About St. Pius V · Baltimore, Maryland
St. Pius V is a historically African American Catholic parish in West Baltimore, Maryland, served for generations by Josephite (Society of St. Joseph) priests and brothers. The parish's roots trace to 1878 as a European-American congregation; in 1931 it absorbed the neighboring Black parish of St. Barnabas, becoming one of the landmark African-American Catholic communities in the city. Since 2005, St. Pius V has shared the St. Peter Claver campus on North Fremont Avenue, and the two parishes have ministered together 'One in the Spirit.' As of December 1, 2024, St. Pius V was merged into St. Bernardine parish as part of the Archdiocese of Baltimore's 'Seek the City to Come' pastoral plan, with St. Peter Claver continuing as an additional worship site.
- Established
- 1878
- Patron
- St. Pius V (Pope, 1566–1572)
- Rector
- Monsignor Richard J. Bozzelli (Pastor of St. Bernardine, the merged parish; St. Peter Claver campus is the additional worship site of St. Bernardine)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Baltimore (Metropolitan Archdiocese)
Why belong here
St. Pius V has been, for nearly a century, a welcoming African-American Catholic community in West Baltimore with deep roots in the Josephite mission to Black Catholics. The parish is known for its family spirit, a vibrant youth ministry (including liturgical dance, Toys for Tots, and blanket drives for the homeless), the Harper's Helpers outreach that feeds and clothes the needy, and a Health & Wellness Ministry offering free exercise classes. Worshiping at the St. Peter Claver campus under the 'One in the Spirit' banner means joining a congregation that has historically made mission and service to its neighbors the heart of parish life.
Mass times at St. Pius V
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:15 pm (until 3:45 pm)
About St. Pius V
St. Peter Claver Catholic Church and St. Pius V Catholic Church each have a long history of dedicated service to the African American community of West Baltimore, and both have been served by the Josephite priests and brothers from their beginnings. Established by the Josephites, St. Peter Claver Church was dedicated on September 9, 1888. The roots of St. Pius V Church began in 1907 as St. Barnabas Church at Biddle Street and Argyle Avenue. When the congregation outgrew its first home, parishioners marched to the new St. Pius V at Edmondson Avenue and Schroeder Street on July 12, 1931. Since 2005, St. Peter Claver and St. Pius V have served the community and the church as 'One in the Spirit.'
- Mission Statement: 'We, the people of God of the catholic faith community of Sts. Peter Claver and Pius V, through divine inspiration, wisdom, and the grace of Jesus' love, commit to making a difference in our spiritual lives. One in the Spirit, we surrender ourselves to the power of love, respect, determination, and diversity as we evangelize.'
- Address: 1546 N. Fremont Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21217
- Phone: (410) 669-0512
History & Heritage
St. Pius V was dedicated in 1878 — originally in honor of Pope Pius IX but named for St. Pius V — and for its first half-century was a European-American parish of the Josephites. The 1907 dedication of St. Barnabas at Biddle and Argyle as a Black Catholic parish (Cardinal Gibbons officiating) created a neighboring Josephite mission. By 1931, with St. Barnabas overflowing and St. Pius V declining, Archbishop Michael Curley arranged for the St. Barnabas congregation of more than 3,000 to take possession of the larger St. Pius V building. Father Edward Blasius, S.S.J., heard the first penitent in the new St. Pius V on July 12, 1931, opening a new era. A school that began with 110 students under the Oblate Sisters of Providence grew to 340; it moved to 954 Harlem Avenue in 1932 (as St. Catherine Academy, then St. Pius V School in 1956) and closed in 1973. In 2005, the original St. Pius V building in Harlem Park was closed and the parish moved to share the St. Peter Claver campus at 1546 N. Fremont Avenue.
