By Cindy Schroeder
The Cincinnati Enquirer

ERLANGER - The Rev. John W. Cahill will lead a new Latino parish serving Northern Kentucky's growing Hispanic community.

Cahill, the pastor/rector of the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption for the past decade, has been named pastor of Cristo Rey (Christ the King) Parish, diocesan spokesman Tim Fitzgerald said. The parish will meet at the Catholic Center in Erlanger until a permanent home is chosen.

The Rev. William F. Cleves will take over as rector at the Cathedral in downtown Covington. Cleves, who has recently assisted at St. Paul's Church in Florence, will continue as vice chancellor and a member of the faculty at Thomas More College in Crestview Hills.

The changes were among six priest assignments announced Friday by Bishop Roger Foys of the Covington Diocese in the Messenger, a newspaper serving the 14-county diocese. All take effect July 1.

Although parishes have been combined to create new ones, the Cristo Rey Parish marks the first time since 1989 that a "new-from-the-ground-up-parish'' was created, Fitzgerald said. From 1990 to 2000, the Hispanic population in the diocese increased by 235 percent - from 1,665 to 5,574.

Other assignments:

• The Rev. Michael E. Comer, now pastor of Divine Mercy Parish in Bellevue and St. Bernard Parish in Dayton, will become pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Burlington. Since the death of the Rev. Jerome Britt on March 27, the Rev. Stephen Bankemper has served as interim pastor.

• The Rev. James B. Egbers, now pastor of St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Fort Thomas, will become pastor of St. Mary Church in Alexandria. He replaces the Rev. Joseph Brink.

• The Rev. Phillip W. DeVous, who was ordained May 22, has been named parochial vicar, or assistant pastor, at Blessed Sacrament Church in Fort Mitchell. He replaces the Rev. Mark Steidle, who was placed on administrative leave after he was recently accused of abusing a minor 10 years ago. Steidle has denied the allegation.

• The Rev. Gilbert J. Rutz, one of two vicars general for the diocese, will serve in the Diocesan College of Consultors.

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E-mail cschroeder@enquirer.com