Father Joseph Walter (left) and Father Jan Trela received new pastoral assignments from the Diocese of Buffalo. (File Photos)

Bishop Richard J. Malone has announced the following clergy appointments.

Father Joseph Walter was named pastor of two parishes in Fredonia, St. Joseph and St. Anthony, for a term of six years.  He had previously served as pastor of St. Dominic, Westfield, since 2008.   Ordained in 1998, Father Walter was initially a priest of the Order of St. Benedict and was known as Father Marius Walter, OSB.  His new assignment is effective July 31. 

Father Jan Trela, a native of Poland, has been incardinated into the Diocese of Buffalo and was appointed pastor of Christ Our Hope Parish in French Creek for a term of six years.  He had been serving as the parish's administrator since 2013 and, prior to that, was sacramental minister for the parish. 

Ordained in 1998, Father Trela served at various parishes in Poland and in Kazakhstan before coming to the United States.  He came to the Buffalo diocese with permission from his bishop and initially served as parochial vicar at Blessed Mary Angela Parish, Dunkirk, for a term of three years before being assigned to Christ Our Hope.

As an incardinated priest, Father Trela is now a priest of the Diocese of Buffalo rather than a priest of the Diocese of Rzeszow, Poland, where he was ordained. 

Father Frederick G. Betti, SJ, was named parochial vicar at St. Michael Parish, Buffalo.  Father Betti, a Buffalo native, was ordained in 1990.  He has served as a Jesuit priest in various assignments in Buffalo, Rochester and New York City, most recently as director of campus ministry at Canisius High School in Buffalo.   

Father Suresh Yamarthy was named parochial vicar for St. Christopher Parish, Tonawanda, for a term of three years.  A native of India, Father Yamarthy first served as parochial vicar at St. Mark and St. Rose of Lima parishes in North Buffalo when he came to Buffalo.  His appointment is effective June 1.

Father Robert Pecoraro, SJ, a Jesuit priest, has been assigned to the Spiritual Formation Team at Christ the King Seminary, East Aurora, for a term of one year, effective June 1.

The three newly-ordained priests have received their first assignments as priests.  Each will begin his new three-year assignment on June 21 and will serve as parochial vicar.  Father Michael K. Brown was assigned to St. Gabriel Parish, Elma; Father Samuel T. Giangreco Jr. was assigned to Our Lady of Victory Basilica, Lackawanna; and Father Michael P. LaMarca was assigned to St. John Paul II Parish, Lake View.