Bishop announces 2026 clergy changes

Published: April 13, 2026

Bishop Anthony B. Taylor announced the following pastoral appointments, April 10, 2026, for the Diocese of Little Rock.

Effective April 10, 2026:

• Rev. Alphonse Gollapalli, as requested by him, he will return to his home Diocese of Nellore, India. Father Gollapalli has lived much of his priesthood in faithful service in Oklahoma and Arkansas. He is relieved of his responsibilities as pastor of St. Mark Church in Monticello, Holy Child of Jesus Church in Dumas and St. Mary Church in McGehee, as previously announced.
• Rev. Daniel Wendel, appointed administrator of St. Mark Church in Monticello, Holy Child of Jesus Church in Dumas and St. Mary Church in McGehee. He is relieved of his responsibilities as associate pastor of St. Joseph Church in Conway and associate minister of Catholic Campus Ministry in Conway, as previously announced.

Effective July 1, 2026:

• Rev. Taryn Whittington, appointed associate pastor of Our Lady of the Holy Souls Church in Little Rock. He remains part-time instructor at the House of Formation in Little Rock. He is relieved of his responsibilities as pastor of St. Boniface Church in Bigelow (New Dixie) and administrator of St. Oscar Romero Catholic Community in Greenbrier.
• Rev. Joji Reddy Allam, appointed associate pastor of St. Joseph Church in Fayetteville and Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Lincoln. He is relieved of his responsibilities as associate pastor of Our Lady of the Holy Souls Church in Little Rock.
• Rev. Benignus Wego, SVD, relieved of his responsibilities as chaplain of St. Bernards Medical Center and Holy Angels Convent in Jonesboro to continue his ministry with the Society of the Divine Word.
• Rev. Aby Abraham, IMS, appointed chaplain of St. Bernards Medical Center and Holy Angels Convent in Jonesboro. This is in addition to his current responsibilities as pastor of St. Mary Church in Paragould and Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Walnut Ridge.
• Rev. Manoranjan De Silva, a priest of the Archdiocese of Colombo, Sri Lanka, appointed associate pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Morrilton and St. Elizabeth Church in Oppelo.
• Rev. Kiran Kishore Ingilela, appointed associate pastor of Blessed Sacrament Church and St. John Newman University Parish in Jonesboro, St. Anthony Church in Weiner, and St. Norbert Church in Marked Tree. He is relieved of his responsibilities as associate pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Morrilton and St. Elizabeth Church in Oppelo.
• Rev. Norbert Rappold, appointed pastor of St. Boniface Church in Bigelow (New Dixie) and administrator of St. Oscar Romero Catholic Community in Greenbrier. He is relieved of his responsibilities as pastor of St. Peter the Fisherman Church in Mountain Home. He remains Liaison of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal in the Diocese of Little Rock.
• Rev. Alex Smith, appointed pastor of St. Peter the Fisherman Church in Mountain Home. He is relieved of his responsibilities as pastor of St. Anthony Church in Weiner and St. John Newman University Parish in Jonesboro.
• Rev. Cody Eveld, appointed associate pastor of St. Anthony Church in Weiner, St. John Newman University Parish in Jonesboro, and St. Norbert Church in Marked Tree. This is in addition to his current responsibilities as associate pastor of Blessed Sacrament Church in Jonesboro.
• Dcn. Tuan Do, to be ordained to the priesthood on May 30, 2026, appointed associate pastor of Blessed Sacrament Church and St. John Newman University Parish in Jonesboro, St. Anthony Church in Weiner, and St. Norbert Church in Marked Tree.
• Rev. Msgr. Scott Friend, appointed pastor of St. Anthony Church in Weiner, St. John Newman University Parish in Jonesboro, and St. Norbert Church in Marked Tree. This is in addition to his current responsibilities as pastor of Blessed Sacrament Church in Jonesboro.
• Rev. Francis Madanu, relieved of his responsibilities as pastor of St. Norbert Church in Marked Tree. He remains pastor of Immaculate Conception Church in Blytheville and St. Matthew Church in Osceola.
• Dcn. Duwan Booker, to be ordained to the priesthood on May 30, 2026, appointed associate pastor of St. Joseph Church in Conway and associate minister of Catholic Campus Ministry in Conway.
• Dcn. Christopher Elser, to be ordained to the priesthood on May 30, 2026, appointed associate pastor of Immaculate Conception Church in Fort Smith and Our Lady of the Ozarks Shrine in Winslow.
• Rev. John K. Antony, JCL, appointed pastor of Our Lady of the Ozarks Shrine in Winslow. This is in addition to his current responsibilities as pastor of Immaculate Conception Church in Fort Smith.
• Rev. Stanislaus Savio Arokia, relieved of his responsibilities as associate pastor of Immaculate Conception Church in Fort Smith to minister in the Diocese of Shreveport.
• Dcn. Joseph Nguyen, to be ordained to the priesthood on May 30, 2026, appointed associate pastor of St. Edward Church in Texarkana, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in Ashdown, and Sacred Heart Church in Foreman.
