New Catholic bishop reassigns priests in Memphis

An unusually high number of parish priests in the Catholic Diocese of Memphis are being reassigned by new Bishop Martin Holley.

All of the reassigned pastors are being given new titles: Parochial Administrator.

Holley has not provided a public explanation for the changes, but priests and parishes have been informed.

“Bishop Holley has asked all of the pastors who are being transferred to resign as pastor,” Rev. Robert Marshall, pastor of St. Francis of Assisi parish in Cordova, wrote to parishioners Sunday.

“Immediately thereafter, he appointed me (and each of the others) Parochial Administrator of the same parish. As Parochial Administrator of St. Francis of Assisi, I still have all of the duties and obligations of a pastor, but I can be removed and reassigned at any time.”

Marshall is being reassigned to the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Midtown. He will replace Msgr. Val Handwerker, who is being reassigned to St. Patrick’s parish downtown.

The changes include three other monsignors who are retiring, and will affect the most prominent parishes in the diocese.

In addition to IC and St. Francis, that includes St. Louis Church in East Memphis, Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Germantown, and Resurrection in Collierville.

“Needless to say, this turnover of priests is causing a good bit of anxiety among the faithful in the diocese, but change is hard,” said Marvin Stockwell, an IC parishioner.

“We will miss Father Val terribly, but I am also trying to remain open to what they Holy Spirit might be doing here. We’d all like some lens into Bishop Holley’s