Diocesan Priests Have New Pastor Assignments
June 25, 2020
DIOCESE—Fourteen priests in the Rockford Diocese recived new pastoral assignments from the chancery this month.
Such changes are traditionally announced near the ordination of new priests and take effect in July.
This year’s new pastors in alphabetical order are:
Father Ryan Browning becomes Elgin pastor
ELGIN—Father Ryan Brown-ing becomes pastor at St. Thomas More Parish on July 1.
Father Browning was born in Charleston, attending John A. Logan College in Carterville and Southern Illinois University in Carbondale.
Later, he began studies at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary in St. Louis, then at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas in Rome, eventually receiving a Licentiate of Sacred Theology (STL) from there in 2014.
He was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop David Malloy on June 22, 2013.
He served briefly as a parochial vicar at Holy Cross, Batavia (2013-2014), then after receiving his STL, he was as parochial vicar at St. Patrick, St. Charles (2014-2016), then at St. Bridget, Loves Park (2016-2019)
Additionally, he served as associate master of ceremonies for the diocese (2014-2019), as coordinator of the EnCourage program (2015-present), as a board member at Bishop Lane Retreat Center (2016-2019) and as Censor Librorum (2016 to present).
He has been the administrator at St. Thomas More Parish since June, 2019.
Father Christopher DiTomo Heads to Huntley Parish
HUNTLEY—Father Christopher DiTomo becomes pastor of St. Mary Parish here on July 1.
Father DiTomo attended high school in Roselle and college at Illinois Wesleyan University, the University of Illinois, Urbana, St. Louis University and Northern Illinois University, studying philosophy in St. Louis and DeKalb. He studied theology at Pontifical University in Rome (2002-2004) and Mundelein Seminary in Mundelein (2009-2011).
He was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Thomas G. Doran on May 21, 2011.
Father DiTomo was parochial vicar at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Crystal Lake (2011-2013) and taught at Marian Central Catholic High School (2011-2012). He then served as parochial vicar at St. Bridget in Loves Park (2013-2016).
He became administrator at St. Gall Parish in Elburn in June, 2016, becoming its pastor in May, 2017.
Additionally, Father DiTomo has served as chaplain for KC Council 4330 (2013-2016), on the Priests’ Health Committee (2017-present), the Diocesan Finance Council (2017-present), and was Vicar Forane of the DeKalb Deanery since 2019.
Father Dominguez to be Pastor in Rochelle
ROCHELLE—Father Jesus Dominguez becomes pastor of St. Patrick Parish in Rochelle on July 1.
Born in San Pedro, Ures, Sonora, Mexico, Father Dominquez attended college in Mexico and in Iowa. He studied philosophy at Divine Word College in Epworth, Iowa, and theology at Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit. He was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Thomas G. Doran on May 18, 2002.
Father Dominguez served first as parochial administrator at St. Nicholas Parish in Aurora, also teaching at Aurora Central Catholic High School (2002-2003). He was parochial vicar at St. Mary, Sterling (2003-2010).
He became administrator of St. Joseph in Elgin in 2010, then pastor there from 2012 to the present.
Father Thomas Doyle to Pastor Two Parishes
SOUTH BELOIT—On July 1, Father Thomas Doyle will become pastor of St. Peter in South Beloit and Church of the Holy Spirit in Roscoe.
Born in Rockford, he attended Boylan Central Catholic High School and Rockford College, later studying philosophy and theology at Mount St. Mary Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland. He was ordained by Bishop Thomas G. Doran on May 24, 2008.
He began his priesthood as parochial vicar at St. Catherine, West Dundee, and St. Mary, Gilberts, also teaching at St. Edward Central Catholic High School (2008-2009). He then served as assistant principal and director of the religious studies department at Marian Central Catholic High School in Woodstock (2009-2017), also providing clergy assistance at St. Catherine, West Dundee (2009-2010). He served as administrator for St. Patrick Parish in Hartland (2011-2017), before serving for a year as administrator at St. Anne Parish, Dixon (2017-2018). He became pastor at St. Anne in 2018.
Additionally, Father Doyle served on the Stewardship Commission (2012-2018).
Father Draper Going to St. Anne, Dixon
DIXON—Father Timothy Draper becomes pastor at St. Anne Parish, Dixon, on July 1.
Father Draper was born in Arlington Heights and attended Stillman Valley High School and Rock Valley College, then St. Gregory the Great Seminary in Seward, Nebraska, studying philosophy there. He earned his Master of Divinity from Kenrick School of Theology in St. Louis, and was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop David Malloy on May 19, 2012.
Father Draper served as parochial vicar at Holy Cross, Batavia (2012-2015), also teaching during those years at Aurora Central Catholic High School. He served as administrator of St. Patrick, Amboy, St. Mary, Walton, and St. Flannen in Harmon (2015-2016). He became pastor of those three parishes in 2016.