• Rev. Joel Brackett, appointed administrator of St. Mary Church in Batesville and St. Cecilia Church in Newport. He is relieved of his responsibilities as associate pastor of St. Edward Church in Texarkana, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in Ashdown, and Sacred Heart Church in Foreman.
• Rev. Jon Miskin, appointed pastor of Immaculate Conception Church in North Little Rock. He is relieved of his responsibilities as pastor of St. Mary Church in Batesville and St. Cecilia Church in Newport.
• Rev. Balaraju Desam, relieved of his responsibilities as pastor of Immaculate Conception Church in North Little Rock to continue his ministry in his home Diocese of Nellore, India.
• Dcn. Quinton Thomas, to be ordained to the priesthood on May 30, 2026, appointed associate pastor of St. Raphael Church in Springdale.
• Rev. Salvador Vega-Alvarenga, appointed associate pastor of St. Theresa Church in Little Rock. He is relieved of his responsibilities as pastor of St. Martin Church in Nashville and Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Glenwood.
• Rev. Mark Wood, appointed pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Glenwood. This is in addition to his current responsibilities as pastor of St. Mary Church in Arkadelphia and St. John the Baptist Church in Malvern.
• Rev. Arokiasamy Madhichetty Irudayaraj, appointed pastor of St. Paul the Apostle Church in Pocahontas, St. Joseph the Worker in Corning and St. John the Baptist Church in Engelberg. He is relieved of his responsibilities as pastor of Our Lady of Fatima Church in Benton.
• Rev. Prem Antony, IMS, a priest of The Indian Missionary Society, appointed associate pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Church in Rogers.
• Rev. Rodolphe Balthazar, appointed administrator of Our Lady of Fatima Church in Benton. He is relieved of his responsibilities as associate pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Church in Rogers.
• Rev. Stephen Elser, PhL, appointed pastor of Our Lady of the Holy Souls Church in Little Rock. He is relieved of his responsibilities as pastor of St. Paul the Apostle Church in Pocahontas, St. Joseph the Worker Church in Corning, and St. John the Baptist Church in Engelberg.
• Rev. Daniel Velasco, appointed pastor of St. Raphael Church in Springdale. He is relieved of his responsibilities as pastor of Our Lady of the Holy Souls Church in Little Rock. He remains diocesan director of the School of Spiritual Direction Formation.
• Rev. Alejandro Puello, appointed pastor of St. Mary of the Springs Church in Hot Springs. He is relieved of his responsibilities as pastor of St. Raphael Church in Springdale.
• Rev. Ravi Gudipalli, appointed pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas University Parish in Fayetteville. He is relieved of his responsibilities as pastor of St. Mary of the Springs Church in Hot Springs.
• Rev. Jason Sharbaugh, appointed pastor of St. Agnes Church in Mena and All Saints Church in Mount Ida. He is relieved of his responsibilities as pastor of St. Thomas University Parish in Fayetteville.
• Rev. Joseph Shantiraj, relieved of his responsibilities as pastor of St. Agnes Church in Mena and All Saints Church in Mount Ida to continue his ministry in his home Diocese of Nellore, India.
• Rev. Martin Siebold, appointed pastor of St. Martin Church in Nashville and Our Lady of Good Hope Church in Hope. He is relieved of his responsibilities as associate pastor of St. Raphael Church in Springdale and pastor of Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Lincoln.
• Rev. Jason Tyler, STL, appointed pastor of Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Lincoln. This is in addition to his current responsibilities as pastor of St. Joseph Church in Fayetteville. He is relieved of his responsibilities as pastor of Our Lady of the Ozarks Shrine in Winslow.
• Rev. Martin Dara, appointed associate pastor of Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Lincoln. This is in addition to his current responsibilities as associate pastor of St. Joseph Church in Fayetteville. He is relieved of his responsibilities as associate pastor of Our Lady of the Ozarks Shrine in Winslow.
• Rev. Nirmalraj M. Kambala, CPPS, relieved of his responsibilities as pastor of Our Lady of Good Hope in Hope to continue his ministry with the Missionaries of the Precious Blood in India.
• Rev. Nathan Ashburn, appointed administrator of St. Ignatius Church in Scranton, Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Morrison Bluff, and St. Meinrad Church in Prairie View. He is relieved of his responsibilities as associate pastor of Christ the King Church in Little Rock and St. Francis of Assisi Church in Roland (Little Italy).
• Rev. John Miranda, relieved of his responsibilities as pastor of St. Ignatius Church in Scranton, Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Morrison Bluff, and St. Meinrad Church in Prairie View to continue his ministry in his home Diocese of Nellore, India.
• Joshua Osborne, to be ordained to the transitional diaconate on May 23, 2026, appointed to serve as deacon at Our Lady of the Lake Church in Lake Village, Holy Cross Church in Crossett, and Holy Spirit Church in Hamburg during the summer 2026.