Our Leadership

Fr. John Pavlik, OFM CapFr. John Pavlik, OFM Cap
Provincial Minister

Elected to lead the Province of St. Augustine at the Chapter of 2004, Father John was born in 1950 in New Kensington, PA.  On August 22, 1970, Father John was invested in the habit of the Capuchin Order and made his first profession one year later. He graduated from St. Fidelis College in 1973 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English, and in 1974 he achieved a Master of Arts degree in English from Slippery Rock State University. Father John did his theological studies at Washington Theological Union in Washington, DC, and received his Master’s degree in 1978. He was ordained to the priesthood on January 28, 1978. Most of Father John’s assignments were in education and formation until his election as Vicar Provincial in 1998, followed by his election as Provincial Minister. He is currently also the President of the North American and Pacific Capuchin Conference.

Fr. John Pfannenstiel, OFM CapFr. John Pfannenstiel, OFM Cap
Vicar Provincial and First 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 and First Definitor at the Chapter of 2007.

Fr. W. David NestlerFr. W. David Nestler
Second Definitor

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’s 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 completing studies in spiritual theology at 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.

Fr. Thomas Betz, OFM CapFr. Thomas Betz, OFM Cap
Third 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 first elected to the Definitory in 2001, again in 2004 and in 2007. He was assigned to Vocation Ministry in 2005. He has served as coordinator of the Chinese Apostolate of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia since 1995.

Fr. John Bednarik, OFM CapFr. John Bednarik, OFM Cap
Fourth Definitor

Connellsville, PA, is Father John’s hometown, where he was born in 1942. After attending high school and college at St. Fidelis Seminary, he was invested as a novice in 1962 and made his temporary profession on July 14, 1963. He graduated from St. Fidelis College in 1965 with a degree in philosophy. He pursued theological studies at Capuchin College in Washington, DC, and received his MARE degree in 1969. He had been ordained to the priesthood one year earlier on October 19, 1968. Father John volunteered to work in Puerto Rico, where he would remain until 2000. During those 32 years of Capuchin service in Puerto Rico he served in various ministries including parishes, retreat centers and, most notably, Capuchin formation programs. He was elected Vice Provincial of the island Capuchin friars in 1996. When he attended the General Chapter in Rome in 2000, Father John was elected to a world-wide Capuchin leadership position as Definitor General of English-speaking Capuchins. He was also appointed Visitator of the Capuchin Poor Clares. After six years of international service, Father John returned to the United States and was appointed the director of the Secretariat for Catholic Life and Evangelization in the diocese of Harrisburg. He was elected to the provincial definitory in 2007.