The Rev. Ken Halbur was recently named chaplain at St. Malachy School, replacing former chaplain the Rev. Joseph Pins.

Halbur, originally from Des Moines, began his duties at St. Malachy and pastor of Holy Spirit Catholic Church in June. Prior to coming to Creston, Halbur was chaplain at St. Albert School District in Council Bluffs and assistant pastor/administrator at Corpus Christi parish.

"I thought of this move to Creston to be a great opportunity," Halbur said. "I made a promise when I was ordained to go where the diocese needed me, so I came to Creston happily, and it really has been a wonderful experience over the past three months getting know the people in the church, schools and community."

The 42-year-old Halbur holds a Bachelors of Arts degree in philosophy from Conception Seminary College in Conception, Mo., and earned his Master of Divinity degree at the University of St. Mary of the Lake in Mundelein, Ill.

Halbur said, during his time in Creston, his goal at St. Malachy and Holy Spirit Catholic Church is the same goal every Catholic priest should have, which is to "bring people closer to God."

Halbur added Pins is currently serving as vocation director at the Catholic Diocese of Des Moines.