DIOCESE OF GAYLORD

611 West North Street

Gaylord, MI 49735
Phone: 989.732.5147
Fax: 989.705.3589

For Immediate Release Contact: Candace Neff

February 21, 2017 Director of Communications

STATEMENT FROM THE DIOCESE OF GAYLORD

This morning Rev. Sylvestre Obwaka, former Pastor of St. Ignatius Parish in Rogers City, Michigan, was
arraigned on charges of criminal sexual misconduct. This matter does not involve a minor, but is an issue
between two individual adults and not against the Diocese of Gaylord. Local civil authorities are conducting the
investigation and the diocese has pledged its full cooperation.

Following his arrest on Saturday, Bishop Steven J. Raica placed Rev. Obwaka on an administrative leave
pending resolution of the case. During this time, Rev. Obwaka is also prohibited from exercising any public
ministry.

Rev. Obwaka, 44, is a native of Kenya and is a permanent legal resident of the United States. He was
accepted as a seminarian for the Diocese of Gaylord in 2004 and was ordained to the priesthood in 2010.
Following his ordination he was assigned as Parochial Vicar to the Catholic Community of Manistee (now
known as Divine Mercy parish), and in 2013 was appointed Pastor of St. Ignatius Parish in Rogers City.

We are shocked and deeply saddened by this situation, stated Candace Neff, diocesan Director of
Communications. There is a great deal of hurt and confusion right now. We are focused on providing pastoral
support to all those affected and are working closely with St. Ignatius parishioners as they continue their
ministries both within their parish and in the wider community, she said.

To that end, Bishop Raica and a team from the Diocese of Gaylord met with parish leadership and parishioners
on Sunday to pray with them, share information and to listen to concerns in order to begin to chart a path
forward. At that time the bishop announced he had appointed Rev. Joseph Muszkiewicz, who also serves as
Pastor to All Saints Parish in Alpena and Vicar for the region, as temporary administrator for St. Ignatius
parish. Rev. Muszkiewicz, in collaboration with parish staff and leadership, will oversee the day-to-day
operations of the parish for the immediate future.

I am heartbroken over the events that have unfolded in recent days, Bishop Raica said. Our faith calls us to
ensure the dignity of each human person is upheld in every circumstance. We must respond with compassion
when anyone is harmed. We must also remember that in our system of justice, a person is presumed innocent
until proven guilty, he noted. It is very early in this process and while the matter is in the civil courts we will
need to wait patiently for the outcome.

These are difficult days, Bishop Raica concluded. In these moments, we must turn to Christ who always
walks with us and accompanies us in our pain. I ask for your prayers for all those affected by this situation.

In order to maintain the integrity of the investigation and to protect the rights of everyone involved, neither the
Diocese of Gaylord nor leadership of St. Ignatius Parish will be making any further comments regarding this
case at this time.

The Diocese of Gaylord has policies in place to deal with allegations of sexual misconduct and encourages
anyone who has been a victim of abuse by clergy or church leader, recently or even if it is in the distance past,
to report the matter to civil authorities or to the diocesan Victim Assistance Coordinator Larry LaCross at
989.705.9010.

The Diocese of Gaylord encompasses the 21 most northern counties of Michigans Lower Peninsula. Within its
territory are 75 parishes and 18 Catholic schools.