The following is a list of the names of priests and deacons who have served in the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend and have been credibly accused of at least one act of the sexual abuse of a minor, as determined based upon the affiliation of the priest or deacon with our diocese and when the sexual abuse of a minor is alleged to have occurred.

• The list includes the names of priests and deacons of our diocese (incardinated in our diocese) who have been credibly accused of at least one act of sexual abuse of a minor regardless of when or where the sexual abuse of a minor is alleged to have occurred. 

• The list also includes the names of priests and deacons from other dioceses and priests and deacons from religious congregations who have served in our diocese and have been credibly accused of committing at least one act of sexual abuse of a minor while serving in our diocese, regardless of where the sexual abuse of a minor is alleged to have occurred.

For the purposes of this list, a “credible accusation” against a priest or deacon as determined by the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend is an accusation that, after an investigation and review of available information, appears more likely true than not in the judgement of the Diocese’s Review Board, and is accepted as credible by the Bishop. 

If the accused is or was a member of a religious congregation, the credibility of an accusation was determined by the accused priest’s religious congregation if the religious congregation, rather than our diocese, conducted the investigation. 

The number of credible accusations received against each priest or deacon is noted. The ordination date for each priest and deacon named on the list is noted. Changes in the clerical status of each priest and deacon named, including dates of the changes, are noted. If the accused is deceased, his date of death is noted.

The Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend stands firm in its commitment to investigate any allegation of sexual abuse by a member of the clergy and to listen to and support anyone who has been abused.  Please contact Jodi Marlin, Victim Assistance Coordinator, [email protected], 260-399-1447 or Father Mark Gurtner, JCL – Vicar General, 260-399-1422.

This list will be supplemented as appropriate based upon any future determinations of credible allegations.

PRIESTS AND DEACONS OF THE DIOCESE OF FORT WAYNE-SOUTH BEND

James Blume

Date of Ordination:  June 14, 1980

Removed from Public Ministry:  April 1989

Dismissed from Clerical State:  June 23, 2007

Number of Credible Allegations:   5

Places Served: 

July 7, 1980 – St. Anthony de Padua Parish, South Bend, Indiana

July 7, 1982 – Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Fort Wayne, Indiana

September 8, 1987 – St. Andrew/St. Hyacinth Parishes, Fort Wayne, Indiana

Current Status:  Incarcerated

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Michael Buescher

Date of Ordination:   June 16, 1979

Removed from Parish Ministry:  November 1989

Loss of Clerical State:  May 14, 1991

Number of Credible Allegations:  7

Places Served: 

July 9, 1979 – St. Charles Borromeo Parish, Fort Wayne, Indiana

August 1, 1983 – Part-time membership on the faculty of Bishop Dwenger High School, Fort Wayne, Indiana; continuing at St. Charles Borromeo Parish, Fort Wayne, Indiana

July 9, 1984 – Chaplain, Marian High School, Mishawaka, Indiana, with residency in the Marian High School Rectory

August 8, 1985 – Culver Military Academy, Coordinator of priests who offer Mass and provide spiritual guidance

December 20, 1985 – St. Francis Xavier Parish, Pierceton, Indiana

June 24, 1986 – St. Patrick Parish, Ligonier, Indiana; Blessed Sacrament Parish, Albion, Indiana

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Brian Carsten

Date of Ordination:   May 30, 1970

Terminated as Pastor and Resigned as a Member of the Roman Catholic Church:  May 9, 1987

Dismissed from the Clerical State: June 23, 2007

Number of Credible Allegations:   1

Deceased:   March 27, 2009

Places Served: 

July 1, 1970 – St. Vincent de Paul Parish, Elkhart, Indiana

July 2, 1973 – St. Henry Parish, Fort Wayne, Indiana

July 1, 1974 – St. Patrick Parish, Fort Wayne, Indiana

July 1, 1975 – Chaplain, Allen County Police, Fort Wayne, Indiana, with residence at St. Andrew Parish, Fort Wayne, IN