- 1878 – St. Pius V dedicated (as a European-American Josephite parish)
- 1907 – St. Barnabas dedicated as a Black Catholic parish by Cardinal Gibbons
- July 12, 1931 – St. Barnabas congregation relocates four blocks to St. Pius V
- 1932 – Parish school moves to 954 Harlem Avenue (St. Catherine Academy)
- 1956 – School renamed St. Pius V School
- 1972–1973 – Harlem Avenue building condemned; school closes
- 2005 – Original St. Pius V church in Harlem Park closed; parish moves to St. Peter Claver campus
Parish Ministries & Outreach
The combined Ss. Peter Claver and Pius V community runs a broad ministry program rooted in service to West Baltimore. The Harper's Helpers outreach — inspired by longtime associate pastor Fr. Henry Harper, S.S.J., who died in March 2011 after 22 years of homeless ministry — continues to clothe and feed the homeless. A Health & Wellness Ministry offers a free exercise class on Zoom on Mondays and Thursdays at 6 p.m. The youth ministry (grades 8–12) meets Friday evenings, runs a Toys for Tots fashion show at Christmas, and collects blankets for the homeless. A youth-initiated Liturgical Dance Ministry 'livens up the liturgy.'
- Harper's Helpers – homeless outreach (clothing, meals)
- Health & Wellness Ministry – Monday & Thursday 6 p.m. exercise class on Zoom
- Youth Ministry – Friday-evening meetings; Toys for Tots; blanket drives
- Liturgical Dance Ministry – movement to music during Mass
- Religious Education (adult) – Dorothy Kutcherman
- Religious Education (youth) – Ernestine Watkins
- Liturgy Committee – Mary Purnell
- Music Ministry – Catherine Thomas, Maurice Murphy, Theodore Dickey
- Parish Office – Deborah Holly (longtime staffer)
Seek the City to Come – 2024 Merger
On September 28, 2024, Archbishop William E. Lori issued a canonical decree merging St. Pius V into St. Bernardine parish effective December 1, 2024, as part of the 'Seek the City to Come' pastoral plan — a sweeping Archdiocese of Baltimore realignment that reduced 61 city parishes to 23 and worship sites from 59 to 30. St. Peter Claver, St. Gregory the Great and St. Edward were merged into St. Bernardine alongside St. Pius V; St. Peter Claver continues as an additional worship site. The pastor, Monsignor Richard J. Bozzelli, has celebrated Mass at each merging parish and worked with transition teams to integrate ministries. In April 2025, the St. Peter Claver community celebrated its first Easter under the new arrangement, with parishioners like Ray Kelly calling it 'the start of the next phase of the Black Catholic Church in West Baltimore.'
- Decree issued: September 28, 2024 by Archbishop William E. Lori
- Effective date: December 1, 2024
- Seated parish: St. Bernardine (3800 Edmondson Avenue, Baltimore 21229)
- Additional worship sites retained: St. Peter Claver / historic St. Pius V community
- Transition plan included parish ministry-by-ministry integration and listening sessions
Visiting & Contact
Worship of the former St. Pius V community takes place at the St. Peter Claver campus. Visitors are welcome at weekend and weekday Masses and may arrange sacraments through the parish office.
- Address: 1546 N. Fremont Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21217
- Phone: (410) 669-0512 (parish office) / (410) 523-1930 (archdiocesan listing)
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://www.claverpius.org/
- Archdiocesan parish page: https://www.archbalt.org/parishes/all-parishes/st-pius-v/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Edward Blasius, S.S.J.1931–
First Josephite pastor of the merged St. Pius V after the St. Barnabas congregation moved in on July 12, 1931.
- Father Joseph Waringfrom 1927
Pastor of St. Barnabas in the years leading up to the 1931 merger.
- Father Charles Evers
Third pastor of St. Barnabas; began the first St. Barnabas School.
- Father Conrad Rebesher1909–
Fourth pastor of St. Barnabas; co-founder of the Knights of St. Peter; purchased the new St. Barnabas School and convent.
- Father Joseph Francis Xavier Del Vecchio, S.S.J.2000–2009
Administrator then pastor of the combined St. Peter Claver / St. Pius V faith communities; returned as associate pastor in 2014.
- Father Ray P. Bomberger, S.S.J.
Josephite pastor of St. Peter Claver, St. Pius V and St. Gregory the Great; cited in 2020 reporting and on the parish 'At a Glance'.
- Father Francis Asomkase, S.S.J.
Nigerian-born Josephite; served as pastor of St. Peter Claver–St. Pius V before being assigned to Detroit in 2025.