Father Robert Zilliox

Bishop Richard J. Malone has appointed Father Robert W. Zilliox  Jr. pastor of Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, Bowmansville, for a term of six years.  In his new role, which began August 1, he takes over for Father Joseph Klos who retired in May.  Father Zilliox will continue to serve as judge and defender of the bond in the Tribunal of the Diocese of Buffalo, a position he has held since 2013. 

Father Zilliox attended St. Barnabas School, Depew, and Cardinal O'Hara High School, Tonawanda, before entering Canisius College, Buffalo.  Although he had thought about the priesthood earlier in life, he did not immediately enter the seminary, working for several years as a chef at a South Carolina country club and at several Buffalo-area restaurants.  When he felt the call to the priesthood, he entered Wadham's Hall Seminary College in Ogdensburg, N.Y., and studied there until it closed.  He completed his studies at Christ the King Seminary, East Aurora, and was ordained by Bishop Edward U. Kmiec in 2008. 

Following his ordination, Father Zilliox was assigned to St. Mary Parish, Swormville, were he was parochial vicar.  In 2010, Bishop Kmiec named him an auditor for the diocesan Tribunal which required further studies at Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C., where he graduated with a licentiate degree in canon law.  Three years later he was appointed judge and defender of the bond in the Tribunal.

Bishop Malone also has appointed Sister Lori High, SSMN (right), pastoral administrator of St. George Parish, West Falls, for a term of one year. The parish's former pastor, Father Pascal D. Ipolito, retired in May.  Msgr. James E. Wall, a retried priest of the diocese who had been serving as the parish's temporary administrator, was named sacramental minister.  Father Robert W. Wardenski, pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish, East Aurora, has taken on the additional duties as canonical supervisor for St. George. All the appointments were effective Aug. 1.

Sister Lori, a Sister of St. Mary of Namur, is a native of Tonawanda who attended the State University of New York at Buffalo prior to entering her religious community. She has worked in both parishes and schools locally, as well as serving in South Carolina, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Dominican Republic. In the Buffalo Diocese, Sister Lori worked at St. Joseph University, Buffalo; Queen of Heaven, West Seneca; Annunciation, Elma; and most recently, Nativity of Our Lord, West Seneca, where she was pastoral associate. The teaching portion of her career brought her to her alma mater, Mount St. Mary, Kenmore; DeSales Catholic School, Lockport, and St. Jude High School, Sumter, S.C. In her new role as pastoral administrator at St. George's, Sister Lori is in charge of the parish and provides overall pastoral and organizational leadership for the parish community.  

Msgr. Wall, who was ordained in 1963, served as an assistant at various Buffalo parishes and was pastor at St. Joseph, Fredonia, and SS. Peter and Paul, Jamestown. In addition to his parish positions, Msgr. Wall also was spiritual and administrative director at the St. Columban Center, Derby, and worked for several years in Puerto Rico and Bolivia at the beginning of his priesthood. He retired from active priestly duties in 2013. As sacramental minister at St. George's, Msgr. Wall provides for the liturgical and sacramental needs of the parish community.   

Father Wardenski, who was named pastor at Immaculate Conception in 2005, was ordained in 1972. After serving as parochial vicar at several parishes in the city of Buffalo and in Kenmore, he received his first pastorate at two parishes, St. Peter, LeRoy, and St. Anthony, Lime Rock. His next pastorate was at St. William, West Seneca, before being named pastor at Immaculate Conception. In his role as canonical supervisor, he provides supervision and support to the pastoral administrator.