Clergy assignments effective July 2, 2013, reflect a sabbatical, the return of a native son, a personal leave, a new missionary priest in southwest Kansas, and more.

Father Reggie Urban, pastor of Prince of Peace Parish in Great Bend, is granted a four-month sabbatical. Father Reggie, a native of Mary Help of Christians Parish, Loretto, served in the Diocese of Grand Island, Nebraska for 25 years. He returned to southwest Kansas in February of 2003. After brief assignments at the Dominican Motherhouse and St. John the Baptist, Spearville, he was appointed pastor of St. Rose of Lima and St. Patrick parishes in Great Bend. He facilitated a process that led to the consolidation of the two parishes into Prince of Peace in December of 2006. In July Father Reggie’s sabbatical plans are to attend two family reunions and the National Pastoral Music/Liturgy Convention in Washington, D.C., as well as spend a week with seminarian Juan Salas. He will then be at the Capuchin Friary in Victoria reading, praying, and creating a preaching resource. After the sabbatical he will be reassigned in the diocese.

Father Donald Bedore, currently parochial vicar at Prince of Peace, will now be the pastor of this Great Bend parish. Father Don has served at Prince of Peace since his ordination on May 28, 2011. He will be joined by Father Ted Stoecklein, currently pastor at St. John the Baptist, Spearville, and a parochial vicar at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Father Ted is appointed parochial vicar, a position he previously held with the Catholic Community in Great Bend from 2003 to 2006. Father Ted was ordained May 19, 2001; he has served as pastor of the Spearville parish since 2006. He will continue to serve the diocese as associate director of Youth Ministry.
Father Rene Labrador, pastor at St. Dominic, Garden City, since 2011, will become the pastor of St. John the Baptist, Spearville. Father Rene, a priest from the Diocese of Boac in the Philippines, has served in southwest Kansas since 2006. In addition his assignment in Garden City, Father Rene served five years as pastor of St. Michael’s, La Crosse, St. Joseph, Liebenthal, and Holy Trinity, Timken, in Rush County.
Father Terrance Klein, a native of St. Joseph Parish, Ellinwood, an incardinated priest of the Diocese of Columbus, and currently professor of theology at St. Bonaventure University in St. Bonaventure, N.Y., will serve as parochial administrator at St. Dominic, Garden City, until Nov. 4, 2013. Father Klein had previous pastoral assignments in the Diocese of Dodge City as associate pastor at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Dodge City, (1984-87) and pastor at St. Nicholas, Kinsley, (1988-90). He also served the diocese as vocation director, director of liturgy, and co-director of permanent diaconate formation. In addition to his current position at St. Bonaventure, Father Klein has served on the faculties of Fairfield University in Connecticut; Fordham University and St. John’s University, both in New York; and Ohio Dominican College and Pontifical College Josephinum, both in Columbus, Ohio.
Father Pascal Klein, currently pastor of St. Michael, La Crosse; Holy Trinity, Timken; and St. Joseph, Liebenthal, is granted a six-month personal leave of absence.
Father Matthew Kumi, currently parochial vicar at St. Mary, Garden City, will become the parochial administrator for the three Rush County parishes. Father Matthew, a priest from the Diocese of Goaso in Ghana, was ordained July 17, 1999. He has served in southwest Kansas since June of 2010.
Father Joseph Buising, currently parochial vicar at St. Dominic, Garden City, will become parochial vicar at St. Mary Parish, across town. Father Joseph, a priest from the Diocese of Boac, has served in southwest Kansas since November, 2011. In addition to his assignment in Garden City, he has served in Dodge City and Spearville. Father Joseph begins a vacation to the Philippines on June 24 and will return Garden City to assume his new post on July 25.
Another member of the Missionary Society of St. Paul, Father Anselm Eke, will join the diocese as parochial administrator of St. John the Evangelist, Hoisington. Father Anslem was born in Lagos, Nigeria. He was ordained a priest for the missions on July 1, 1992. He came to the United States in 2006 and served as assistant pastor at St. Benedict the Moor in Savannah, Ga. He has been pastor of St. Theresa Parish in Orange, Texas, since 2007.  Father Anselm succeeds Father Francis Oroffa who will be reassigned by the Regional Superior of the Missionary Society of St. Paul to a position in the Diocese of Beaumont, Texas. Father Francis has served in southwest Kansas since June, 2011.