Joe Cory/Key photo Father Jose Hererra

Father Hererra will work with the departing director, Bill Cordaro until Feb. 13, Cordaro's last day.

"Youth ministry is too important a part of our ministry here at the diocese to be left hanging, waiting for a replacement," said Father Hererra.

Cordaro said that Father Hererra's role as interim youth director would be to act as a resource for the Confirmation coordinators and parish youth ministers of the diocese, assisting them to provide the best experience that they can for the youth of the diocese while at the same time holding up the goals of the revised vision for youth ministry that the U.S. bishops adopted in 1997.

"I'm glad that Father Jose has been assigned as interim director," said Cordaro. "I'm sure he'll do a good job as the diocese discerns the direction youth ministry will take in the future."

Father Hererra, originally from Santa Fe, New Mexico, was ordained a priest in 1989 for the Diocese of St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands.

In 1995, Father Hererra joined the Army as a chaplain. After his four-year "tour-of-duty" with the Army he came to Kansas City on Oct. 1, 1999.

He has split his time between the Office of Hispanic Ministry and St. Mary's Parish, Independence, as associate pastor.