Father Herrera to Serve in Aurora
AURORA—Father Ruben Herrera becomes pastor of St. Peter Parish in Aurora and spiritual director of the Hispanic Cursillo Movement on July 1.
Born in Mexico, Father Herrera attended Elgin Community College and St. St. John Vianney College Seminary in Miami. He completed his priesthood studies at Holy Apostles College and Seminary in Cromwell, Connecticut, and was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Thomas G. Doran on May 20, 2006.
Father Herrera served for several years as parochial vicar at: St. Patrick, Rockford (2006-2007); at St. James, Belvidere (2007-2009); at St. Joseph, Elgin (2009-2011); at Our Lady of Good Counsel in Aurora (2011-2012), and at Church of the Holy Apostles in McHenry (2012-2017).
He served at St. Patrick Parish in Rochelle, as administrator (2017-2018) and then as pastor (2018 to the present).
Additionally, he served on the Priests’ Health Committee (2013-2016).
Father Lopez Remains in Rockford, Becoming Pastor
ROCKFORD—Father Johnson Lopez becomes the pastor of St. Edward Parish on July 1.
Born in Colombia, Father Lopez attended high school and college there before beginning college at Rockford College, then the University of Lincoln in Nebraska. He studied philosophy and began theology studies in Colombia, then studied at St. Gregory the Great Seminary in Seward, Neb., completing those studies at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary in St. Louis.
He was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Thomas G. Doran on May 21, 2011.
Father Lopez began his priestly service at St. Mary, Woodstock (2011-2014), teaching also at Marian Central Catholic High School there. He became administrator of St. Patrick Parish, Rochelle in 2014, then its pastor (2015-2017). Later that year he began service at Church of the Holy Apostles in McHenry (2017-2019). He became administrator at St. Edward Parish in Rockford in 2019.
Additionally, he served as associate master of ceremonies for the diocese (2012-2017).
Father Manno Becomes Pastor
DEKALB—Father Kyle Manno becomes pastor of Christ the Teacher Parish on July 1. He continues his work as director of the Vocations Office for the diocese.
Born in Arlington Heights, he attended Palatine High School and Northern Illinois University. He studied for the priesthood at Mundelein Seminary in Mundelein. He was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop David Malloy on June 4, 2016.
Father Manno served as parochial vicar at St. Patrick, St. Charles (2016-2018), serving also as assistant vocations director (2017-2018). He became director of the Vocations Office in 2018.
He was parochial vicar at Christ the Teacher Parish, DeKalb (2018-2019), then administrator there and also director of Campus Ministry.
Father Morrissy Heading to Pecatonica Parish
PECATONICA—Father Dennis Morrissy becomes pastor of St. Mary Parish on
July 1.
Born in Evergreen Park, he attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary in Chicago, then college studies at the University of Chicago, and the University of Illinois in Champaign (Juris Doctor and MBA), graduating in 1989. He completed studies for the priesthood at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary in St. Louis and was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Thomas G. Doran on May 20, 2006.
Father Morrissy was parochial vicar at St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Crystal Lake and taught at Marian Central Catholic High School (2006-2009). He then served as parochial vicar at St. Peter, Geneva, and taught at Aurora Central Catholic High School (2009-2011).
He became administrator at St. Mary, Maple Park in 2011 and its pastor in 2013, serving there until 2014. Then he became administrator at St. Patrick, Amboy; St. Flannen, Harmon; and St. Mary, Walton for close to three months.
From July 2014 to the present, he has served as pastor of St. Mary Parish in Elizabeth and St. John the Evangelist Parish in Hanover.
Father Saligumba to be Pastor in Wonder Lake
WONDER LAKE—Father Carlos Datu Saligumba, SOLT, becomes pastor at Christ the King Parish on July 1.
Born in the Philippines, he studied at Holy Rosary Seminary in Naga City, the University of Santo Tomas in Manila, and Bicol University in Legazpi City all in the Philippines. He earned a CPE from Research Medical Center in Kansas City, Missouri, in 2010.
He was ordained to the priesthood in 1991 and is a of the Society of the Most Holy Trinity (SOLT).
In the Diocese of Rockford, Father Saligumba has served as parochial vicar at St. John Neumann in St. Charles (2016-2019). He has been the administrator at Christ the King Parish since June 2019.
Father Snieg soon to be Pastor in East Dubuque and Menominee
EAST DUBUQUE—Father Peter Snieg becomes pastor of St. Mary Parish in East Dubuque and Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Menominee on July 1.
