The Archdiocese of Los Angeles announced on May 8 its list of new pastors and administrators who will begin their assignments on July 1, 2026. Archbishop José H. Gomez approved the appointments across several regions in the archdiocese.
The announcement provides guidance to parishioners about upcoming leadership changes in their local churches, helping ensure a smooth transition for both clergy and congregations.
In the Our Lady of the Angels Region, Fr. Brian Chung will serve at Visitation in Los Angeles, Fr. Christopher Felix at St. Frances X. Cabrini in Los Angeles, Fr. Maurice Harrigan at St. Gerard Majella in Culver City, Fr. Gabriel Kang at St. Gregory Nazianzen in Los Angeles, Fr. Justin Oh at Christ the King in Los Angeles, and Fr. Michael Wu at St. Clement in Santa Monica.
Other regional appointments include Fr. Joseph J. O’Brien to Our Lady of Sorrows in Santa Barbara and Fr. Preston Passos to Mission BasÃlica San Buenaventura in Ventura for the Santa Barbara Region; Fr. Francis Mendoza to San Lorenzo Ruiz in Walnut and Fr. Rufino Nava to San Francisco Church in Los Angeles for the San Gabriel Region; as well as Fr. Joshua Diener to Mary Star of the Sea in San Pedro and Fr. Ruben Rocha to St. Gertrude’s Church in Bell Gardens for the San Pedro Region.
Administrators were also named or re-appointed throughout all regions with several priests taking on dual roles or serving parishes that had open pastorate listings this term.
The Archdiocese highlighted special circumstances involving specific parishes such as St Francis Xavier Chapel (Japanese) led by Fr Toshio Sato C.M., St Camillus Center for Pastoral Care under Fr Alejandro Enriquez, and Holy Angels Church of the Deaf served by Dn Tomas Garcia.
These assignments are part of regular leadership transitions within Catholic dioceses aimed at supporting pastoral care across diverse communities.
