John Olenick, C.Ss.R.

Father John Olenick, C.Ss.R., was born and raised in Winston-Salem, NC. He worked at the Winston-Salem Journal and then for R.J. Reynolds before entering the Redemptorist congregation in 1996. Fr. Olenick studied Philosophy at the Oblate School of Theology in Washington, D.C., for one year. His novitiate was in Glenview, IL, and he made his first profession on September 11, 1999. His theological studies were done at the Washington Theological Union.

After being ordained a deacon, Fr. Olenick spent seven months in Mexico learning the Spanish language and Hispanic culture. He was ordained a priest on May 10, 2003, at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Fr. Olenick was the Associate Pastor at Immaculate Conception in the Bronx from 2003 to 2008. He was transferred to Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Philadelphia in 2008 as an Associate Pastor. Fr. Olenick was made Pastor in 2008 and remained at Visitation until 2018. In 2014 he was elected to the Extraordinary Provincial Council. In October of 2018 he was transferred to Our Lady of the Assumption Parish in Vieux Fort, St. Lucia as Pastor.