Click here to download the decree from Bishop Manuel de Jesús Rodríguez
DECREE
In the matter of:
DIOCESAN ASSIGNMENTS
Whereas, the Diocesan Bishop is entrusted with the pastoral care, governance, and administration of the particular Church committed to him according to the norm of law (cf. cann. 381 §1; 391 §§1-2 of the Code of Canon Law-henceforth CIC-);
Whereas, shortly after assuming the pastoral governance of the Diocese of Palm Beach, I unde1iook a process of consultation with the priests of the Diocese concerning the composition of the Priests' Assignment Advisory Board, and thereafter reconstituted said Board in order to assist me in matters pertaining to clergy assignments and pastoral planning: that Board now is composed by highly suitable clerics and lay persons from multicultural backgrounds, including three (3) women serving in diocesan leadership positions;
Whereas, I have carefully heard and considered the counsel of the Priests' Assignment Advisory Board of the Diocese of Palm Beach as part of the prayerful discernment leading to the assignments contained herein;
Whereas, the pastoral needs of the Diocese of Palm Beach and the spiritual welfare of the Christian faithful require that certain ecclesiastical offices and assignments be entrusted to suitable clerics for the good of souls and the effective fulfillment of the Church's mission (cf. cann. 383 §1; 394 §1; 519; 1752 CIC);
Whereas, priests and deacons are called to collaborate with their Bishop in the service of the People of God and to faithfully fulfill the ecclesiastical offices entrusted to them (cf. cann. 273; 274 §2; 275 §1 CIC);
Whereas, the formation of seminarians includes appropriate pastoral training and ministerial experience so as to prepare them for future priestly service to the People of God (cf. cann. 255; 258; 1025 §1 CIC);
Whereas, these diocesan assignments are made solely in view of the pastoral needs of the Diocese of Palm Beach, the good of the Christian faithful, and the salvation of souls, which in the Church must always be the supreme law (cf. can. 1752 CIC);
Whereas, the diocesan assignments listed herein are hereby established and ordered according to the norm of law;
Therefore, after prayerful reflection, consultation, and discernment, and exercising my lawful authority as Bishop of Palm Beach, I hereby decree the following:
I. PRIESTS: DEAN ASSIGNMENTS
Very Rev. Richard George - To Dean of the Northern Deanery while remaining as Pastor of St. Anastasia Parish in Fort Pierce, effective May 29, 2026.
Very Rev. Kevin Nelson - To Dean of the Cathedral Deanery while remaining as Pastor of St. Jude Parish in Tequesta, effective July 1, 2026.
II. PRIESTS: PASTOR ASSIGNMENTS
Very Rev. Gavin Badway - From Rector & Pastor of the Cathedral of St. Ignatius Loyola in Palm Beach Gardens to Pastor of St. Lucie Parish in Port St. Lucie, effective July 1, 2026.
Very Rev. Albert Delio Russo - From Chancellor of the Diocese of Palm Beach and from administrative responsibilities at the Diocese of Palm Beach and at Catholic Charities of Palm Beach to Pastor of St. Paul of the Cross Parish in North Palm Beach, effective July 1, 2026.
Rev. Marc Gustinelli - From Parochial Vicar of St. Ann Parish in West Palm Beach to Pastor of Mary Immaculate Parish in West Palm Beach, effective July 1, 2026. The current assignment of Very Rev. Charles E. Notabartolo as Financial Administrator of Mary Immaculate Parish in West Palm Beach is hereby declared concluded, effective July 1, 2026.
Very Rev. Brian King - From Episcopal Secretary at the Office of the Diocesan Bishop to Rector & Pastor of the Cathedral of St. Ignatius Loyola in Palm Beach Gardens, effective July 1, 2026.
Very Rev. Thomas Lafreniere - From Pastor of St. Paul of the Cross Parish in North Palm Beach and from Dean of the Cathedral Deanery to Pastor of St. Mark Parish in Boynton Beach, effective July 1, 2026.
III. PRIEST: PARISH ADMINISTRATOR ASSIGNMENT
Rev. Nicholas Zrallack - To Parish Administrator of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Riviera Beach while remaining Pastor of St. Clare Parish in North Palm Beach, effective July 1, 2026
IV. PRIESTS: SCHOOL CHAPLAIN ASSIGNMENTS
Rev. Michael Cairnes - To Associate Chaplain of St. John Paul II Academy in Boca Raton while remaining Parochial Vicar of the Cathedral of St. Ignatius Loyola in Palm Beach Gardens, effective July 1, 2026.
Rev. Marc Gustinelli - To Chaplain of Cardinal Newman High School in West Palm Beach while remaining Pastor of Mary Immaculate Parish in North Palm Beach, effective July 1, 2026.
Rev. Joshua Martin - To Chaplain of St. John Carroll High School while remaining as Parochial Vicar of St. Anastasia Parish in Fort Pierce, effective July 1, 2026.
Rev. Canon Thomas Skindeleski - To Chaplain of St. John Paul II Academy in Boca Raton while remaining in Retired Priest status, effective July 1, 2026.
V. PRIESTS: PAROCHIAL VICAR ASSIGNMENTS
Rev. Edivaldo Da Silva Oliveira - To Parochial Vicar of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Riviera Beach, effective July 1, 2026.
Rev. Daniel Daza-Jaller - To Parochial Vicar of St. Mark Parish in Boynton Beach while remaining Director of Vocations & Seminarians of the Diocese of Palm Beach, effective July 1, 2026.
Rev. Ambrose Kadambukatt - From Parish Administrator of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Riviera Beach to Parochial Vicar of St. Sebastian in Sebastian, effective July 1, 2026.
Rev. Tomasz Makowski - From Pastor of Mary Immaculate Parish in West Palm Beach to Parochial Vicar of St. Lucie Parish in Port St. Lucie, effective July 1, 2026.
Rev. Osiris Salcedo, SDB - From priestly ministry in the Archdiocese of New York to Parochial Vicar of St. Lucie Parish in Port St. Lucie, effective July 1, 2026.
VI. SEMINARIAN: PASTORAL YEAR ASSIGNMENT
Seminarian Thomas Ageeb - To Pastoral Year ministry at St. Sebastian and Our Lady of Guadalupe Mission in Sebastian, effective September 8, 2026.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein. Issued and read, at the Office of the Diocesan Bishop, located at the Pastoral Center of the Diocese of Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, State of Florida, on the twenty ninth day of the month of May, in the Year of our Lord two thousand and twenty-six.
Most Reverend Manuel de Jesús Rodríguez
Bishop of Palm Beach
