About St. Bernardine · Baltimore, Maryland
St. Bernardine Catholic Church with Historic St. Peter Claver is a Roman Catholic parish in the Archdiocese of Baltimore that worships within the African American Catholic tradition. The parish family spans two campuses — the historic St. Bernardine dome in Edmondson Village and the St. Peter Claver worship site in Sandtown-Winchester — and its members travel from across the Baltimore metropolitan region to share liturgies characterized by Song, Praise, Word, and Sacrament. Founded in 1928 as a memorial church built by Baltimore builder James Keelty in honor of his young daughter Nora Bernardine, it today unites four formerly independent West Baltimore parishes (St. Bernardine, St. Edward, St. Gregory the Great, and St. Pius V) under one pastoral team led by Msgr. Richard J. Bozzelli.
- Established
- 1928
- Patron
- St. Bernardine of Siena (baptismal saint of Nora Bernardine Keelty, the daughter in whose memory the church was built)
- Rector
- Rev. Msgr. Richard J. Bozzelli
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Baltimore
Why belong here
St. Bernardine's with Historic St. Peter Claver offers life-giving liturgies in the African American Catholic tradition, drawing members from across the Baltimore region for worship shaped by song, praise, preaching, and the sacraments. The parish combines a tight-knit pastoral family with concrete outreach — a food pantry, Narcotics Anonymous, karate, and the ecumenical 40 West Outreach and Referral Center — and a robust calendar of Bible study, faith formation, choir, and parish activities. With two campuses (Edmondson Village and Sandtown-Winchester/Historic St. Peter Claver), multiple weekend Masses (live-streamed and in-person), and a pastor who explicitly welcomes newcomers, it is a place to belong, serve, and grow.
Mass times at St. Bernardine
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:15–3:45 p.m. at St. Bernardine Campus (3800 Edmondson Ave)
- Saturday 3:15–3:45 p.m. at St. Peter Claver Campus (1526 N. Fremont Ave)
- By appointment
Mission & Identity
The parish's stated mission is to know and love God and proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ through a community expressing love and service. Members describe themselves as celebrating their faith within the African American Catholic tradition, with liturgies characterized by Song, Praise, Word, and Sacrament, and an outreach that supports youth, young adults, elders, and families across the Baltimore metropolitan region.
- Mission: 'To know and love God and proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ to ourselves and to others through our example of a community expressing love and service.'
- Motto on website: 'United in Faith, Rooted in History.'
- Pastoral welcome from Msgr. Richard J. Bozzelli and the parish family.
History of St. Bernardine Parish
St. Bernardine's was created in the late 1920s to serve Catholics in the new Edmondson Village neighborhood between St. William of York and St. Edward parishes. Builder James Keelty and his wife donated the church to the Archbishop of Baltimore in memory of their young daughter Nora Bernardine Keelty. The parish grew into one of Baltimore's largest over its first four decades, weathered the upheaval of blockbusting in the 1960s, and today is a merged West Baltimore community with an additional worship site at Historic St. Peter Claver.
- Ground broken June 1928; church completed 1929.
- School opened September 1928.
- Architect: Francis E. Tormey.
- Original name desired by parishioners: 'Holy Name' — providentially aligned with St. Bernardine's title 'Apostle of the Holy Name.'
Stained Glass & Interior
The interior of the 1929 church is celebrated for its stained-glass program. The artist honored Nora Bernardine Keelty by using her likeness as the child on Jesus' lap in the right-side window, and as one of the angels in the former baptistry. A five-window ensemble behind the former main altar is centered on Christ the King (Matthew 28:3-6, 9-10), and a Pentecost window depicts the coming of the Holy Spirit as told in Acts 2:1-4. Above the former main altar, St. Bernardine of Siena is shown in Franciscan habit, holding the sunburst 'Holy Name of Jesus' monogram.
- Christ the King (center of five windows behind altar).
- Jesus surrounded by children, with Nora Bernardine Keelty on His lap.
- Pentecost — Acts 2:1-4.
- Painting of St. Bernardine of Siena above the former main altar.
- Former baptistry angel windows depicting Nora Bernardine Keelty.
Pastoral Succession
The parish has been served by seven pastors over nearly a century. The founding pastor Father John Smith served from 1928 until his death in 1944 and was followed by Msgr. Louis Vaeth (until retirement in 1968). After the demographic upheaval of the late 1960s, Fathers Cronin and Rowan guided the transition; Fr. Edward M. Miller arrived in 1975 with Fr. Maurice Blackwell, became sole pastor in 1980, was named Monsignor by Pope Benedict XVI in 2009, and served until his sudden death in December 2013. Msgr. Richard J. Bozzelli became pastor on July 1, 2014.
