PASTOR - REV. MSGR. RICHARD J. BOZZELLI

Ext 115, rbozzelli@archbalt.org

I am blessed and overjoyed to serve as Pastor of St. Bernardine Church.  I served here many years ago as a seminarian under the guidance of Msgr. Edward Miller, and I am honored to succeed him in this amazing family of faith.  I ask for your prayers as I lead our church family in the way of the Lord.

In addition to Pastor of the parish, I serve as the Archdiocesan Director of the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) – an anti-poverty program of the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops. Our local CCHD Committee reviews applications and awards grants to groups working to change systemic structures of poverty in the Archdiocese of Baltimore. The Baltimore CCHD also sponsors the Annual Social Ministry Convocation for the Archdiocese. Additionally, I am a member of the Board of Trustees of St. Mary’s Seminary & University, from which I graduated in 1993.

My previous assignments include Holy Trinity, Crucifixion, and Good Shepherd parishes in Glen Burnie, and Corpus Christi Church in Baltimore City, all of which I served as pastor.  I also was an associate pastor at St. Louis Church in Clarksville and Shrine of the Little Flower in Baltimore.

I was ordained a priest of the Baltimore Archdiocese in June 1994.  In addition to St. Mary’s Seminary & University, I attended Harvard Law School and Johns Hopkins University.  I practiced law for four years and am still a member of the Maryland State Bar (although I don’t practice anymore).  I grew up in the Philadelphia area, and my siblings still live there. “I have two cats, Toby (short for Tov’ya) and Sylvester, and three cockatiels, Beaufort, Sydney, and Morris.”

Associate Pastor – Rev. Fr. Stephen O. Ositimehin

Ext. 118  Stephen.ositimehin@archbalt.org

“Great is your Faithfulness Lord!” It is with great humility that I join the Parish of St. Bernardine. I am originally a priest of Ijebu-Ode Diocese in Nigeria. This is another opportunity to serve the people of God. After my ordination on January 23rd, 2009, I served the people of my home parish, St. Anthony Parish, Sagamu, Ijebu-Ode Diocese as associate Pastor for 5 years under the guidance of Msgr. Gabriel Ayankoya, while also serving as Assistant Vocations Director for the Diocese.

I was then sent on a mission by my late Ordinary, Bishop Albert Fasina to work with and for the Ijebu-Ode Mission Office in the USA and the Josephites. On arrival in December 2014, I was resident at the Church of Incarnation, DC with Rev. Fr John Carrol for about 7 months. I then transferred to Baltimore on a further mission and soon found Baltimore as my new home. I was the Pastor of St. Veronica, Cherry Hill, Baltimore for 10 years.

I had my formation for the priesthood at the Seminary of Saints Peter and Paul (Great Bodija), Ibadan, Nigeria; I obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy (University of Ibadan) and Bachelor of Sacred Theology (Pontifical Urbaniana University, Rome). In my quest for knowledge, I also obtained a Post Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE). In the United States, I also received a Master of Arts in Religious Education (Felician University, New Jersey), and a Doctorate in Ministry (Newburgh Theological Seminary and College of the Bible, Indiana. USA).

I enjoy reading, writing, watching the news/sports, having informing/enlightening discussions, and learning new things (positive things though). I have written a book titled; “Are You Thirsty? Come to Me! (2019), and my second work is moving gradually toward publication.

I look forward to working with St Bernardine Parish Family and Community while learning from Msgr. Bozzelli, our Pastor.

Retired Deacon- Wardell “Paul” Barksdale, Jr.

 wbarksdale@archbalt.org

I, Wardell “Paul” Barksdale, Jr am a Deacon for the Archdiocese of Baltimore. I have been assigned to St. Bernardine RCC since I was ordained 14 years ago. I have worked as a Master’s Level Social Worker since 1997, providing services for adults and adolescents who were suffering from the disease of addiction and mental illness. I also provided service to the families and others. Former coordinator for the Juvenile Drug Court, Baltimore, Maryland.   

