That fantastic new booming voice heard from the pulpit of Saint Leo's of late is that of Deacon Doug Kendzierski who says he is thrilled to be assigned to Saint Leo's parish in a neighborhood where he once hung out.

Memory pulls him back to his high school days [Archbishop Curley] when "my girlfriend lived on High Street. I was a city boy; a blond hair, blue eyed kid running around the neighborhood and hanging out near Della Noce Funeral Home with the Italian boys." As a kid, Doug attended Saint Anthony of Padua in Gardenville.

With thoughts of priesthood on his mind out of high school, Doug decided to "follow my other calling" with a marriage vocation. "I wanted a wife, family and kids," he said. "Now I'm an Italian in-law," he said about being married to his Italian wife for 27 years, Lisa DiNatale, a Catholic school teacher. The Jarrettsville couple has three daughters ages 16, 21 and 22.

Ordained as a deacon in 2009 by Cardinal O'Brien, Doug has served at Sacred Heart of Mary, Saint Rita's and on occasion at Saint Leo's as he assisted during festival days and Holy Week Masses. He is permanently assigned to Saint Leo's as of August 1.

"I get so much more out of it than I give," he says of his deaconate. "It's a blessing to know that I'll work with my friend, Father Sal, and so thankful for the Holy Spirit leading me back here. I look forward to a long and fruitful relationship with the parish and community." Deacon Doug will serve Saint Leo's on weekends and through various ministries such as Knights of Columbus, Sons of Italy and Young Adult Ministry - basically all sacramental, social and liturgical duties. His "day job" is as Professor & Chair of Applied Technology at CCBC (Community College of Baltimore County).

Source: Promotion Center for Little Italy, Baltimore