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Bishop changing priest secretaries
archived from: 2011-01-19
by: Pittsburgh Catholic Staff Report

Bishop David Zubik announced in this week’s Pittsburgh Catholic that Father Daniel Straughn, who has been his priest secretary and episcopal master of ceremonies for nearly 18 months, will be pastor of St. Mark in Liberty Borough/Port Vue.

Filling the position in the bishop’s office will be Father Gary Oehmler, currently parochial vicar at St. Teresa of Avila in Perrysville.

Though he is sad to leave the bishop’s service, Father Straughn said he is excited about the opportunity to lead the St. Mark community.

“I greatly appreciate the trust Bishop Zubik has in me in assigning me to this wonderful parish,” he said. “While the bishop sees that I have a lot to offer to the people of St. Mark Parish, I see this as an opportunity to learn from them and to walk with them in our common pilgrimage of faith.

“Most of all, I look forward to being an instrument of God’s love and compassion to the people of St. Mark Parish, and to offering to them and receiving from them a profound experience of God’s mighty and tender love,” Father Straughn said.

In a letter to priests Jan. 5, Bishop Zubik said he is “ever so grateful to Daniel for all that he did to assist me, given one of the more difficult assignments in the diocese.”

Father Oehmler spoke of his previous work with Bishop Zubik.

“When Bishop Zubik was auxiliary bishop, I was one of five masters of ceremonies he enlisted to help with confirmations and other liturgical ceremonies,” he said. “I helped the bishop with ceremonies in parishes located in the southern part of the diocese, so we have worked together, although in a limited way.”

The bishop said he is grateful to Father Oehmler “for leaving parish ministry to assist me on a day-to-day basis.”

The changes will become effective Friday, Feb. 4.

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