Father Michael Erpelding, J.C.L., pastor of St. Joseph Parish and St. Boniface Parish in Sioux City, has been named pastor of St. John Parish in Onawa, St. Joseph Parish in Salix and St. Bernard Parish in Blencoe while retaining his duties as adjunct judicial vicar at the diocesan tribunal.
A native of Algona, he attended Des Moines Area Community College, Briar Cliff College and St. Paul Seminary. He completed graduate studies at the University of Dayton in Ohio and St. Paul University in Ottawa, Ontario.
He was ordained on June 3, 1989 at Cathedral of the Epiphany.
Father Erpelding has also served at Immaculate Conception Parish, Sioux City; Holy Spirit Parish, Carroll; Kuemper High School; St. Mary Parish, Storm Lake; St. Mary High School, Storm Lake; Corpus Christi Parish, Fort Dodge and St. Edmond High School.
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Father Patrick J. O’Kane, pastor of St. John Parish in Onawa, St. Joseph Parish in Salix and St. Bernard Parish in Blencoe, will take a medical disability leave of absence.
Born in Sibley and raised in Le Mars and Pocahontas, he attended Savior of the World Seminary in Kansas City, Kan.; St. Thomas College Seminary, Denver and Kenrick Seminary in St. Louis. He earned a master’s in education from Creighton University and completed additional studies at University of Dayton.
He was ordained on June 4, 1977, at St. Joseph Church in Le Mars.
Father O’Kane has served at Cathedral of the Epiphany, Sioux City; Bishop Heelan High School; St. John the Baptist Parish and High School, Bancroft; St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Maple River; Kuemper High School; St. Joseph Parish and Spalding Catholic High School, Granville; St. Joseph Parish, Milford; Sacred Heart Parish, Early; St. Joseph Parish, Schaller and St. Mary’s High School, Storm Lake. He has also served at the diocesan superintendent of schools and as chaplain for the Carmelite Monastery in Sioux City.
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Father Mark J. Stoll, J.C.L, parochial vicar “pro tem” of St. John Parish in Onawa, St. Joseph Parish in Salix and St. Bernard Parish in Blencoe, has been appointed pastor of St. Bernard Parish in Breda, St. John Parish in Arcadia and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish in Mount Carmel.
This Hospers native attended Loras College and St. Meinrad School of Theology. He also completed canon law studies at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.
He was ordained to the priesthood on June 13, 1992, at Cathedral of the Epiphany.
Father Stoll has served at St. Mary Parish, Storm Lake; Corpus Christi Parish, Fort Dodge; St. Joseph Parish, Schaller; St. Joseph Parish, Neptune; Assumption Parish, Merrill and St. Joseph Parish, Ellendale, Immaculate Conception, Moville and St. Michael Parish, Kingsley. He has also served as a judge with the diocesan tribunal and vice chancellor of the diocese.