Uniontown priest who was accused of sexual misconduct retires
Monsignor Michael Matusak, pastor of St. Therese, Little Flower of Jesus, Roman Catholic Church in Uniontown, has retired, according to officials at the Diocese of Greensburg. Matusak was also pastor of three other Uniontown area churches and had聽been removed from that position by the diocese following an allegation of sexual abuse. Officials said the investigation into those allegations is still ongoing.
Monsignor Matusak
The retirement of the pastor of four Uniontown parishes who was on leave pending a sexual misconduct investigation was announced over the weekend, along with dozens of other retirements and appointments within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Greensburg.
The Rev. Anthony Klimko was appointed as pastor of the parishes following the retirement of Monsignor Michael W. Matusak effective July 1. Klimko was administrator of the churches following Matusak蘑菇视频 removal in August.
Matusak was pastor of St. Joseph, St. John the Evangelist, St. Mary (Nativity) and St. Therese, Little Flower of Jesus, in Uniontown.
Matusak was accused last year of having inappropriate contact with teenage girl at St. Pius X Church in Mount Pleasant, Westmoreland County. An investigation into the allegations by the Westmoreland County District attorney is ongoing.
Diocese Spokesman Jerry Zufelt said the retirement was not related to the allegation.
鈥淗e is at retirement age,鈥� Zufelt said. 鈥淚 do not have any updated information on the investigation. That is still ongoing with the district attorney.鈥�
Matusak also served as Vicar Forane, or Dean, of Deanery V, in addition to other Diocesan assignments. He will retire to a residence at Neumann House in Greensburg, Zufelt said.
Klimko will live at the Saint Therese, Little Flower of Jesus Parish Rectory.
Matusak蘑菇视频 removal came less than a week after the state Supreme Court published a grand jury report that found numerous cases of child abuse had been reported and covered up by church officials in six Roman Catholic dioceses in Pennsylvania. The report identified 301 鈥減redator priests鈥� in the dioceses over a 70-year period. Matusak was not named in the report.
A priest for 43 years, Matusak was given the title of monsignor in 2005. He was assigned as the pastor at St. Therese in 2008, when he left St. Pius X. He took over as pastor at the other three Uniontown churches in June 2018.
Other local appointments and retirements, effective July 1, include:
n The Rev. Vincent J. Gigliotti, from Pastor of Church of Saint Anne, Rostraver, will retire to a private residence.
n The Rev. Michael J. Crookston, was appointed to Vicar Forane (Dean) of Deanery V while remaining as Pastor of The Epiphany of Our Lord Parish, Monessen, and Saint Sebastian Parish, Belle Vernon.
n The Rev. David J. Nazimek, from Pastor of Saint Regis Parish, Trafford, was appointed to Pastor of Church of Saint Anne Parish, Rostraver, and Administrator pro-tem of Holy Family Parish, West Newton, with residence in Church of Saint Anne Rectory, Rostraver.
n The Rev. Douglas E. Dorula from Pastor of Saint Mary, Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Kittanning, and Administrator of Saint Mary, Mother of God Parish, Yatesboro, was appointed to Pastor of SS. Cyril & Methodius Parish, Fairchance, and Saint Hubert Parish, Point Marion, with residence in SS. Cyril & Methodius Parish Rectory, Fairchance.
n The Rev. Daniel J. Ulishney, JCL, from Parochial Vicar of the Partner Parishes of Immaculate Conception, Saint John the Evangelist and Saint Rita in Connellsville and Saint Aloysius Parish, Dunbar, and Assistant Chaplain of Geibel Catholic Junior-Senior High School, Connellsville, was appointed to Pastor of Saint John Baptist de La Salle Parish, Delmont, and Saint Mary, Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Export, with residence in Saint John Baptist de La Salle Parish Rectory, Delmont.
n The Rev. Elmer Q. Alforque, from Parochial Vicar pro tem was appointed to Parochial Vicar of Saint Sebastian Parish, Belle Vernon, and The Epiphany of Our Lord Parish, Monessen, with residence in Saint Sebastian Parish Rectory, Belle Vernon.
n The Rev. Daniel E. Carr, was appointed to Parochial Vicar of the Partner Parishes of Immaculate Conception, Saint John the Evangelist and Saint Rita in Connellsville and Saint Aloysius Parish, Dunbar, and Assistant Chaplain of Geibel Catholic Junior-Senior High School, Connellsville, with residence in Saint John the Evangelist Parish Rectory, Connellsville.
Effective August 14:
n The Rev. Alvin E. Cabungcal, with the completion of his first term in the Diocesan International Priests鈥� Program and in anticipation of a second term, has been granted a six-month leave to return to his home Diocese of Lucena, Philippines, in accordance with U.S. Immigration policy while remaining Pastor of Saint John the Baptist Parish, Perryopolis.
n The Rev. Efren C. Ambre from Pastor of Saint John Baptist de La Salle Parish, Delmont, and Saint Mary, Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Export, was appointed to Saint John the Baptist Parish, Perryopolis. He will serve as Administrator pro tem from August 14, 2019, until the return of the pastor, the Rev. Alvin Cabungcal from his six-month leave.