Four Regional Deans Appointed

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Regional deans have been appointed for the deaneries of Sullivan County, East Manhattan, South Shore of Westchester and the South Bronx, the Cardinal’s Office has announced.

The newly appointed deans are Father Edward Bader, Sullivan County; Father Donald Baker, East Manhattan; Father Alfred Monteiro, South Shore of Westchester; and Father Francis Skelly, C.Ss.R., South Bronx. Their appointments became effective on April 1.

In other appointments, Father Rayappa Thumma has been incardinated into the archdiocese, and Father Alexis Bastidas has been named temporary administrator of St. Luke’s parish, the Bronx. Father Thumma’s incardination took effect on March 24 and Father Bastidas’ appointment became effective on April 22.

Father Edward Bader has served as pastor of St. Aloysius parish in Livingston Manor since 2012. He was pastor of St. Mary’s, Marlboro, 2001-2012, and administrator of St. Joan of Arc, the Bronx, 1994-2001, where he earlier was parochial vicar for two years. He also served at St. Francis de Sales, Manhattan; St. Peter’s, Haverstraw; Christ the King, the Bronx; and Holy Name of Jesus, Manhattan. He was ordained in 1982.

Father Donald Baker has served as pastor of St. Monica-St. Elizabeth of Hungary/St. Stephen of Hungary parish in Manhattan since last August. He was pastor of St. Teresa’s, Manhattan, 2003-2015. He served as parochial vicar at St. Gregory the Great, Manhattan, 2000-2003, and St. Frances de Chantal, the Bronx, 1995-2000. He was ordained in 1995.

Father Alfredo Monteiro has served as pastor of Our Lady of Victory-Sacred Heart parish in Mount Vernon since last August. He was pastor of St. Mary’s, Mount Vernon, 2012-2015, and earlier was administrator there for a year. He was temporary administrator of Sacred Heart, Mount Vernon, 2012-2015. He served as parochial vicar at St. Lawrence O’Toole, Brewster, 2009-2011; St. Gabriel’s, New Rochelle, 2003-2006; and St. Teresa’s, Manhattan, 1995-2003. He also served in Orlando, Fla. He was ordained in 1973 in his native India and was incardinated into the archdiocese in 2010.

Father Francis Skelly, C.Ss.R., has served since 2008 as pastor of Immaculate Conception parish in the Bronx, a post he also held 1993-1999. He was parochial vicar of the Bronx parish, 1992-1993. He served as pastor of St. Cecilia’s, East Harlem, 1999-2005, and was parochial vicar there, 1973-1982. He was rector and director of San Alfonso Retreat House in Long Branch, N.J., 2005-2008, and was on the retreat staff at Mount St. Alphonsus retreat center in Esopus, 1988-1992. He was director of formation for the Redemptorists’ Baltimore Province, 1983-1988. He made final vows with the Redemptorists in 1969 and was ordained in 1972.

Father Alexis Bastidas served for many years as parochial vicar of Blessed Sacrament parish in Manhattan. He also served briefly at St. Mary’s, Poughkeepsie, in 2010. He was ordained in his native Venezuela in 1982 and incardinated into the archdiocese in 2009.

Father Rayappa Thumma has served as parochial vicar of Immaculate Heart of Mary in Scarsdale since 2012. He also served at St. Columbanus, Cortlandt Manor, 2006-2012. Previously he had served as a pastor and in educational administration in his native India, where he was ordained for the Diocese of Nalgonda in 1986.