June 30, 2025

 

 

Dear Brothers,

 

As we approach the start of the new fiscal year, I write to share with you a series of personnel updates, mostly relating to delegate and canonical work within our diocesan Chancery. These changes reflect both the evolving pastoral and administrative needs of our local Church and the insights I’ve gained from conversations with my brother priests and colleagues in the Curia during my early months as Archbishop of Detroit.

 

I am deeply grateful to those who have served so faithfully in their roles, and I look forward to the new gifts and energy these transitions will bring to the Chancery’s mission of supporting the parishes, schools, and ministries serving the people of God in southeast Michigan.

 

Priest-Chancery Employee Ombudsman

 

As part of our ongoing commitment to healthy communication and mutual respect among all who serve the mission of the Church, I am introducing a new resource: Fr. David Buersmeyer will serve as Priest-Chancery Employee Ombudsman.

 

In this role, he will provide a neutral space to discuss interpersonal interactions that may fall short of our expectations for professional and pastoral conduct. If a priest has an interaction with a member of the Chancery staff which, in his estimation, is less than helpful in terms of the Chancery employee's ministerial employment—or if a Chancery employee has an interaction with a priest which, in his/her estimation, is less than respectful or appropriate—the concerned party can choose to discuss the interaction with the ombudsman. Fr. Buersmeyer will do an informal review of the issue, including an interview with the colleague in question, in an effort to resolve the matter at the source level. If that is not possible, Fr. Buersmeyer will be empowered to escalate the matter within the chancery chain of leadership.

 

I am grateful to Fr. Buersmeyer for agreeing to take on this important new role. As of July, you may reach Fr. Buersmeyer directly at ombudsman@aod.org or (313) 237-4667.

 

Office for Clergy Discipline

 

It was previously announced that Fr. John Maksym will assume the office of Episcopal Vicar for Clergy Discipline, Delegate to the Archdiocesan Review Board, and coordinator of the priest integrity panel on July 1. His priestly, canonical, judicial, and litigation experience will ensure the difficult work involved with this area of ministry will be well ordered and executed in truth and in justice. As this office is preparing to fully transition to Fr. Maksym’s leadership, there are a few additional changes to share:

 

Fr. Timothy (Tim) Wezner, who joined the office as an Episcopal Vicar for Clergy Discipline about one year ago, will move to the Metropolitan Tribunal. While Fr. Wezner has made significant contributions to the work of the Clergy Discipline office, I have determined that we need his canon law skills in the Tribunal to assist Father Sal Palazzolo and the other canonists in this important ministry. I am grateful for Father Wezner’s dedicated service and ask that you please prayerfully support him in his new Tribunal ministry beginning July 1.

 

Mr. Michael Trueman will assist Fr. Maksym as the Deputy to the Vicar for Clergy Discipline. Mr. Trueman is a skilled canonist and trusted coworker. He will continue to serve as Director of Canonical Services and Chancellor but will wind down his time as Chancellor over the next year as he trains others to take up tasks he has most competently executed for the past twenty years in the Chancellor’s Office.

 

Mr. Anthony (Tony) Latarski will continue to serve as intake coordinator and investigator in the Office for Clergy Discipline and will train another investigator, who has not yet been identified, to assist the Office of Clergy Discipline in its work. As many have experienced over the years, Mr. Latarski’s background in law enforcement has equipped him with good judgment. His years of ministry within the Curia—especially in recent years working with Msgr. Bugarin—coupled with his respect for others will provide stability and continuity in the Office of Clergy Discipline.

 

As part of this reorganization, we will begin a search for a Victim Assistance Coordinator to continue to focus on our most vulnerable populations in their times of greatest need.

 

Before moving on, I must thank Msgr. G. Michael Bugarin  for his fourteen years of selfless service in the role of Delegate of the Archbishop to the Archdiocesan Review Board, as an Episcopal Vicar for Clergy Discipline, coordinator of the Priest Integrity Panel, and advisor to many of his brother priests, deacons and coworkers in the Curia, parishes and schools in the area of clergy abuse and protecting God’s children. Msgr. Bugarin undertook all of these tasks concurrently with his responsibilities at St. Joan of Arc Parish. In particular, I wish to publicly commend Msgr. Bugarin for his commitment to the well-being of victims of clergy abuse. His respect for confidentiality—especially for victims of abuse—has fostered a safe and trusting environment in a time when the Church so desperately needs it. His compassionate presence and wise counsel have been invaluable to many, and the Church of Detroit is deeply grateful for him.

 

Offices of the Archbishop and Chancellor

 

Fr. Wezner will end his role as Vice Chancellor on July 1 in order to take up his new role in the Metropolitan Tribunal (see above). Mr. Michael Felcyn will continue as Vice Chancellor for Financial and Administrative Records.

 

Fr. Adam Nowak, in addition to his new role as my Priest-Secretary, will become another Vice Chancellor effective July 1. His focus will be on coordinating the principal consultative groups as Mr. Trueman has done for the past fifteen years as Chancellor.

 

Sincerely yours in Christ Jesus,

 

Most Reverend Edward J. Weisenburger

Archbishop of Detroit