CHARLESTON—Bishop Robert E. Guglielmone appointed Father Richard D. Harris as the new vicar general for the Diocese of Charleston. The appointment began Dec. 12.
Father Harris will continue as pastor of St. Joseph Church in Columbia, but will resign his position as diocesan vicar for vocations. Deacon Joseph Cahill will temporarily administer the vocations program until a new vicar is appointed. Father Harris succeeds Msgr. Martin T. Laughlin in the position.
“I am most grateful to Msgr. Martin Laughlin for his many years of service to the diocese, especially as diocesan administrator during the ‘sede vacante’ and as vicar general for me during these last nine months,” the bishop wrote in a memo to diocesan priests announcing the appointment. “His generosity has been an inspiration.”
Msgr. Laughlin will remain as a vicar general until Jan. 15, 2010, to assist in the transition.
Effective Dec. 1, Bishop Guglielmone appointed Father Edward W. Fitzgerald as director of diaconate formation.
Effective Jan. 1, 2010, Bishop Guglielmone made the following appointments for a three-year term:
Very Rev. Msgr. Joseph F. Hanley, VF, dean of the Coastal Deanery; Very Rev. Paul M. Williams, OFM, VF, dean of the Midlands Deanery; Father Ronald R. Cellini, VF, dean of the Lowcountry Deanery; Very Rev. Msgr. Steven L. Brovey, VF, dean of the Piedmont Deanery; and Very Rev. Karl Roesch, OSB, VF, dean of the Pee Dee Deanery.
Effective Nov. 21, Bishop Guglielmone appointed Father Richard B. Tomlinson as parochial vicar of Stella Maris Church on Sullivan’s Island and chaplain of Bishop England High School on Daniel Island.
Effective Dec. 1, Bishop Guglielmone appointed Father Frank Palmieri, CRM, as pastor of Jesus, Our Risen Savior Church in Spartanburg.
Effective Dec. 26, Bishop Guglielmone appointed Father José Hugo Ruiz-Marentes, OFM, as parochial vicar of St. Gregory the Great Church in Bluffton.