WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS), will soon have a new Judicial Vicar. He is Father William (Chris) Palladino, J.C.L., a canon lawyer, current treasurer of the Canon Law Society of America, and priest of the Archdiocese of Boston.
Father Palladino succeeds the Very Reverend Father Mark Rutherford, J.C.D. (Cand.), who, after six years of fruitful service to the AMS, is returning to his home Diocese of Lansing, MI, to become Judicial Vicar there, succeeding the Very Rev. Father Michael T.K. Skrocki, J.C.D., K.H.S., who will continue to assist the Lansing tribunal as a canon lawyer while also serving as pastor of Saint Joseph Melkite Greek Catholic Church in Lansing, where Father Rutherford will also serve as Pastor of St. Mary Cathedral.
In announcing Father Palladino’s appointment, His Excellency, the Most Reverend Timothy P. Broglio, J.C.D., Archbishop for the Military Services, said: “I am very grateful to Archbishop (Richard) Henning for releasing this fine priest for such an important ministry in the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA. It is one more example of a long collaboration between the two archdioceses. It is also a privilege to welcome this fine priest to carry on the good work of Father Rutherford and his predecessors.”
Fr. Palladino was born and raised in Boston. He graduated from Catholic Memorial High School in West Roxbury, MA, in 1984 and went on to earn degrees in business from the New England College of of Business and Finance (1996) and Emmanuel College (2000) in Boston.
Before entering Saint John’s Seminary in Brighton, MA, Father Palladino worked in retail banking from 1985 to 2001. He was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Boston in 2006 and appointed parochial vicar at Saint Paul Parish in Hingham, MA, by Cardinal Seán Patrick O’Malley. In 2009, Cardinal O’Malley assigned Father Palladino to further studies at the Catholic University of America where he earned a licentiate in canon law in 2013.
As a canon lawyer, Father Palladino has served in the Metropolitan Tribunal for the Archdiocese of Boston as a case administrator, Advocate, Promotor of Justice, Judge, and Adjutant Judicial Vicar. Upon the conclusion of his service to the Metropolitan Tribunal, Father Palladino was appointed as a canonical Judge in the Dioceses of Manchester and Portland, ME, and the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Stamford, ME. He also assists various tribunals throughout the United States as a Judge, Assessor, and Advocate.
A member of the Canon Law Society of America since 2009, Father Palladino is the current Treasurer and has served on various committees. Since 2017, he has also been an active member of the Eastern Regional Conference of Canonists and currently serves as Secretary.
Father Palladino has been the pastor of Saint Martin de Porres Parish in Dorchester, MA, since 2021 and will conclude his term at the end of June 2026. Father Palladino assumes his new role as AMS Judicial Vicar on July 1, 2026.