July 5, 1977 – St. Hyacinth Parish, Fort Wayne, Indiana

July 9, 1979 – St. Andrew Parish, Fort Wayne, Indiana, while continuing as Pastor of St. Hyacinth Parish, Fort Wayne, Indiana

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Stephen M. Cvaniga

Date of Ordination:   May 18, 1940

Number of Credible Allegations:   1

Allegation received after the death of the priest

Deceased:   October 28, 1993

Places Served: 

June 28, 1940 – Parochial Vicar, St. Bavo Parish, Mishawaka, Indiana

June 1, 1963 – Pastor, St. Bavo Parish, Mishawaka, Indiana

July 7, 1980 – Retired, Continued to serve pastorally at St. Bavo Parish, Mishawaka, Indiana

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William Ehrman

Date of Ordination:   June 10, 1922

Retired:   July 1, 1970

Number of Credible Allegations:   8  

Allegations received after the death of the priest.     

Deceased:   August 7, 1983

Places Served: 

June 1922 – St. Patrick Parish, Kokomo, Indiana

January 1926 – St. Mary the Immaculate Conception Parish, Michigan City, Indiana; Chaplain at St. Anthony Hospital and Indiana State Prison

April 12, 1929 – Immaculate Conception Parish, Kendallville, Indiana; St. Patrick Mission Parish, Ligonier, Indiana

July 8, 1939 – St. John the Baptist Parish, New Haven, Indiana

September 1, 1964 – St. Paul Parish, Fort Wayne, Indiana

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Joseph W. Gaughan

Date of Ordination:  November 26, 1994

Removed from Public Ministry:  December 22, 2019

Number of Credible Allegations:   1

Places Served: 

December 13, 1994 – St. Anthony de Padua Parish, South Bend, Indiana

August 21, 1995 – Part-time Chaplain, Marian High School, Mishawaka, Indiana

July 1, 2000 – Saint Vincent de Paul Parish, Fort Wayne, Indiana

July 11, 2006 – Most Precious Blood Parish, Fort Wayne, Indiana

Current Status:  On Administrative Leave pending determination of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (Vatican)

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William Gieranowski

Date of Ordination:  June 11, 1949

Retired:  July 1, 1981

Number of Credible Allegations:  5

Allegations received after the death of the priest.

Deceased:  April 24, 2000

Places Served: 

July 7, 1949 – St. Stanislaus Parish, East Chicago, Indiana

April 20, 1951 – St. Adalbert Parish, South Bend, Indiana

July 3, 1951 – St. Thomas More Parish, Munster, Indiana

May 20, 1955 – St. Vincent de Paul Parish, Elkhart, Indiana

January 15, 1960 – St. Henry Parish, Fort Wayne, Indiana

June 15, 1960 – St. Jude Parish, South Bend, Indiana

September 1, 1964 – St. Hyacinth Parish, Fort Wayne, Indiana

July 1, 1970 – St. Monica Parish, Mishawaka, Indiana

July 6, 1978 – St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish, New Carlisle, Indiana

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John Gillig

Date of Ordination:  May 25, 1957

Retired: April 26, 1988

Suspended from all Public Ministry:  March 25, 2002

Dismissed from Clerical State: February 8, 2008

Number of Credible Allegations:  12

Deceased:  July 27, 2011

Places Served:

