Decrees & Letters
From The Most Reverend Archbishop Shawn McKnight, S.Th.D.
September 17, 2025 / Decree of Appointments
Whereas the vacancies created by the transfer of pastors must be filled for the pastoral care of the faithful; Having considered the parishes in need of pastoral care and having consulted the priests personnel board in order to determine suitable candidates to serve them, I hereby decree the following APPOINTMENTS
Pastor:
- The Very Reverend Colin Haganey, V.F., formerly Pastor of St. Francis Xavier in Burlington, KS, St. Joseph in Waverly, KS, St. Patrick in Emerald, KS, and St. Teresa of Avila in Westphalia, KS to Pastor of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Emporia, KS, while continuing as Dean of the Southern Deanery;
- The Very Reverend Gerald Volz, V.F., formerly Pastor of Corpus Christ Catholic Parish in Lawrence, KS and Dean of the Lawrence Deanery to Pastor of Church of the Nativity in Leawood, KS;
- The Reverend Carter Zielinski, formerly Pastor of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Emporia, KS to Pastor of Corpus Christi Catholic Parish, while continuing further studies in Canon Law.
Parochial Administrator:
- The Reverend George Rhodes, from Parochial Vicar of Most Pure Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Topeka, KS, and chaplain of Cor Christi Catholic Center at Washburn University to Parochial Administrator of St. Francis Xavier in Burlington, KS, St. Joseph in Waverly, KS, St. Patrick in Emerald, KS, and St. Teresa of Avila in Westphalia, KS;
Parochial Vicar:
- The Reverend Theodulus Tanti, from residence at Prince of Peace in Olathe, KS to Parochial Vicar of Most Pure Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Topeka, KS.
These appointments will take effect on 31 October 2025.
Parochial Administrator:
The Very Reverend John Riley to Parochial Administrator of Cure of Ars in Leawood, KS, effective immediately.
Given at the Chancery in Kansas City, KS on the 17th day of September in the year of Our Lord 2025.
September 4, 2025 / Decree of Appointments
Whereas the interim appointments made on 28 May 2025 have run their course, and for the good governance of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas stable appointments must be made to assist me as the undersigned Archbishop; Having considered the needs of the Archdiocese, the appointments necessary for the care of this local church, and having determined the candidates to fill them, I hereby decree the following
APPOINTMENTS
- The Very Reverend Michael Hawken, from pastor of Church of the Nativity in Leawood, KS, to Vicar General (cf. Can. 475 §1), Moderator of the Curia (cf. Can. 473 §2), Ecclesiastical Notary (cf. Can. 483, § 1), and continuing as parochial administrator of Church of the Nativity in Leawood, KS until a new pastor is named;
- The Very Reverend Mark Mertes, from Moderator of Pastoral Life to Vicar General ( cf. Can. 475 §2), Vicar for Priests (cf. Can 476), and Ecclesiastical Notary (cf. Can. 483, §1), while continuing as Pastor of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Kansas City, KS;
- The Reverend Anthony Saiki, J.C.L., from Vice-Chancellor to Chancellor (cf. Can. 482) and Promoter of Justice (cf. Can. 1430), while continuing as Rector of the Cathedral of St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles and Pastor of the Parish of St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles in Kansas City, KS. These appointments will take effect on 1 October 2025, and are to be published on the website of the Archdiocese and in the next edition of The Leaven.
Given at the Chancery in Kansas City, KS on the 4th day of September in the year of Our Lord 2025.
September 4, 2025 / Decree Constituting Archbishop's Cabinet
Whereas the Archbishop’s Transition Cabinet was constituted on 28 May 2025, to assist me upon my installation as the Archbishop of Kansas City in Kansas, and has run its course; Whereas to assist me with the pastoral care and good governance of the Archdiocese a stable consultative body is needed; Whereas, having determined the roles necessary to serve on this stable consultative body, I hereby constitute
THE ARCHBISHOP’S CABINET
Membership as the following:
Very Rev. Michael Hawken, Vicar General & Moderator of the Curia
Very Rev. Mark Mertes, Vicar General & Vicar for Priests
Rev. Anthony Saiki, J.C.L., Chancellor & Promoter of Justice
Chris Arth, General Council
Carla Mills, Chief Financial Officer
Marissa Easter, Director of Communication
The constitution of the Archbishop’s Cabinet is effective 1 October 2025. Membership on the Cabinet is at the discretion of the diocesan bishop and can be adjusted anytime according to his needs and judgement. Given at the Chancery in Kansas City, KS on the 4th day of September in the year of Our Lord 2025.
August 22, 2025 / Decree on the Dispensation from Non-Essential Components of the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults
Whereas the revised edition of the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) received recognitio on 13 February 2024 from the Holy See, and was duly promulgated on 31 March 2024 by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), and the National Statues for the Christian Initiation of Adults by the USCCB were promulgated on 25 April 2024;
Whereas in virtue of my responsibility and my pastoral prerogative as diocesan bishop to temporarily dispense from ecclesiastical law when appropriate (cf. Can. 88), after consideration of the pastoral needs of the faithful and the resources presently available in our parishes in the implementation for the new edition of the OCIA, I hereby
DECREE
that all parishes, missions, and other Catholic communities within the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas are dispensed from the obligation to observe the non-essential components of the OCIA, in particular Norm 4, the ordinary expectation of a year long catechumenate, until 30 September 2026 or a new decree is issued.
All parishes, missions, and other Catholic communities within the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas are obliged to observe all the essential components, as delineated in the appendix of this decree.
Given at the Chancery in Kansas City, KS, on this 22″” day of August, the Memorial of St. Pius, in the year of Our Lord 2025.
Decree dated
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Letter from Archbishop
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