- Fr. John Smith — 1928–1944 (founding pastor)
- Fr. Louis Vaeth (later Msgr.) — 1944–1968
- Fr. James Cronin — 1968–1970
- Fr. Theodore Rowan — 1970–1975+
- Fr. Maurice Blackwell — 1975–1980
- Msgr. Edward M. Miller — 1980–2013
- Msgr. Richard J. Bozzelli — 2014–present
Pastoral Team & Staff
The parish is led by Pastor Msgr. Richard J. Bozzelli with Associate Pastor Rev. Stephen Ositimehin. Liturgical and faith-formation leadership is provided by Minister of Music Tony Small and Director of Religious Education Gwen Mullen, with diaconal ministry from Retired Deacon Paul Barksdale and Deacon Intern Darron Woodus. Day-to-day operations are supported by Executive Assistant Denise Stanley, Parish Secretaries Tamathea Dodson and Dejah Reed, IT Coordinator Valerie, Admin Assistant Ernestine Watkins, Facilities Supervisor Williams, and Custodian Leon Fleming.
- Rev. Msgr. Richard J. Bozzelli — Pastor (ext. 115; [email protected])
- Rev. Stephen Ositimehin — Associate Pastor (ext. 118; [email protected])
- Deacon Paul Barksdale — Retired Deacon ([email protected])
- Darron Woodus — Deacon Intern ([email protected])
- Tony Small — Minister of Music ([email protected])
- Gwen Mullen — Director of Religious Education, ext. 114 ([email protected])
- Denise Stanley — Executive Assistant, ext. 116
- Tamathea Dodson — Parish Secretary, ext. 110
- Dejah Reed — Parish Secretary and Bookkeeper, ext. 120
Bible Study & Faith Formation
Bible Study is offered three ways each week during the program year (September through June): online, on Sundays at 9:30 a.m., on Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m., and on Thursdays at 11:00 a.m. Faith formation for children and youth is coordinated by Director of Religious Education Gwen Mullen.
- Online Bible Study (September–June)
- Sundays @ 9:30 a.m.
- Wednesdays @ 7:00 p.m.
- Thursdays @ 11:00 a.m.
- Director of Religious Education: Gwen Mullen, ext. 114
Ministries, Outreach & Community
Volunteers serve the parish in the areas of Faith Formation, Parish Organizations, Activities & Concerns, and Liturgy & Worship. Ministries that particularly serve the wider neighborhood include Narcotics Anonymous, Karate, and an Emergency Food Pantry. The parish has united with other local churches to establish the ecumenical 40 West Outreach and Referral Center, which helps individuals from throughout the community. A parish softball team and choir round out the social and liturgical life of the community.
- Bible Study, Choir, Food Pantry, Softball Team
- Faith Formation, Parish Organizations, Activities & Concerns, Liturgy & Worship
- Narcotics Anonymous (hosted)
- Karate program
- 40 West Outreach and Referral Center (ecumenical)
- Minister of Music: Tony Small
Two Campuses — Edmondson Village & Sandtown-Winchester
St. Bernardine's sits in Edmondson Village at 3812 (church) / 3800 (campus) Edmondson Avenue, 21229; the Historic St. Peter Claver worship site is located at 1526 N. Fremont Avenue, 21217, in the Sandtown-Winchester neighborhood. The two-campus arrangement reflects the merger of St. Bernardine with St. Edward, St. Gregory the Great, and St. Pius V, while retaining St. Peter Claver as a worship site.
- St. Bernardine Campus: 3800/3812 Edmondson Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21229
- Historic St. Peter Claver Campus: 1526 N. Fremont Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21217
- Merged parishes: St. Bernardine, St. Edward, St. Gregory the Great, St. Pius V
Visit, Contact & Office Hours
The parish office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Visitors are welcomed to attend any Mass at either campus, and confessions are available Saturday afternoons or by appointment. The pastor and parish family extend an explicit welcome to those seeking a church home or simply a place to praise the Lord.
- Office: (410) 362-8664
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
- Website: https://www.stbernardinechurch.org/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father John Smith1928–1944
Founding pastor; served until his death.
- Father Louis Vaeth (later Monsignor)1944–1968
Served until retirement; oversaw the parish's peak years as one of Baltimore's largest.
- Father James Cronin1968–1970
Appointed during the post-blockbusting transition; replaced due to health problems.
- Father Theodore Rowan1970–1975+
Succeeded Fr. Cronin.
- Father Maurice Blackwell1975–1980
Arrived June 1975 as part of a ministry team with Fr. Miller.
- Msgr. Edward M. Miller1980–2013
Became sole pastor in 1980; named Monsignor by Pope Benedict XVI in 2009; died suddenly December 15, 2013.
- Msgr. Richard J. Bozzelli2014–present
Began July 1, 2014; current pastor.