June 7, 1957 – Our Lady of Hungary Parish, South Bend, Indiana

February 15, 1958 – St. Monica Parish, Mishawaka, Indiana

June 15, 1962 – St. Jude Parish, Fort Wayne, Indiana

August 30, 1963 – Teacher, Bishop Dwenger High School, Fort Wayne, Indiana

June 13, 1964 – Director of CYO and CYA, Fort Wayne Deanery

June 15, 1972 – Sacred Heart Parish, Fort Wayne, Indiana

April 18, 1974 – Chaplain, Allen County Jail, Fort Wayne, Indiana

July 5, 1977 – St. Mary of the Assumption Parish – Decatur, Indiana

September 17, 1985 – Holy Family Parish, South Bend, Indiana

November 15, 1986 – St. Peter Parish, Fort Wayne, Indiana

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Gabriel Hernandez

Date of Diaconate Ordination:  April 27, 2008

Dismissed from Seminary:  April 22, 2009

Dismissed from the Clerical State:  February 25, 2010

Number of Credible Allegations:   1

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David S. Huneck

Date of Ordination:  June 2, 2018

Removed from Public Ministry:  September 20, 2021

Number of Credible Allegations:   1

Places Served: 

Summer 2017 – Corpus Christi Parish, South Bend, Indiana (deacon)

June 19, 2018 – Saint Jude Parish, Fort Wayne, Indiana, and part-time chaplain, Bishop Dwenger High School, Fort Wayne, Indiana

June 23, 2020 – Saint Paul of the Cross Parish, Columbia City, Indiana

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Jan Klimczyk

Date of Ordination:  May 17, 1981 (Krakow, Poland)

Number of Credible Allegations:   1

Allegations received after the death of the priest

Deceased:  August 22, 2022

Places Served: 

1992 – Saint Adalbert Parish, South Bend, Indiana

October 30, 2000 – Saint Charles Borromeo Parish, Fort Wayne, Indiana

July 23, 2002 – Saint Stanislaus Kostka Parish, New Carlisle, Indiana

July 17, 2007 – Saint Hedwig Parish and Saint Patrick Parish, South Bend, Indiana

June 21, 2011 – Blessed Sacrament Parish, Albion, Indiana

March 24, 2012 – Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Fort Wayne, Indiana

January 15, 2014 – Saint Patrick Parish, Walkerton (In residence at Saint Anthony de Padua Parish, South Bend, Indiana, from August 16, 2015 – January 2016)

June 14, 2016 – Saint Anne Communities, Huntington, Indiana

April 5, 2017 – Holy Family Parish, South Bend, Indiana with assistance at Saint John the Baptist Parish, South Bend, Indiana

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Edward Krason

Date of Ordination:  February 3, 1958

Resigned as Pastor: July 8, 1998

Ordered to Cease All Ministry:  April 16, 1999

Retired: May 1, 1999

Removed Faculties to Perform Ministry and to Present Himself as a Priest:  March 21, 2003

Ordered to a Life of Prayer and Penance:  November 8, 2005

Number of Credible Allegations:  2

Deceased:  March 25, 2013

Places Served: 

February 15, 1958 – St. Jude Parish, Fort Wayne, Indiana

September 2, 1960 – Teacher, Central Catholic High School, Fort Wayne, Indiana

August 14, 1961 – SS. Peter & Paul Parish, Huntington, Indiana; Director of Guidance, Huntington Catholic High School, Huntington, Indiana

June 1, 1963 – Principal, Bishop Dwenger High School, Fort Wayne, Indiana

July 9, 1979 – Continuing Education, University of Notre Dame

July 7, 1980 – Continuing Education of the Clergy with residence at Queen of Angels Parish, Fort Wayne, Indiana

July 11, 1983 – St. Joseph Parish, Garrett, Indiana

July 22, 1986 – St. John the Baptist Parish, Fort Wayne, Indiana

August 1990 – St. John the Evangelist Parish, Goshen, Indiana

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Thomas Lombardi

Date of Ordination:  May 31, 1975

Removed from Public Ministry During Investigation of Allegation: December 2, 2011

Removed from Public Ministry:  August 9, 2015

Number of Credible Allegations:  1

Deceased:  December 28, 2017

Places Served: 

July 1, 1975 – St. Mary Parish, Huntington, Indiana

September 1, 1977 – Faculty, Huntington Catholic High School, Huntington, Indiana; residency at St. Mary Parish, Huntington, Indiana, available for weekend duties.

