After consultation with the priests’ personnel board, Bishop Shelton J. Fabre has announced the following pastoral assignments.
Pastoral Assignment effective June 1, 2021
Friar Nathaniel Maria Gadalia has been appointed associate pastor of Holy Family Church parish in Grand Caillou. Father Gadalia, a native of Orléans, France, was ordained to the priesthood May 29, 2021.
Pastoral Assignments effective July 1, 2021
Father Paul Birdsall, who has been serving as associate pastor of St. Bernadette Church parish in Houma since June 2018, has been appointed administrator of Annunziata Church parish in Houma. Father Birdsall, a native of Cut Off, LA, was ordained to the priesthood June 2, 2018.
Father Evelio (Toto) Buenaflor, who has been serving as associate pastor of Sacred Heart Church parish in Morgan City since July 2018, has been appointed pastor of St. Lawrence Church parish in Chacahoula for a six-year term. Father Buenaflor, a native of M’lang, Cotabato, Philippines, was ordained to the priesthood May 24, 1985.
Father Rholando (Rholly) Grecia, who has been serving as Chaplain of Terrebonne General Health System in Houma since July 2019, has been appointed as associate pastor of St. Joseph Co-Cathedral in Thibodaux. Father Grecia, a native of Lucena City, Philippines, was ordained to the priesthood Sept. 8, 1998.
Father Brice Higginbotham, who has been serving as pastor of Holy Cross Church parish in Morgan City since July 2020, will be leaving to pursue doctoral studies in Sacred Scripture. Father Higginbotham, a native of Church Point, LA, was ordained to the priesthood June 3, 2017.
Father Noas Kerketta, who has been serving as sacramental minister to nursing homes in Houma and associate pastor of Annunziata Church parish in Houma since July 2020, has been appointed Chaplain to Terrebonne General Health System in Houma. He will reside at the Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales in Houma. Father Kerketta, a native of Rewra Village, Tharkland, was ordained to the priesthood May 8, 1994.
Father Mike Tran, who has been serving as pastor of Annunziata Church parish in Houma since June 2013, has been appointed pastor of Holy Cross Church parish in Morgan City for a six-year term. Father Tran, a native of Long Khanh, Vietnam, was ordained to the priesthood Aug. 10, 2002.