New priest assignments to go into effect on July 10

April 17, 2025

Bishop William Joensen has made the following appointments. All assignments are effective July 10 unless otherwise noted.

Father Michael Acquah is going from parochial administrator at St. Mary in Red Oak and St. Patrick in Imogene to pastor of St. Claire in Clarinda, Sacred Heart in Bedford, and St. Joseph in Villisca for a six-year term. Born in 1973, he was educated in his home country of Ghana and ordained there in 2004 by Cardinal Peter Turkson. Since coming to the Des Moines Diocese in 2023, he has served at St. Francis of Assisi in West Des Moines, St. Mary in Red Oak, and St. Patrick in Imogene.

Father Daniel Adjei is going from parochial vicar at St. Pius X Parish in Urbandale to a one-year assignment as parish administrator at St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Des Moines. Born in 1983 and educated in Ghana, he was ordained in 2012. He did postgraduate work at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh. Since coming to the Des Moines Diocese in 2023, Father Adjei has served at St. Francis of Assisi, St. Joseph and St. Theresa in Des Moines, and most recently at St. Pius X Parish in Urbandale.

Father John Owusu-Agyemang is moving from Des Moines metro chaplaincy to parochial vicar at St. Pius X Parish in Urbandale for a two-year term. He was born in 1986, educated in Ghana, and ordained in 2015. He came to the Des Moines Diocese in 2020 to serve as chaplain at UnityPoint Hospital. Last year, he began serving as parochial vicar at Ss. John and Paul Parish in Altoona.

Father John Brobbey is transitioning from parochial vicar at St. Francis of Assisi to chaplain of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, beginning in August 2025. He was born in 1976, educated in Ghana with post-graduate work in Rome, and ordained in Ghana in 2003. He began serving at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in West Des Moines in 2021.

Father Jason Catania, who is with the Anglican (Catholic) Ordinariate, will be in residence and offering sacramental assistance at St. Augustin in Des Moines while continuing as MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center’s chaplain.

Father Lazarus Kirigia returns from sabbatical on July 10. He will continue to serve as pastor of St. Mary in Red Oak and St. Patrick in Imogene under his current tenure, which ends in July 2029. Father Kirigia was born in 1970 in Kenya, educated in Kenya and at Mundelein Seminary, and ordained in Des Moines in 2007.

Father Ambrose Ladu is moving from parochial vicar at St. Ambrose Cathedral in Des Moines to parochial vicar at Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart Parish in Ankeny with part-time ministry with migrant community via St. Ambrose Cathedral, for a two-year term.

Father Rodrigo Landeros is going from parochial vicar at St. Anthony Parish in Des Moines to be a parochial vicar at Christ the King in Des Moines, for a one-year term. He was born in Mexico in 1996, educated in Mexico and St. Paul Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota, and ordained in the Des Moines Diocese in 2022. Since his ordination, Father Landeros has been serving at St. Anthony Parish in Des Moines.

Father Jason Lee is transitioning from parochial vicar at Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart in Ankeny to becoming pastor of St. Mary in Shenandoah and St. Mary in Hamburg, for a six-year term. He was born in 1995, attended Waukee High School, St. John Vianney College Seminary and St. Paul Seminary, both in St. Paul, Minnesota, and was ordained in 2023. Since his ordination, Father Lee has been serving at Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart Parish in Ankeny.

Divine Word Father Thinh Nguyen will become the parish administrator of St. Peter Vietnamese Catholic Community in Des Moines.

Father Sylvester Okoh is moving from serving as pastor at St. Claire in Clarinda, Sacred Heart in Bedford, and St. Joseph in Villisca to Des Moines metro chaplaincy, for a two-year term. He was born in 1981, educated in Nigeria and Rome, and was ordained in Nigeria in 2008. Father Okoh came to the Des Moines Diocese in 2020. He has served as chaplain at CHI Health – Mercy in Council Bluffs, and at the following parishes St. Patrick in Neola, St. Columbanus in Weston, St. Clare in Clarinda, Sacred Heart in Bedford, St. Joseph in Villisca, and as administrator for St. Mary in Shenandoah and St. Mary in Hamburg.

Father Protas Okwalo is moving from pastor at St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Des Moines to parochial vicar at St. Francis of Assisi in West Des Moines, for a two-year term. Father was born in 1960 in Kenya and ordained by Cardinal Wilton Gregory in Chicago in 1995. He came to the Diocese as a Jesuit from the Eastern African Province and was incardinated in the Des Moines Diocese in 2024.

Father Nick Smith is going from parochial vicar at Christ the King in Des Moines to pastor at St. Patrick in Perry, for a six-year term. He was born in 1996 in Des Moines, attended Dowling Catholic High School, St. John Vianney College Seminary and St. Paul Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. He was ordained in 2022. After ordination, Father Smith served as parochial vicar at Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart Parish in Ankeny and Christ the King Parish in Des Moines.

Father Nick Stark, while remaining pastor of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Carlisle, will offer sacramental and pastoral care to the Hispanic communities at St. Patrick in Lenox until Jan. 1, 2026. He was born in 1995, attended Dowling Catholic High School, St. Pius X Seminary at Loras College, and St. Paul Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. Father Stark was ordained in 2021. After ordination, he served as parochial vicar at Christ the King Parish in Des Moines. In 2023, he began serving St. Elizabeth Seton Parish in Carlisle.

Father Litto Thomas will move from pastor at St. Patrick in Perry to parochial vicar at St. Anthony in Des Moines for a two-year term. Born in 1987 and educated in India and Rome, he was ordained in 2014. Father Thomas came to the Des Moines Diocese in 2019 and began serving at Corpus Christi Parish in Council Bluffs. He served as canonical administrator at St. Patrick in Corning and St. Patrick in Lenox, then as parochial vicar at Sacred Heart in West Des Moines. He has been serving at St. Patrick Parish in Perry since 2023.