September 12, 1977 – Chaplain, Huntington Catholic High School, Huntington, Indiana

August 1, 1983 – St. Mary Parish, Huntington, Indiana; Principal, Huntington Catholic High School

July 9, 1984 – St. Joseph Parish, Mishawaka, Indiana

June 1985 – American College Louvain, Belgium

July 1, 1986 – St. Louis, Besancon Parish, New Haven, Indiana

July 28, 1997 – St. Joseph Parish, Garrett, Indiana

July 6, 2006 – St. Joseph – Hessen Cassel Parish, Fort Wayne, Indiana

November 11, 2009 – Chaplain, St. Vincent de Paul Society, Fort Wayne, Indiana

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Robert Mahoney

Date of Ordination:  May 27, 1967

Resigned from Ministry as a Priest:  June 15, 1993

Dismissed from Clerical State:  July 25, 2006

Number of Credible Allegations:   4

Places Served: 

July 1, 1967 – St. John the Baptist Parish, Fort Wayne, Indiana

August 31, 1968 – St. Bavo Parish, Mishawaka, Indiana

July 7, 1980 – Our Lady of Hungary Parish, South Bend, Indiana

February 28, 1984 – St. Robert Bellarmine Parish, North Manchester, Indiana

August 1988 – Chaplain, Ancilla Domini Convent, Donaldson, Indiana

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Elden Miller

Date of Ordination:  May 8, 1954

Retired: July 15, 2003

Removed from Public Ministry:  December 18, 2006

Number of Credible Allegations:  4

Deceased:  July 26, 2008

Places Served: 

June 11, 1954 – St. Joseph Parish, Mishawaka, Indiana

July 1, 1971 – St. Joseph Parish, Roanoke, Indiana; St. Catherine of Alexandria Parish, Nix Settlement, Columbia City, Indiana

July 1, 1974 – St. Vincent de Paul Parish, Fort Wayne, Indiana

July 9, 1984 – Immaculate Conception Parish, Kendallville, Indiana

February 10, 1988 – Queen of Peace Parish, Mishawaka, Indiana

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Edward O. Paquette

Date of Ordination:  February 2, 1957

Faculties for Ministry Removed from Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend:  July 14, 1978

Dismissed from Clerical State:  January 31, 2009

Number of Credible Allegations:  7

Places Served: 

April 15, 1964 – St. Anthony de Padua Parish, South Bend, Indiana

September 1, 1964 – St. Vincent de Paul Parish, Elkhart, Indiana

September 1, 1965 – St. Mary of the Assumption Parish, Decatur, Indiana

August 13, 1969 – Our Lady of Hungary Parish, South Bend, Indiana

June 5, 1971 – St. Anthony Hospital, Michigan City, Indiana

June 19, 1972 – Christ the King Parish, Rutland, Vermont

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Bruce A. Schutt

Date of Ordination:  May 29, 1965

Loss of Clerical State:  May 9, 1975

Number of Credible Allegations:  2

Places Served:

June 15, 1965 – St. Monica Parish, Mishawaka, Indiana

April 20, 1968 – St. John the Baptist Parish, Fort Wayne, Indiana

June 15, 1968 – St. Patrick Parish, Fort Wayne, Indiana

June 25, 1971 – Chaplain, Indiana Army National Guard

July 1, 1971 – Sacred Heart Parish, Fort Wayne, Indiana

October 2, 1972 – United States Army Training Center, Fort Eustis, Virginia

April 15, 1974 – December 31, 1974 – Ministry in Diocese of LaCrosse, Wisconsin

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James Seculoff

Date of Ordination:  May 26, 1962

Removed from Public Ministry During Investigation of Allegation:  January 8, 2014

Removal from Public Ministry:  October 13, 2015

Judgment Rendered, November 19, 2022: “The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith in Rome has confirmed the penalty for Reverend James Seculoff of a life of prayer and penance with no possibility ever of public ministry anywhere after he was found guilty of sexual abuse of minors on many occasions and solicitation to violations of the sixth commandment in the Sacrament of Confession on many occasions.”

