Three diocesan priests are accepting pastoral responsibilities with recent assignments.

St. Patrick, Rochelle

Father Johnson Lopez became pastor of St. Patrick Parish in Rochelle on April 13, 2015.

Born in Arauca, Colombia, he studied philosophy at the University of San Buenaventura in Bogota (2001-2005) and also theology at Seminary Sralabrini, in Bogota. He attended Rockford College in Rockford for a few months in 2006, and the University of Lincoln in Nebraska (2006-2007) and St. Gregory Seminary there also. He studied also at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary in St. Louis (2007-2008).

Father Lopez was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Thomas G. Doran on May 21, 2011. His first assignment was as parochial vicar at St. Mary Parish in Woodstock (2011-2014), serving also as a part-time teacher at Marian Central Catholic High School from 2012-2014. He has also served since

November 2012 as an associate master of ceremonies for the diocese.

He served as administrator of St. Patrick Parish in Rochelle from September 2014 until becoming its pastor.

St. Mary/St. Patrick,
Durand/Irish Grove

Father Matthew Bergschneider, JCL, became pastor of St. Mary Parish /St. Patrick Parish of Durand/Irish Grove on May 20.

Born in Jacksonville, he attended Routt Catholic High School there, Lincoln Land Community College in Springfield and Illinois College in Jacksonville. He did philosophy and theology studies at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland, and was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Thomas G. Doran on May 21, 2005.

Father Bergschneider’s first assignment was as parochial vicar at Holy Angels Parish in Aurora (May 2005 to June 2006), serving also as a part-time instructor at Aurora Central Catholic High School. He served as master of ceremonies and secretary to Bishop Doran from 2006-2010, then studied in Rome and earned his degree in Canon Law (JCL) in 2013. Upon his return to the diocese, he served as parochial vicar at the Cathedral of St. Peter in Rockford (July 2013 to July 2014).

Father Bergschneider has served in the Diocesan Tribunal beginning as an advocate on July 1, 2013, and also as adjutant judicial vicar on July 8 that year. He also became ecclesiastical notary in February 2014.

On July 4, 2014, he became administrator at St. Mary/St. Patrick Parish, Durand/Irish Grove. He became vice-chancellor for the diocese on March 1, 2015.

St. Patrick, Rockford

Father Alejandro del Toro became pastor of St. Patrick Parish in Rockford on May 20.

Born in Guadalajara Jal, Mexico, he attended West Aurora High School in Aurora, St. John Vianney College Seminary in Miami, St. Gregory the Great Seminary in Seward, Nebraska, and Pontifical North American College in Vatican City.

He was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Thomas G. Doran on May 19, 2007. His first assignment was to return to Pontifical College where he received his STL in 2008.

His first diocesan assignment was as parochial vicar at the Cathedral of St. Peter in Rockford (July 2008 to January 2009) and part-time instructor at Boylan Central Catholic High School.

He served as parochial vicar at Christ the Teacher Parish in DeKalb from 2009 to 2012, then in that position at St. Monica Parish in Carpentersville from 2012 to 2014. He served also from November 2012 to October 2013 as an associate master of ceremonies for the diocese.

He became administrator at St. Patrick Parish, Rockford, on July 1, 2014.