Attention: If you’re looking for the 2023 priest assignments, click here.

Bishop J. Mark Spalding has announced new assignments for some priests serving in the Diocese of Nashville; seven churches will receive new pastors, administrators, or associate pastors. 

All but one of the assignments will become effective on Monday, June 28, 2021.

The assignments include:

• Father Mark Beckman is reappointed to an additional six-year term as Pastor of St. Henry Church in Nashville.

Father Beckman was ordained on July 13, 1990. He has previously served as Pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Springfield and at St. Matthew Church in Franklin. He also is currently the chairman of the diocesan Priest Personnel Board.

• Father Theo Ebulueme is reappointed to an additional six-year term as Pastor of Holy Name Church in Nashville.

Father Ebulueme was ordained on July 22, 1995, in his native Nigeria. Previously, he has served in this diocese as a hospital chaplain and Associate Pastor at Immaculate Conception Church in Clarksville.

• Father C. Andrew Forsythe is released from the offices of Associate Pastor of St. John Vianney Church in Gallatin and Chaplain of Pope John Paul II High School and is appointed Pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Lawrenceburg for a term of six years.

Father Forsythe was ordained on June 23, 2017 and has previously served as Associate Pastor at Christ the King Church in Nashville and Administrator of St. Christopher Church in Dickson.

• Father Joseph Mundakal, CMI, is released from the office of Pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Lawrenceburg and is appointed Administrator of St. Francis of Assisi Church in Dover.

Father Mundakal was ordained on May 12, 1983, in his native India. He previously served in this diocese as Associate Pastor at St. Joseph Church in Madison and Pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Loretto and St. Joseph Church in St. Joseph. He has been Pastor of Sacred Heart Lawrenceburg since 2008.

• Father Delphinus Mutajuka is released from the office of Associate Pastor of St. Edward Church in Nashville and is named Administrator of Sacred Heart Church in Loretto and Administrator of St. Joseph Church in St. Joseph.

Father Mutajuka was ordained on July 26, 2014. He has previously served as Associate Pastor of St. Rose of Lima Church in Murfreesboro, a hospital chaplain, and as chaplain at Father Ryan High School.

• Father Mark Sappenfield is reappointed to an additional six-year term as Pastor of St. Matthew Church in Franklin.

Father Sappenfield was ordained on May 30, 2008. He has previously served as Associate Pastor and Pastor of St. Rose of Lima Church in Murfreesboro.

• Father Bala Showraiah, OFM, is appointed Pastor of St. Catherine Church in McMinnville for a term of six years.  He has served as Administrator of the parish since Summer 2020.

Father Bala was ordained on May 29, 1990, in his native India. In this diocese, he previously served as Associate Pastor and Pastor of St. Philip Church in Franklin.

• Father Anthony Stewart is released from the office of Associate Pastor of Holy Family Church in Brentwood, and upon canonical erection of the parish, will be appointed as Pastor of Mother Teresa Church in Nolensville for a term of six years.

Father Stewart has served at Holy Family since ordination on June 30, 2018.

• Father Rhodes Bolster is appointed an Episcopal Master of Ceremonies, to collaborate with the other Episcopal Master of Ceremonies, Father Gervan Menezes.  Father Bolster remains Associate Pastor of St. Philip Church in Franklin.

He was ordained on May 25, 2019.

• Father Paul Nguyen is released from the offices of Pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Loretto and Pastor of St. Joseph Church in St. Joseph and is appointed Associate Pastor of St. Edward Church in Nashville.

Father Nguyen was ordained on July 26, 2014. He previously has served as Associate Pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Cookeville and St. Joseph Church in Madison and as Administrator of Holy Rosary Church in Nashville.

• Father Christiano Nunes da Silva, VF, is appointed Director of Ongoing Clergy Formation.  He remains Pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Cookeville and Dean of the Northeast Deanery.

Father Nunes was ordained on July 26, 2014. He previously served as Associate Pastor at Immaculate Conception Church in Clarksville.

He succeeds Father Edward Steiner, whose tenure as Director of Ongoing Clergy Formation is concluding. Father Steiner continues as Pastor of St. Philip Church in Franklin.

• Father Mark Simpson is released from the offices of Chaplain of Father Ryan High School and Chaplain of Camp Marymount and is appointed Associate Pastor of Holy Family Church in Brentwood, effective Aug. 1.

Father Simpson was ordained on May 25, 2019.

• The sacramental needs of Pope John Paul II High School will be provided for by Our Lady of the Lake Church in Hendersonville for the 2021-2022 School Year, with the anticipation of a stable chaplain being appointed in the Summer of 2022.

• The sacramental needs of Father Ryan High School will be provided for by Christ the King Church in Nashville and other parishes in the area for the 2021-2022 School Year, with the anticipation of a stable chaplain being appointed in the Summer of 2022.