In one of the first actions since his installation as bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland, Bishop Edward Malesic appointed three diocesan priests to top leadership posts in the diocesan administration.
Father Donald P. Oleksiak was appointed vicar general and moderator of the curia. In this role, he will assist the bishop in overseeing the day-to-day administrative operations of the Diocese of Cleveland.
Father Gary D. Yanus was appointed vicar general and continues his duties as judicial vicar. As vicar general and judicial vicar he will continue to oversee the canonical affairs of the diocese. Father Daniel F. Schlegel was appointed vicar for clergy and religious. He will assist in the recommendation of assignments for clergy and serve as a liaison to the women and men religious to the bishop.
The appointments take effect immediately.
“I am pleased to appoint these fathers to these important administrative positions in the diocese. They have spent many years providing exemplary service to the faithful and I look forward to their continuing assistance and counsel in the years to come,” said Bishop Malesic.
The title vicar general is given to a priest who assists the diocesan bishop in the governance of the diocese. A vicar general has the same executive powers over the whole diocese as the diocesan bishop with the exception of those powers the bishop has reserved to himself and those reserved to the bishop alone by Church law.
A moderator of the curia coordinates the exercise of the administrative duties and oversees those who hold offices and minister in diocesan administration. The judicial vicar oversees the canonical activities of the diocese, including but not limited to the diocesan marriage tribunal.