‘Unflappable’ pastor who led major parish projects set to retire

Note: Six priests from the Archdiocese of Baltimore will retire July 1. The Review profiles the six as their parishes bid them farewell. Click here here to read more retirement profiles.

If you listen to the people who work at the Church of the Resurrection in Ellicott City and interact with Bishop John A. Dietzenbach, its pastor since 2009, you hear about a devoted Catholic who is the picture of work ethic, selflessness, humility, positivity and deep love for his parish and the Holy Trinity.

We also hear of a serious man who rarely wears his monsignor’s habit, who feels very comfortable being called “Father John” and who has a wry sense of humor simmering beneath his surface.

“For (Bishop Dietzenbach) to have been doing this for so long, it’s amazing that half the time when you ask him a question, you don’t get a straight answer from him right away, because he thinks of something funny to say,” said Stephen Lay, director of music ministry at Resurrection, who worked with Bishop Dietzenbach throughout his time there.

“Father John has been a great mentor to me as a staff member,” said Cindy Desrochers, business manager. “He taught me how to communicate effectively, even when I disagree. He’s willing to have a good conversation and give good advice. He’s a calm, articulate, sincere priest – not a frivolous guy. But he’s funny.”

After 44 years as a priest in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, including the last 15 years leading the Church of the Resurrection — and the last five years also serving in a pastoral role at St. Paul’s in Old Ellicott City — Monsignor Dietzenbach will officially retire July 1.

Bishop Dietzenbach, 72, who had originally planned to retire at age 70, was determined to complete one of the biggest projects of his career by completing a massive rebuilding and renovation project at Resurrection. A dedication Mass on May 17 officially opened the parish’s long-awaited new church and expanded facilities on Paulskirk Drive, next to Resurrection-St. Paul School.

“I’m thinking about all the things I have to do just to get through June,” Bishop Dietzenbach said. “People here have been very good to me over the years. I’ve had a lot of dinner invitations (from parishioners). I don’t think I’ll have a very big grocery bill in June.”

Growing up on a farm in the small town of St. Lucas in northeast Iowa, with cornfields in every direction, Monsignor Dietzenbach said the idea of ​​becoming a priest was ingrained all around him, among many other families of German descent.

“The Catholic Church was the only church in town, so the town was 99 percent Catholic. My parents were very involved,” he said. “It was all centered around the church and the school communities. The town had a long history of producing vocations and a lot of priests. My cousin was a priest.”

After graduating from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, Bishop Dietzenbach had his choice of three seminaries. As he told Catholic Review in 2009, “Everyone I knew in high school went to the seminary in Minnesota. The one in Indiana was in the middle of a cornfield, and I had spent my life there. Baltimore was the only place left.”

Ordained in 1980, he spent two years at what is now New All Saints in Liberty Heights, then five years as curate of St. Elizabeth of Hungarian in Highlandtown, followed by eight years as curate of St. Stephen in Bradshaw. In 1994, he began a 15-year stint as pastor of St. Peter the Apostle in Libertytown, about 12 miles from Frederick.

Ten years later, in 2004, as he was preparing to become pastor at St. Ann in Hagerstown, a fire caused significant damage to the original 133-year-old church in Libertytown. Although portions of the old church were saved, Bishop Dietzenbach stayed on to lead the construction of a new church over the next four years. The new church was dedicated in September 2008.

“It turned out to be a very positive experience. The parish organized itself well. We had already renovated a room in Saint-Pierre, built a maintenance shed, bought a thrift store and renovated it,” recalls Bishop Dietzenbach. “You have to face whatever comes your way. You can’t get discouraged. Stay together and work together, keep a positive outlook on things. Life goes on.”

And that’s how things have been at Resurrection, under Bishop Dietzenbach’s leadership, as the parish saw its plans for a new church delayed for four years, first by two devastating floods in Ellicott City and then by the COVID pandemic. Two years after construction began in 2022, Resurrection had its new house of worship.

Monsignor Dietzenbach, who is building his retirement home near Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, and looks forward to many quiet days spent outdoors — hiking, kayaking, gardening, mowing the lawn, chopping firewood — said every parish he has been a part of has had similarities, but each is unique.

“Resurrection Parish is made up of very professional people. The youth ministry is strong, with good music programs. The parish has a strong sense of evangelization in terms of missions and caring for the poor and disadvantaged,” he said, referring to several mission service trips he has made with parishioners from San Bartolo Parish in El Salvador.

In 2013, Resurrection members helped build three homes in a San Salvador neighborhood. In 2019, they attended the opening of the parish’s Padre Jim McGovern Library, still the only library in the area. They have conducted more than 10 medical missions. Resurrection also sponsors occasional poor boxes and a second collection each year.

Monsignor Dietzenbach said he was looking forward to a late July vacation with friends and a 50th-year class reunion at the university – the first he will attend.

“We prayed to Jesus to protect him. I think he was sometimes upset by the realization of this project,” said Jeanne Dell’Acqua, a parishioner of the Resurrection for 48 years.

Dell’Acqua said she is forever grateful for the compassion Bishop Dietzenbach showed her when she lost her husband to COVID. Dell’Acqua recalled how the pastor immediately set about organizing the entire funeral, respecting safe distancing. He arranged the day and time of the service, and found a music director and cantor.

“I wasn’t involved. He just took charge and organized everything,” she said. “He guided us through good times and bad, through the COVID pandemic, through the clergy scandals. He held a lot of meetings for people to express their thoughts. He was unflappable. He’s just a genuine, outgoing person.”

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