Number of Credible Allegations:   6

Places Served: 

June 15, 1962 – St. Monica Parish, Mishawaka, Indiana

August 16, 1963 – St. Vincent de Paul Parish, Fort Wayne, Indiana; Teacher, Bishop Dwenger High School, Fort Wayne, Indiana

September 1, 1964 – Teacher, Bishop Dwenger High School, Fort Wayne, Indiana

June 15, 1965 – SS. Peter & Paul Parish, Huntington, Indiana; Principal, Huntington Catholic High School, Huntington, Indiana

July 1, 1970 – Superintendent of Catholic Schools; Principal of Huntington Catholic School, Huntington Indiana; Chaplain for St. Vincent Villa, Fort Wayne, Indiana

July 1, 1974 – Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception Parish, Fort Wayne, Indiana

February 14, 1978 – St. John Bosco Parish, Churubusco, Indiana; Immaculate Conception Parish, Ege, Indiana; continuing as Superintendent of Catholic Schools

July 6, 1978 – St. Mary Parish, Huntington, Indiana

June 18, 1979 – SS. Peter & Paul Parish, Huntington, Indiana; continuing at St. Mary Parish, Huntington, Indiana

August 1, 1983 – St. Robert Bellarmine Parish, North Manchester, Indiana; Diocesan-appointed ministry to students at Manchester College, North Manchester, Indiana, working from St. Robert Bellarmine Parish                                              

February 28, 1984 – Our Lady of Hungary Parish, South Bend, Indiana

May 21, 1987 – Sacred Heart Parish, Fort Wayne, Indiana

July 8, 1992 – St. Mary of the Assumption Parish, Avilla, Indiana

June 21, 1994 – St. Mary of the Annunciation Parish, Bristol, Indiana

August 3, 2004 – St. John the Baptist Parish, South Bend, Indiana

July 17, 2007 – St. John the Baptist Parish, New Haven, Indiana

June 5, 2013 – St. Patrick Parish, Walkerton, Indiana

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Richard Stieglitz

Date of Ordination:  May 26, 1973

Decree of Suspension from all Acts of Ministry:  December 7, 1993

Dismissal from the Clerical State: July 7, 2007

Number of Credible Allegations:  5

Places Served: 

July 2, 1973 – Our Lady of Good Hope Parish, Fort Wayne, Indiana

July 11, 1973 – Chaplain, Anthony Wayne Council of Catholic Boy Scouts

February 4, 1974 – Chaplain, Fort Wayne Serra Club

July 1, 1976 – Holy Family Parish, South Bend, Indiana

February 19, 1977 – Holy Family Parish, South Bend, Indiana; (Weekends) Sacred Heart Parish, Fort Wayne, Indiana (Weekdays)

September 1, 1977 – St. Jude Parish, Fort Wayne, Indiana

July 6, 1978 – Chaplain, Catholic Committee on Scouting, Fort Wayne area; continuing at St. Jude Parish, Fort Wayne, Indiana

July 9, 1979 – Faculty, Bishop Dwenger High School, Fort Wayne, Indiana

August 1, 1983 – Sacred Heart Parish, Warsaw, Indiana

August 1, 1988 – Queen of Angels Parish, Fort Wayne, Indiana

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Richard Thompson

Date of Ordination:  June 17, 1978

Resigned from Active Ministry as a Priest:  October 24, 1989

Loss of Clerical State:  July 25, 2006

Number of Credible Allegations:  1

Deceased:  2015

Places Served:

July 6, 1978 – St. John the Baptist Parish, New Haven, Indiana

February 15, 1982 – Covenant House, New York (Home for Runaway Children)