I have a Masters in Social work from the University of Maryland School of Social Work and Bachelor’s in Applied Psychology from Coppin State University. I was an adjunct at Baltimore City Community College and at Morgan State University Graduate School of Social Work. I was inducted into the Honor Society at Coppin State University. I am a State approved supervisor for addiction professionals; appointed as a commissioner with the City of Baltimore HIV Commission. I was board member for the substance abuse program at Baltimore City Community College and Dundalk Community College. I was a past President and Vice President of the Maryland Addiction Certification Board. I am currently serving on the St. Agnes Hospital Mission Board and the Baltimore Faith Based Commission for Behavioral Health. I have completed the education and skills training for Chaplin for Baltimore City Police Dept.

I was a guest columnist for the Catholic Review Afro-centric page. I have planned and led the St. Bernardine annual men’s retreat for the past 24 years. I was a Peace Corps volunteer for Liberia, West Africa for two years, taught geometry, basic math and reading. I was a physical education teacher; performed coaching duties for track and field, basketball and volleyball.

 I  was appointed director of a newly formed Addiction Treatment Center (Harambee Treatment Center) in the Park Heights section of Baltimore City for 11 years. Co- authored a number of research articles for new interventions for addiction treatment. Created and led trainings for addiction counselors and related professionals.

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT - DENISE STANLEY

Ext 116, Denise.Stanley@archbalt.org

I am Denise Stanley, affectionately known as “Nana”. I serve as Executive Assistant to our wonderful Pastor, Rev. Msgr. Richard (Fr. Rich) Bozzelli. I also served as the Administrative Assistant to our former beloved Pastor, the late Rev. Msgr. Edward (Fr. Ed) Miller. 

I retired in December, 2008 after 32 years in State Government at the Maryland Insurance Administration, serving as Office Supervisor of the Agent Licensing Section for 20 of those years. Since my retirement, I not only was caregiver for my amazingly awesome father, Dr. Hilbert D. Stanley until God called him Home in 2010, but also served and continue to serve on many church ministries, as member, adviser, coordinator and officer. I am proudly an Advanced Certified Youth Minister, and a Catechist (I began as an assistant Sunday school teacher to Pre-K and Kindergarten students, later becoming the 5th grade Reconciliation teacher and after some changes, currently the 3th grade Reconciliation teacher). Equally as proud, I was nominated and received the Mother Lange Award in 2000 for Leadership, 2006 I received the For God and Youth Award from the Archdiocese of Baltimore and humbly received the Joy of the Gospel recognition for Faithfulness from the Archdiocese of Baltimore in 2015.

My pride and joy, is my daughter Kesha “Nikki”, who resides in Atlanta. Another joy, was when I had another child join my family; a girl, my feline daughter “Jazzy”, AND even more so, when I became grandmother and great-grandmother to my grand and great-grand pups, Prettyboy, Foxy and the late Prettygirl, in Atlanta. I have been Catholic all of my life and have called St. Bernardine’s home for over 30 years.

Facilities Supervisor - Joel Williams

Joel.Williams@archbalt.org

Hi, my name is Joel E. Williams and I am a member of the staff here at St. Bernardine R.C. Church. I am the Facilities Supervisor for the church and its associated properties. I bring to my job, skills acquired from experience at various jobs and training programs, beginning with the Neighborhood Youth Corp., Job Corp, Laborers Union Local #516, Carpenters Union Local #544, and before starting at St. Bernardine’s School, Steel Toe Construction.

I was originally asked to join the staff by the late beloved Monsignor Edward Miller; it has been my pleasure to serve in any capacity that needed a hand, since August 20, 2001.  My beloved wife Danna of 15 years and I share a blended family of 4 daughters, 2 sons, 4 grands and 1 great grand. My wife Danna is also a member of St. Bernardine’s and serves as a Eucharistic Minister.