The St. Therese Parish of Wayland is welcoming Father Alphonse Savarimuthu as its new pastor.

Father Alphonse, who was trained by the Missionaries of Francis De Sales, has been reassigned from the St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Church in Niles. He had been serving the church since July 2014.

He succeeds Father Christian Johnson, who also was reassigned after 10 years in Wayland. He also will be pastor at Sts. Cyril & Methodius, Gun Lake.

Father Christian announced last month that he was being reassigned by the Diocese of Kalamazoo.

“Most of the priests of the diocese were reassigned because of some restructuring of parishes that the diocese is doing,” he said. “I will be going to St. Mary’s in Niles and will be replaced by Fr. Alphonse Savarimuthu who is being transferred from Niles to here.”