Rev. Bernard Olszewski – Sr. Outreach Priest

Fr. Bernard Olszewski was born and raised in Trenton, NJ. He entered the community of the Conventual Franciscan Friars and pursued his studies in Ellicott City, Maryland and at St. Hyacinth College and Seminary in Granby, Massachusetts, earning a BA in philosophy. He received a MA degree in Sacred Theology from the Pontifical Faculty of St. Bonaventure and a doctorate in Canon Law from the Pontifical Gregorian University. Rev. Olszewski was ordained a priest in the Roman Catholic Church in July 1979, and joined the Diocese of St. George’s Grenada in the Caribbean in 2007.

In 1982, having completed his studies in Rome, he was employed at Hilbert College in Hamburg, NY first as a Professor of Philosophy and Religious Studies as well as Director of Campus Ministry then later as Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs and then Vice President for Academic Affairs. He served on the boards of various not-for-profit organizations in the Buffalo area including service as the Chair of the Board of Directors of the Greater Buffalo Chapter of the American Red Cross, a member of the School Board of St. Francis High School, a judge for the Marriage Tribunal of the Diocese of Buffalo. He is a member of many academic and professional organizations. In addition to his role as an Sr. Outreach Priest, Fr. Olszewski provides invaluable support across departments at Cross Catholic Outreach, as well as priest-to-priest communication.

In 2016, he was commissioned as a Missionary of Mercy by Pope Francis.