Bishop Steven J. Raica, head of the Catholic Diocese of Birmingham, has announced priest assignments for more than a dozen churches in North Alabama.

The Rev. Joshua Altonji, who grew up in Scottsboro, has been named parochial administrator of St. John the Apostle Parish in Alexander City, with care for St. Mark Catholic Church in Ashland, effective June 2.

Altonji graduated from Vanderbilt University with a bachelor’s degree in computer science and psychology and went to seminary at Pontificial College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio.

Altonji was ordained in 2017 at St. Paul’s Cathedral and had been at Holy Spirit Church in Huntsville since 2021.

Abbot Marcus Voss, of St. Bernard Abbey, has recommended two monks as pastors for the Diocese of Birmingham:

The Rev. Patrick Egan has been named pastor of St. Michael Parish in Saint Florian (Florence), effective June 9.

The Rev. Linus Klucsarits has been named pastor of Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Cullman, with care for St. Boniface Catholic Church in Hanceville, effective June 9.

The other appointments take effect on July 1.

The Rev. Thomas Ackerman has been named pastor of Annunciation of the Lord Parish in Decatur, with care for Resurrection Chapel in Moulton.

The Rev. Rick Chenault has been named Pastor of Holy Spirit Parish in Huntsville.

The Rev. Jonathan Howell has been named Pastor of Our Lady of the Valley Parish in Fort Payne with care for St. Michael’s Mission in Centre.

The Rev. Wyman Vintson has been named Pastor of St. Francis of Assisi University Parish in Tuscaloosa with care for St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Church in Reform.

The Rev. Vincent Bresowar has been named parochial administrator of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Gardendale and St. Henry Parish in Warrior. Bresowar is returning from a sabbatical after serving nine years as pastor of Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Russellville. Bresowar, a 1998 graduate of Homewood High School who attended Auburn University, spent three years in the Air Force and worked at UAB as a medical technician before going to seminary.

The Rev. Charles Deering has been named parochial administrator of St. Joseph Parish in Florence with care for Campus Ministry at the University of North Alabama. Deering was ordained in 2022 and his first assignment had been as parochial vicar at Annunciation of the Lord Church in Decatur.

Raica also announced two retirements effective July 1.

The Rev. Charles Merrill, most recently pastor of Annunciation of the Lord Parish in Decatur and Resurrection Chapel in Moulton, will move to retired priest status.

The Rev. Bruce Bumbarger, most recently administrator of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Birmingham, will move to retired priest status.