Fr. John Pfannenstiel, OFM Cap.
Born and raised on a small family farm in northwestern Kansas, Father John professed his first vows as a Capuchin friar in 1974. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1982. He is a member of the Province of St. Augustine of the Capuchin Friars.
Father John’s first assignment was to serve homeless men in the Archdiocese of Washington (Washington, DC). He established numerous shelters, service centers and transitional programs. He served the homeless for nine years.
In 1991, he was assigned as pastor of St. Ambrose Catholic Church in northwest Baltimore, MD. He served as pastor for 13 years.
In 2005, following a sabbatical, Father was asked to write and implement a policy and program to protect minors. He managed that effort for eleven years.
Contemporaneously, he served the Capuchin community as Communications Director and Mission Secretary.
In 2011, he was appointed executive director of the Seraphic Mass Association. He continues to be the Mission Secretary for the Capuchin Province of St. Augustine, headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA.
He has visited Capuchin missions in Puerto Rico, Papua New Guinea, Tanzania, Kenya, various parts of India, South Africa, Zambia, Indonesia, Malaysia and Namibia.
In 2015, he was appointed by the Capuchin General Minister to serve as a member of the Order’s Solidarity Commission.