Born in Chicago, Father Snieg is on loan to the Rockford Diocese from the Archdiocese of Chicago. He is a graduate of St. Mary of the Lake and Mundelein Seminary in Mundelein, and he earned his Licentiate of Sacred Theology (STL) there in 1993. He was ordained to the priesthood on May 22, 1993.
From 1994-1995, he was a parochial vicar at St. Priscilla Parish while teaching at Quigley Preparatory High School Seminary. From 1995-1998, he taught religion and did recruiting at Quigley. He became the rector of Quigley in 1999, and was rector and president there until the school closed in 2007.
He then was appointed to St. Joseph College Seminary at Loyola University as vice rector, dean of formation and director of the Quigley Scholars Program, an outreach program for high school students.
Father Snieg became the eighth rector-president of St. Joseph College Seminary in July 2010. He later was asked by Cardinal Francis George to serve as Moderator of the Curia.
He returned to St. Joseph as rector in 2016 at the request of Cardinal Blase Cupich. The college closed last year in part due to low enrollment.
Father Snieg came to the Rockford Diocese in 2019 and has served as administrator at the East Dubuque and Menominee parishes to the present.
Father Striedl to be Pastor in Elburn
ELBURN—Father Max Striedl becomes the pastor of St. Gall Parish on July 1.
Born in Batavia, he completed college at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana in 1987. He completed his priesthood studies at Mundelein Seminary in Mundelein and was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Thomas G. Doran on May 25, 1996.
Father Striedl first was parochial vicar at Holy Family Parish in Rockford and taught at Boylan Central Catholic High School (1996-2000). He became assistant principal and director of religious education at St. Edward Central Catholic High School, Elgin (2000-2002), then its superintendent and principal until 2006. He also provided clergy assistance at St. Catherine of Siena in West Dundee (2000-2006).
He served as parochial vicar at St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, Crystal Lake (2006-2007), then as parochial vicar at SS. Peter and Paul Parish in Cary (2007-2008). He then served as administrator at St. Joseph in Lena, St. Ann in Warren, and St. Joseph in Apple River (2008-2013), then as pastor of the three parishes until July 2014 when he became pastor at St. Mary Parish in Huntley.
Additionally, Father Striedl has served as associate diocesan Scout chaplain and as assistant spiritual director of the Rockford Cursillo Movement.
Father Tyrtania to be Pastor of Two Western Parishes
ELIZABETH/HANOVER—Father Joachim Tyrtania becomes the pastor of St. Mary Parish, Elizabeth, and St. John the Evangelist Parish, Hanover, on July 1.
Father Tyrtania was born in Katowice, Poland, and studied for the priesthood in Krakow. He was ordained a priest at Christ the King Cathedral in Katowice on March 31, 1983.
In the Rockford Diocese, he served as parochial vicar at Holy Cross Parish, Batavia (2005-2006), then as administrator of St. Mary Parish, Maple Park (2006-2008) and then as pastor there (2008-2010).
He was pastor of St. Patrick Parish, McHenry (2010-2011), then parochial vicar at St. James Parish, Rockford (2011-2012).
He became administrator at St. Peter Parish, Aurora in 2012 and its pastor in April 2013. He has served there until the present.
Msgr. Vallejo Heading to Elgin Parish
ELGIN—Msgr. Arquimedes Vallejo, JCD, Episcopal Vicar for Hispanic Ministry, will become also the pastor of St. Joseph Parish, Elgin, on July 1.
Born in Colombia, he attended the Seminary of Tunja there, and earned his JCD (doctorate in canon law) from Gregorian University in Rome, with a Specialization in Jurisprudence in 2000. He was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Alvaro Ortiz for the Diocese of Garagoa, Colombia, on Dec. 2, 1989.
Msgr. Vallejo was incardinated into the Diocese of Rockford on Feb. 12, 2002, and became a Chaplain of His Holiness with the title of Monsignor in March, 2005.
In the Diocese of Rockford, he served as a judge in the Diocesan Tribunal and provided clergy assistance at St. Therese Parish in Aurora (2000-2002), as Bishop’s Delegate for Hispanic Ministry (2002-2003); as chairman of Bishop’s Advisory Committee for Hispanics (2002-2012, and reappointed to the present), and as Episcopal Vicar for Hispanic Ministry (2003-2012, and reappointed to the present).
He was administrator at St. Nicholas, Aurora (2005-2006) and became Vice Officialis in the Diocesan Tribunal in 2006; serving there also as Promoter of Justice (2011-2012, and reappointed to the present). He served on the Liturgical Commission from 2007-2012.
Msgr. Vallejo was the administrator of Sacred Heart Parish in Aurora (2009-2012) and has served as its pastor since 2012. He also has been dean of the Aurora Deanery since 2013, and a diocesan consultor from 2015 to earlier this year.
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