Appointments Announced For Six Priests

Amarillo—Appointments affecting six priests were announced by His Eminence, Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, Apostolic Administrator, sede vacante.
 
Father Lawrence John, MCL, JCL, was appointed Vicar General, effective Feb. 20.
Father Gabriel E. Garcia was appointed to the College of Consultors, effective Feb. 20.
Father Richard Zanetti, JCL, and Father Taylor Elzner were appointed as members of the College of Consultors, effective March 24.
Father Victor Hugo Andrade was appointed Diocesan Director of Divine Worship, effective March 27.
Father Hector J. Madrigal was appointed Moderator of the Curia, effective March 27.
 
During the period of sede vacante, the College of Consultors, Judicial Vicar and Diocesan Chancellor continue in office, while the Vicar General ceases to exercise his office, according to Father John. The Apostolic Administrator may appoint a Vicar General and may also appoint new members to the College of Consultors.
 
Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, Apostolic Administrator, sede vacante, of the Diocese of Amarillo, defined the Divine Office of Worship.
 
“The Divine Office of Worship would be similar to what we call an Office for Liturgy. In other words, it’s an office that is both a clearinghouse, a source of resources, and at times, of giving of some directions for the members of the diocese relative to one of the most extreme important things we do, which is to celebrate the Liturgy of the Church. That’s basically how the Divine Office of Worship functions.
 
“I want it to be a clearinghouse to give out resources, because our parishes are so small. An example: the office will provide resources for training and forming extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, or some insights for lectors. The office can put out information about the liturgical year regarding some special things we need to be aware of. I leave it to the real initiative and creativity of the director of the Divine Office of Worship to make our diocese both intelligent and active in dealing with the Liturgy in the parishes.”
 
Father John, 52, is a native of K.K. Pudur, Tamilnadu, India. He was ordained to the priesthood on April 5, 2002. Father John was appointed Rector of St. Mary’s Cathedral, Amarillo, on Oct. 20, 2025. He formerly served as Pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Church, Dalhart, and St. Mary’s Church, Texline on Feb. 1, 2018, and served as Diocesan Chancellor from Nov. 4, 2013 to Feb. 16, 2025.
 
A native of Tampico, Mexico, Father Garcia, 54, was ordained to the priesthood on June 29, 1999 in Jerusalem. He has served as Pastor at St. Joseph’s Church, Amarillo, since May 2, 2023. Father Garcia has previously served as Pastor of Sts. Peter and Paul Church, Dumas and Parochial Administrator of St. Laurence Church, Amarillo. He was diocesan Vocations Director from Aug. 15, 2016 to Feb. 4, 2026.
 
Father Zanetti was appointed Judicial Vicar on Sept. 1, 2015. He has been Pastor at St. Hyacinth Church, Amarillo, since July 1, 2024. Father Zanetti, 58, was ordained to the priesthood on July 5, 2003, He received his Licentiate in Canon Law from Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome in 2012. He has previously served at St. John the Evangelist Church, Borger, and St. Ann’s Church, Stinnett.
 
Father Elzner, 36, was ordained to the priesthood on June 1, 2019, by Bishop Emeritus Zurek. He has served at St. Vincent de Paul Church, Pampa, the Rufe Jordan Unit of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Pampa and at St. Laurence Church, Amarillo. Father Elzner was appointed Pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, Amarillo, on July 1, 2024. He was appointed diocesan Chancellor on Feb. 17, 2025.
 
Father Andrade, 37, was also ordained to the priesthood on June 1, 2019, by Bishop Emeritus Patrick J. Zurek. He was appointed Pastor at Immaculate Conception Church, Perryton and St. Peter’s Church, Booker, on Feb. 17, 2025. Father Andrade previously served as a Parochial Vicar at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, Amarillo, and formerly was Parochial Administrator at St. Joseph’s Church, Stratford, and Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, Cactus.
 
Father Madrigal, 67, has been Pastor at Church of the Holy Spirit, Tulia, and St. Paul the Apostle Church, Kress, since May 2, 2023. He was ordained to the priesthood on May 23, 1987. Prior to his assignment in Tulia and Kress, Father Madrigal had served at parishes in Hereford, Amarillo, Stratford, Cactus, Gruver and Childress. He continues in his position as diocesan Director of Hispanic Ministry.