A World at Prayer with Br. Paul Bednarczyk, C.S.C. #272

Lisa Hendey and Maria Morera Johnson share a conversation with Br. Paul Bednarczyk, C.S.C., Superior General of the Congregation of Holy Cross, on the upcoming Global Rosary for World Peace.

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Br. Paul Bednarczyk, C.S.C., the Superior General of the Congregation of Holy Cross, invites the Catholic Mom community and their families to join Holy Cross ministry centers around the world on five continents in 18 countries, to pray for world peace on the First Friday in Lent, February 16.

Guest Bio:

Br. Paul Bednarczyk, C.S.C., was born in New Haven, Connecticut, and is a 1975 graduate of Notre Dame High School in West Haven. Inspired by the brothers and their vocation at Notre Dame, Br. Bednarczyk entered the former Eastern Province of Brothers in 1975 and began his formation at Moreau Hall on the campus of Stonehill College in Easton, Massachusetts. He professed his First Vows in 1979 in Sacred Heart Church in Bennington, Vermont, and later his Final Vows in 1985 at St. Joseph Center in Valatie, New York. During this time, Br. Bednarczyk graduated from Stonehill College with a Bachelor’s Degree in English and from Fordham University in New York, New York, with a Master’s Degree in Religion and Religious Education.

After 12 years working as a teacher, administrator, and campus minister at Bishop McNamara High School in Forestville, Maryland, and Notre Dame International School in Rome, Italy, Br. Bednarczyk served as Vocation Director for his province for nine years. He also worked for three years as Formation Director and served several terms on his Provincial Council. In July of 2002, Br. Paul assumed the role of Executive Director of the National Religious Vocation Conference (NRVC), where he oversaw this professional organization of religious vocation directors consisting of over 900 members in 15 countries. Within this capacity, he served as a consultant to the U.S. Bishops Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life, and Vocations.

Br. Bednarczyk spearheaded four major studies on religious vocations, the most prominent being the 2009 NRVC/CARA Study on Recent Vocations to Religious Life. He has served as a member of the Advisory Board of Praesidium Religious Services, the Corporate Board of Holy Cross Family Ministries, and on several international Holy Cross commissions. Br. Bednarczyk has published several articles on vocation ministry. In addition to his retreat work, he has been invited to give workshops in vocation ministry throughout North America, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.

Br. Bednarczyk was serving as Executive Director of NRVC when the 2016 General Chapter elected him the Congregation's First General Assistant and Vicar. He was still serving in that position at the time of his election as the Congregation’s 14th Superior General, succeeding Fr. Robert L. Epping, C.S.C. He assumed responsibilities at the Congregation’s Superior General at the close of the General Chapter on July 8, 2022. Br. Paul is a member of the Moreau Province, headquartered in Austin, Texas.

Links in Show:

Holy Cross Family Ministries Pray for Peace

A World at Prayer Is a World at Peace By Fr. Willy Raymond, C.S.C.

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