Our Lady of Fatima (OLOF) Parish in Alcoa held a farewell dinner Sept. 30 for Father Bill McKenzie, who has announced his retirement from active ministry.
The dinner, held in Our Lady of Fatima’s social hall, recognized Father McKenzie for his years of service to the Alcoa parish. Bishop Richard F. Stika has extended his thanks and gratitude to Father McKenzie for his years of service to the Diocese of Knoxville.
Father McKenzie was assigned as associate pastor of Our Lady of Fatima in August 2003, then was named pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Norris and St. Therese Parish in Clinton in June 2004. He became pastor of St. Mary Parish in Oak Ridge in September 2006, where he celebrated the 25th anniversary of his ordination in February 2007.
He was ordained to the priesthood Feb. 19, 1982, by Diocese of Nashville Bishop James D. Niedergeses at Christ the King Church in Nashville. His first assignment as a priest was as associate pastor of St. Jude Parish in Chattanooga in February 1982.
Father McKenzie, whose retirement was effective Oct. 1, was assigned as pastor of Our Lady of Fatima by Bishop Stika on July 1, 2011. Father Bill McNeeley at the same time was named associate pastor of OLOF.
Father McNeeley assumed the duties of parochial administrator of OLOF on Oct. 1, and Father Dustin Collins, who has served as associate pastor of St. MaryOak Ridge since July 2012, was named parochial vicar of OLOF, effective Oct. 15. Father Collins was ordained to the priesthood on June 2, 2012, at Sacred Heart Cathedral.
Bishop Stika appointed Father Pontian Kiyimba, AJ, as parochial vicar at St. Mary-Oak Ridge effective Oct. 15. Father Kiyimba has been serving as associate pastor of All Saints Parish in Knoxville since June 2013. Prior to his role at All Saints, Father Kiyimba served at St. Mary Parish in Athens, Holy Family Parish in Seymour, and Sacred Heart Cathedral.