April 14, 1983 – St. Monica Parish, Mishawaka, Indiana

July 11, 1983 – St. Mary of the Presentation Parish, Geneva, Indiana

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PRIESTS AND DEACONS OF RELIGIOUS INSTITUTES

Barry (Finbar) Coyle, OFM

Ordained:  June 13, 1958

Number of Credible Allegations:   1 (in the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend)

Deceased

Places Served (in the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend):

February 1973 – June 1974 – Saint Therese, Fort Wayne, Indiana

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Gerald Funcheon, osc 

Date of Ordination:  May 22, 1965

Removal from Ecclesiastical Ministry:  April 1, 1993

Number of Credible Allegations:  1 (from Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend)

Places Served:

1965 – Crosier Assignments outside the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend

1966-1969 – Teacher and Athletic Director, Our Lady of the Lake Seminary, Syracuse, Indiana

1969-1973 – Crosier Assignments outside the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend

1973-1975 – Teacher/Prefect of Discipline, Wawasee Preparatory, Syracuse, Indiana

1975-1987 – Crosier Assignments outside the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend

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Paul LeBrun, CSC

Date of Ordination:  April 9, 1983

Faculties for Ministry Removed from Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend:  April 2000

Dismissed from Clerical State:  August 26, 2008

Number of Credible Allegations:  1 (from Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend)

Places Served:

St. Therese, Little Flower Parish, South Bend, Indiana

Blessed Sacrament Parish, Tolleson, Arizona                     

St. John Vianney Parish, Goodyear, Arizona

Current Status: Incarcerated

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Ralph Luczak, CSC

Date of Ordination:  1958

Removed from Ministry:  1969

Number of Credible Allegations:   1 – Allegation received in Michigan in 1969

Deceased:  1970

Places Served:

Notre Dame High School – Niles, Illinois

Christ the King Parish, South Bend, Indiana

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Michael Paquet, osc

Date of Ordination:  May 28, 1978

Removal from Ecclesiastical Ministry:  November 18, 2002

Dismissed from Clerical State:  September 16, 2005

Number of Credible Allegations:  1 (from Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend)

Places Served:

1978-1979 – Crosier Assignments

1979-1985 – Ministry Center Retreat Director, Fort Wayne, Indiana

1983-1985 – Spirit Alive TEC Youth Minister, Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, Fort Wayne, Indiana

1985-2002 – Crosier Assignments

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John J. Powell, S.J.

Entered Jesuits:  August 20, 1943

Number of Credible Allegations:   1 (in the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend)

Deceased

Places Served (in the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend):

3 Day Retreat Director, Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame, Indiana:  November 11-13, 1963

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Cornelius Ryan, CSC (*credible allegation of abuse which took place outside the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend)

Date of Ordination:  June 9, 1966

Faculties for Ministry Removed from Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend: June 10, 2013

Number of Credible Allegations:  1

Deceased:  December 29, 2021

Places Served: 

Uganda & Kenya until 2002

September 19, 2002 to July 1, 2007 – Associate Pastor at St. Therese, Little Flower Parish, South Bend

July 1, 2007 – June 30, 2011 – Pastor at St. Therese, Little Flower Parish, South Bend                                        

December 13, 2011 – June 10, 2013 – St. Joseph – Hessen Cassel Parish, Fort Wayne

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James Trepanier, CSC

Date of Ordination:  June 8, 1955

Faculties for Ministry Removed from Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend:  October 18, 2002

Number of Credible Allegations:  1 (from Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend)

Places Served: 

University of Portland, Portland, Oregon

Holy Cross Mission House (Fatima) 

July 1, 1981 – June 30, 1987 – Holy Cross Parish, South Bend, Indiana

July 1, 1987 – June 4, 1991 – St. Pius X Parish, Granger, Indiana

1994 – St. Mary’s Convent, Notre Dame, Indiana