2026 Priest Assignments Announced
by Diocese of Des Moines | April 14, 2026
Bishop William Joensen has made the following priest assignments.
The Rev. Daniel Adjei from Chaplain of St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Student Center Parish, Des Moines, to be returning to his home Diocese of Sekondi-Takoradi in Ghana, effective July 9, 2026
The Rev. Michael Antoh from Canonical Administrator of Our Lady of Fatima, Portsmouth, St. Mary of the Assumption, Panama, and St. Boniface, Westphalia, to be returning to his home Diocese of Sekondi-Takoradi in Ghana, effective July 9, 2026
The Rev. Mr. (Deacon) Stan Asjes upon completion of seminary formation and ordination to the priesthood to be assigned as Parochial Vicar of St. Patrick Parish, Council Bluffs, effective July 9, 2026.
The Rev. George Boachie-Nyarko from Parochial Administrator of Holy Trinity of S.E. Warren Co.,Lacona/Milo, and Immaculate Conception Parish, St. Mary, to be assigned as Pastor of St. Joseph Parish, Winterset, and St. Patrick, Irish Settlement, effective on July 9, 2026.
The Rev. Maxwell Carson while continuing to serve as Chaplain at St. Albert Catholic School, Council Bluffs and Assistant Diocesan Vocation Director, will move from part-time Parochial Vicar at St. Patrick Parish, Council Bluffs to be assigned as part-time Pastoral and Sacramental assistance at St. Peter Parish, Council Bluffs, effective on July 9, 2026.
The Rev. Thomas Dooley from Pastor of St. Joseph Parish, Winterset, and St. Patrick Parish, Irish Settlement to be assigned as Pastor of St. Patrick Parish, Audubon, and Holy Trinity Parish, Exira, effective on July 9, 2026.
The Rev. James Downey from weekend Pastoral Assistance at St. Boniface Parish, Waukee and faculty at Dowling Catholic High School, West Des Moines, to be assigned to graduate theology studies at the Pontifical Angelicum University, Rome, effective on July 9, 2026.
The Rev. Jacob Epstein while continuing to serve as Pastor of St. Peter Parish in Council Bluffs, is assigned Canonical Administrator of St. Albert Catholic School, Council Bluffs effective July 9, 2026.
The Rev. Rodrigo Mayorga Landeros from Parochial Administrator of Christ the King Parish, Des Moines, to be assigned as Pastor effective on July 9, 2026.
The Rev. Raymond McHenry, from retirement, to be assigned as temporary Parochial Administrator of Holy Trinity Parish in Des Moines effective July 6, 2026, through November 24, 2026.
The Very Rev. P.J. McManus, from Pastor of Christ the King Parish, Des Moines and Vicar of Hispanic Ministry, to be assigned as Pastor of St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Student Center Parish and Vicar of Evangelization and Mission for the Diocese of Des Moines, effective on July 9, 2026.
The Rev. Mark Neal, Pastor of Holy Trinity Parish in Des Moines, granted a five-month study and renewal sabbatical (July 6, 2026, through November 24, 2026). Upon completion of the sabbatical, Fr. Neal will return to Holy Trinity Parish for the remainder of his tenure as Pastor.
The Rev. David Nkrumah from Pastor of St. Patrick Parish, Audubon, and Holy Trinity Parish, Exira, to be assigned as Pastor of Holy Trinity of S.E. Warren Co., Lacona/Milo, and Immaculate Conception, St. Mary, effective on July 9, 2026.
The Rev. Seth Owusu from Pastor of St. Mary, Avoca, and St. Patrick, Walnut, to be assigned Parochial Vicar of St. Luke the Evangelist, Ankeny, and Chaplain to the Diocesan Teens Encounter Christ (TEC) Ministry, effective July 9, 2026.
The Rev. Ross Parker from Pastor of St. Mary Parish and Holy Cross Parish in Elkhart and Diocesan Director of Vocations and Seminarians, to be assigned as Pastor of St. Augustin Parish, Des Moines and Diocesan Director of Seminarians effective on July 9, 2026.
The Very Rev. Christopher Pisut, from Pastor of St. Augustin Parish, Des Moines, to be assigned as Pastor of St. Mary Parish and Holy Cross Parish in Elkhart, effective on July 9, 2026. Fr. Pisut will continue his assignment as Diocesan Judicial Vicar and Coordinator of the Traditional Latin Mass Community.
The Rev. Brad Robey from Parochial Administrator of Ss. Peter and Paul Parish in Atlantic, St. Mary Parish in Anita, and St. Timothy Parish in Reno, to be assigned as Pastor effective on July 9, 2026.
The Rev. Oscar Rosales Hernandez from Parochial Vicar of Our Lady of the Americas Parish, Des Moines, and St. Joseph Parish, Des Moines has returned to his home Diocese of Zacatecoluca in El Salvador, effective March 28, 2026.
The Rev. Nick Smith while continuing to serve as Pastor of St. Patrick Parish, Perry, to be assigned as Diocesan Vocation Director, effective July 9, 2026.
The Rev. Thomas Thakadipuram from Diocesan Pastoral and Sacramental Assistance to be assigned for full-time Pastoral and Sacramental Assistance at Christ the King Parish, Des Moines, effective July 9, 2026.
The Rev. Eze Umunnakwe from temporary Diocesan Pastoral and Sacramental Ministry to full-time Diocesan Pastoral and Sacramental Ministry Assistance, effective July 9, 2026.