Father Bartholomew Karwacki, OFM Conv.

Parochial Vicar

 Fr. Bart A. Karwacki OFM Conv., a  Conventual Franciscan Friar, was born in Riverside, N.J.  He entered the Franciscan Order in 1965. Upon completion of his studies in philosophy at St. Hyacinth College and Seminary in Granby, Massachusetts and in theology at St. Anthony on the Hudson Seminary in Rensselaer, New York, he was ordained a priest in 1975. He has earned a Master of Arts Degree in Psychology from The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. and received training in spiritual direction in the Franciscan Internship Program in Spiritual Direction in Cincinnati, Ohio.

            Since ordination he has served as a teacher, coach, and guidance counselor at Archbishop Curley High School in Baltimore, Maryland and at Cardinal O'Hara High School, Tonawanda, New York. In 1988 he became the Director of Novices for his community, St. Anthony of Padua Province of the Conventual Franciscan Friars. He has provided spiritual assistance to the Secular Franciscan Order on the local, regional and national levels. Fr. Bart also involved with Project Rachel in the Pro-Life Movement.

            Before coming to St John’s in September 2010, Fr. Bart served on the staff of the Shrine of St. Anthony  in Ellicott City, Maryland where he provided individual spiritual direction and preached parish missions, retreats, and days of recollection for priests, religious, and the laity.