The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis announced that three canonical mergers will be official on Jan. 1: St. Austin of Minneapolis into  St. Bridget of Minneapolis; Most Holy Trinity in St. Louis Park into Our Lady of Grace in Edina; and St. Vincent in St. Paul into the Cathedral parish of St. Paul.

The mergers outlined in the October 2010 archdiocesan strategic plan had been scheduled to take place after any appeals to Archbishop John Nienstedt and the Vatican’s Congregation for Clergy were completed.

Father Cory Rohlfing was appointed pastor of St. Jude of the Lake in Mahtomedi (Town of Lincoln), effective Dec. 1. Most recently, he served as pastor at St. Canice of Kilkenny and Most Holy Redeemer in Montgomery. Since his ordination in 2001, Father Rohlfing also has served at St. Joseph in Lino Lakes and St. John Neumann in Eagan.

Father Christopher Shofner was named parochial administrator, beginning Dec. 1, of St. Canice and Most Holy Redeemer until a pastor is appointed. He will continue to serve as pastor of St. Mary in Le Center and St. Henry in Le Sueur. After his ordination in 2005, Father Shofner served as chaplain at Academy of Holy Angels in Richfield and as associate priest at St. John the Baptist in Savage.

Also Dec. 1, Deacon Greg Sroder was appointed permanent deacon at St. Peter in North St. Paul. Since his ordination in 2001, Deacon Sroder has served at Sacred Heart in St. Paul, Guardian Angels in Chaska and St. Odilia in Shoreview.

Father Brian Fier will begin to serve as pastor of St. Edward in Bloomington Jan. 1, at the same time ending his ministry at Most Holy Trinity in St. Louis Park, which will officially merge with Our Lady of Grace in Edina. Father Fier was ordained in 1989 and has served at St. Dominic in Northfield, St. Raphael in Crystal, St. Paul in St. Paul, St. Patrick in Edina, Ss. Peter and Paul in Loretto.

Father Leo Tibesar, who was ordained in 1968, will retire from full-time active ministry Jan. 1. He has been serving as pastor of St. Frances Cabrini since 1994. He also has served at St. Rose of Lima in Roseville, as chaplain and faculty member at the University [then college] of St. Thomas, librarian at the St. Paul Seminary and chaplain at the former Riverside Medical Center in Minneapolis.

Official

Archbishop John C. Nienstedt, has announced the following appointments in the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis.

Effective December 1, 2011

Rev. Cory Rohlfing, resigned as pastor of the Church of Saint Canice of Kilkenny, Minn., and the Church of the Most Holy Redeemer of Montgomery, and appointed pastor of the Church of Saint Jude of the Lake in the Town of Lincoln.

Rev. Christopher Shofner, appointed parochial administrator of the Church of Saint Canice of Kilkenny, Minn., and the Church of the Most Holy Redeemer of Montgomery, until a new pastor is appointed. This is in addition to his other assignments.

Deacon Greg Sroder, appointed to exercise the ministry of a permanent deacon at the Church of Saint Peter of North Saint Paul, Minn. This is a transfer from his current assignment at the Church of Saint Odilia of Shoreview.

Effective January 1, 2012

Rev. Brian Fier, appointed Pastor of the Church of Saint Edward of Bloomington, Minn. Father Fier’s pastorate at the Church of the Most Holy Trinity of Saint Louis Park will end on that day as the parish will be merged with the Church of Our Lady of Grace in Edina, Minnesota.

Rev. Leo Tibesar, granted the status of a retired priest.

The following will also be taking effect on January 1, 2012.

The canonical merger of the Church of Saint Austin of Minneapolis into the Church of Saint Bridget of Minneapolis.

The canonical merger of the Church of the Most Holy Trinity of Saint Louis Park into Our Lady of Grace in Edina.

The canonical merger of the Church of Saint Vincent of Saint Paul into the Cathedral (parish) of Saint Paul.