Our Leadership

	Fr. W. David Nestler, OFM Cap Provincial Minister Hailing from Boyers, PA, Father David was born in 1962. He attended several parish schools and a public school in Pittsburgh before attending high school at St. Fidelis Seminary, from which he graduated in 1980. Father David graduated from Borromeo College of Ohio with a degree in psychology and social and behavioral sciences in 1984. After his graduation he was admitted into the Capuchin novitiate and professed his first vows on July 13, 1985. He then attended the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC, and achieved a Master of Arts degree in theology in 1988. One year later, on July 22, 1989, Father David was ordained to the priesthood. After an initial assignment at St. Cecilia Parish in Rochester, PA, he was assigned to the novitiate staff at St. Conrad Friary, Allison Park, PA, in 1995. In 1997 he was named the Director of Novices, after earning a Master of Arts degree in Christian Spirituality from Creighton University in Omaha, NE. Father David was elected to the Definitory in 2004 and again in 2007. He was appointed director of Paul VI Pastoral Center in Wheeling, WV, in 2006 and recently completed a Master of Science degree in church management from Villanova University. Father David was elected Provincial Minister at the June 2010 provincial chapter. Email Father David
	Fr. Michael Joyce, OFM Cap Vicar Provincial and First Definitor The son of James and Mary Joyce, Father Mick was born in Pittsburgh, PA, on September 6, 1955. He attended St. Lawrence O’Toole Grade School and Central Catholic High School before transferring to St. Fidelis Seminary, from which he graduated in 1974. In 1978, Father Mick received his BA in Sociology from St. Fidelis College and entered the Capuchin novitiate at St. Conrad Friary in Annapolis, MD. Upon profession of temporary vows on July 21, 1979, Father Mick began graduate studies in Sacramental Theology at the Washington Theological Union; he was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Sean O’Malley on June 8, 1985. Father Mick was parochial vicar of St. Joseph Parish in York, PA, until 1992 when he joined the provincial vocation team. In 2003, he was named pastor of St. Ambrose Parish in Baltimore, MD. And in 2004, he was assigned to the formation faculty at Borromeo Seminary in Cleveland, Ohio, where he serves as the Director of Pastoral Formation. Father Mick was elected Vicar Provincial at the provincial chapter of 2010. Email Father Mick
	Fr. Tom Betz, OFM Cap Second Definitor Born in 1957 in Wampum, PA, Father Thomas attended elementary school in Ellwood City, PA, and graduated from St. Fidelis High School in 1975, and St. Fidelis College in 1979 with a degree in psychology. Father Tom enrolled at the University of Pittsburgh school of law and received his JD in 1983, after which he practiced as an attorney until 1986, when he was received into the Capuchin novitiate and made his first vows as a friar one year later on July 11, 1987. He received his MA in theology from the Catholic University of America in 1990. Father Thomas was ordained to the priesthood on June, 1, 1991. Since his ordination he has been based in Philadelphia, serving first as a parochial vicar at St. John the Evangelist Church, and eventually was named administrator of its mission church, Holy Redeemer, the Chinese church of center city Philadelphia. Father Thomas was elected to the Definitory in 2001, 2004, 2007, and most recently at the provincial chapter in June 2010. He was assigned to Vocation Ministry in 2005. He has served as coordinator of the Chinese Apostolate of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia since 1995. Email Father Tom
	Fr. John Pfannenstiel, OFM Cap Third Definitor A native of Hays, Kansas, Father John was born in 1953, having graduated from the Capuchin high school, Thomas More Prep in 1971. He made his temporary profession of vows on August 20, 1974, and graduated from St. Fidelis College in 1976 with a BA in counseling psychology. After receiving his MA in theology from the Washington Theological Union, he was ordained to the priesthood on May 21, 1982. Father John founded and ran several shelters for homeless men in Washington, DC, after his ordination until 1991. He was then named pastor of St. Ambrose Parish in Baltimore, MD, after which he was assigned to administrative responsibilities at the provincial office in Pittsburgh, PA, in 2005. Father John was elected as Vicar Provincial in 2007 and most recently as Third Definitor at the Chapter of 2010. Email Father John
	Br. Robert Toomey, OFM Cap Fourth Definitor Br. Bob, a native of Pittsburgh, was born in 1942. He attended St. Kieran grade school and Central Catholic High School, graduating in 1960. Following service in the US Army he worked as office manager for a long haul trucking company and then as Municipal Bond Supervisor for Allegheny County in Pennsylvania. A late vocation, Br. Bob knew the Capuchins all of his life, growing up in a neighboring parish. Entering the novitiate in 1994, Br. Bob made his temporary profession of vows in July, 1995 and moved to Capuchin College in Washington, DC, where he completed his initial formation in 1998 and was named director of the Capuchin Franciscan Volunteer Corps. He lived in Baltimore and Washington, DC and served as director of the volunteers for 6 years before being named to the formation staff at Capuchin College in Washington, DC, where he served for 3 years. In 2007 Br. Bob was selected to be the Executive Secretary for the province, a ministry in which he still serves. He was elected Fourth Definitor at the Provincial Chapter of 2010 Email Brother Robert