Priests’ assignments are changed

Staff report

youngstown

Bishop George V. Murry has made the following changes in priests’ assignments in the Diocese of Youngstown.

The Rev. John-Michael Lavelle was appointed pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Niles, effective June 22.

The Rev. Christopher Luoni was appointed director of the St. Andrew House of Vocational Discernment at Walsh University in Canton, effective July 1.

The Rev. Kevin McCaffrey was appointed pastor of Sts. Philip and James Parish in Canal Fulton, effective July 1.

The Rev. Thomas Acker was appointed administrator of St. Joseph Parish in Randolph, effective Aug. 1.

Father Lavelle, ordained May 27, 2000, completed seminary studies at St. Vincent Seminary in Latrobe, Pa. He served as associate pastor at St. Mary Parish in Massillon and St. Christine Parish in Youngstown.

Father Lavelle serves as pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish in Ravenna and is director of advancement for the Diocesan Office of Catholic Charities, a position he will retain with his new assignment. Father Lavelle is chairman of Diocesan Catechetical Commission, secretary of Diocese of Youngstown Foundation and a member of Diocesan Stewardship Commission. He previously served as pastoral director of Catholic Television Network of Youngstown and was an instructor in the theology department at Walsh University and in the Deacon Formation Program for the diocese. He also served as chaplain of the Serra Club of Youngstown, which promotes vocations to the priesthood.

Father Luoni was ordained May 28, 2005, after seminary studies at Mount St. Mary Seminary in Cincinnati. He served as associate pastor at Holy Family Parish in Poland and as pastor at University Parish Newman Center in Kent. While at Kent, he also served as diocesan director of Campus Ministry.

Father Luoni was named diocesan director of Vocations in 2009 and will keep that position in addition to his new assignment. He serves as chaplain and administrator at Youngstown State University Newman Center and is on the Diocesan Priests’ Retirement Board.

Father McCaffrey, ordained May 25, 2002, completed seminary studies at the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus. He served as associate pastor at Immaculate Conception Parish in Ravenna, where he also served as administrator, and at St. Mary Parish in Massillon. He is pastor of Our Lady of Victory Parish in Andover and St. Patrick Parish in Kinsman. Father McCaffrey has served as chaplain for Knights of Columbus.

Father Acker was ordained in 1963 for the Society of Jesus. He came to the Diocese of Youngstown in September, 2011, as assistant to the bishop for special projects and was assigned administrator of Sts. Philip and James Parish in Canal Fulton.

Father Acker is chief executive officer of Forward Southern West Virginia and chairman and CEO of the Higher Education Foundation in Beckley, W.Va.

He previously served as dean of Future Generations Graduate School; president of Wheeling Jesuit University in West Virginia; dean of arts and sciences at St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia; associate professor of biology at the University of San Francisco; project director for the U.S. Peace Corps in Nepal; Fulbright professor at Tribhuvan University in Nepal; associate professor of biology at the University of Detroit and at John Carroll University in Cleveland.