Bishop Joseph G. Hanefeldt of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Grand Island has announced clergy assignment changes, which will go into effect this summer.
Both Rev. Paul J. Colling and Rev. Joseph A. Hannappel of Kearney will be departing. Colling, who has been at Kearney’s Prince of Peace Parish since 2012, has been assigned to Our Lady of Perpetual Help parish in Ord and Sacred Heart parish in Burwell. Hannappel, who has served at St. James Parish since 2009, has been assigned to St. Joseph parish in Broken Bow, St. Anselm’s parish in Anselmo and the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary parish in Sargent.
Rev. Joshua S. Brown and Rev. Scott M. Harter have been assigned to shepherd the Kearney parishes. Brown, currently pastor of St. Mary’s parish in Wood River and Sacred Heart parish in Shelton, will be the new pastor at St. James Parish. Harter, currently pastor at Our Lady of Perpetual Help parish in Ord and Sacred Heart parish in Burwell, has been assigned to Prince of Peace.
Two priests from the Diocese of Kasana-Luweero in Uganda will also join the Kearney parishes, as Rev. Anthony Kirumira (St. James) and Rev. Lawrence Kawagga (Prince of Peace) have been named associate pastors for the parishes.
Additionally, there will be a new associate pastor at the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Grand Island. Rev. Vijaya Prabhakar Madanu, CRS, has been assigned to St. Mary’s parish in Mullen, All Saints parish in Hyannis and St. Thomas of Canterbury parish in Thedford. Rev. Mr. Jimmy Beran will take his place after his priestly ordination this June. Rev. Rodolfo Gonzalez will continue to serve at the cathederal, while also serving as Associate Pastor for the Spanish speaking community of Sacred Heart in Shelton.
Two local priests have been granted retirement. Rev. James M. Hunt, currently pastor of St. Joseph parish in Broken Bow, St. Anselm’s parish in Anselmo and the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary parish in Sargent, has been granted retirement, alongside Rev. Joseph K. Joseph, currently pastor of Immaculate Conception parish in Elm Creek, St. John Capistran parish in Amherst and Holy Rosary parish in Overton. Both priests were ordained in 1983.
The full list of clergy assignment changes can be found here.
The Diocese of Grand Island serves the Catholic population of central and western Nebraska, including the panhandle. Counties and parishes south of the Platte River are served by the Diocese of Lincoln.
