Priest assignment changes

by Diocese of Des Moines | March 25, 2024

Father Samuel Danso

Bishop Joensen has made a few priest assignments that go into effect this summer. Look for details in the next edition of The Catholic Mirror. Here’s a quick glimpse of some of the changes:

  • Father James Ahenkora is moving from St. Patrick in Council Bluffs to Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart in Ankeny.
  • Father Michael Amadeo is moving from Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart in Ankeny to St. Anthony in Des Moines.
  • Father Samuel Danso is moving from parishes in Chariton, Corydon and Leon, to parishes in Dunlap and Woodbine.
  • Father James Downey will continue on the faculty of Dowling Catholic High School while serving on weekends at St. Boniface in Waukee.
  • Father Jake Epstein is moving from Corpus Christi in Council Bluffs to St. Peter, also in Council Bluffs.
  • Father Enrique Garcia is going to St. Anthony Parish in Des Moines.
  • Father Oscar Rosales Hernandez is coming from El Salvador to Christ the King Parish in Des Moines.
  • Father Michael Hutchison is coming from Ghana to St. John’s Parish in Adel.
  • Father Alex Kramer is returning from graduate studies in Rome to serve at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in West Des Moines.
Diocese of Des Moines

The Diocese of Des Moines, created in 1911, serves people over a 12,446 square mile area in the southwestern quadrant of Iowa, including 23 counties.