He was ordained for the Piarist Fathers in 1985.

Father Esteban Sanchez Guanga served as parochial vicar at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, 2015-2017, and St. Peter’s, Haverstraw, 2013-2015. He was ordained in 2013.

Father Robert Verrigni served as pastor of St. Francis Xavier, the Bronx, 2016-2017; Church of the Magdalene, Pocantico Hills, 2015-2016; Immaculate Heart of Mary, Scarsdale, 2003-2006; and Holy Name of Jesus, Valhalla, 1998-1999. He was administrator of St. Ursula’s, Mount Vernon, 2012-2015; and master of ceremonies at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, 2006-2007, and also served there, 1986-1989. He was parochial vicar of Resurrection, Rye, 2007-2012; SS. John and Paul, Larchmont, 1999-2003 and 1989-1998; St. John the Evangelist, Mahopac, 1981-1986; and St. Francis Xavier, the Bronx, 1977-1981. He was ordained in 1977.

Father Christian Amah was parochial vicar at St. Clare on Staten Island since June 2016. He was ordained last year.