Father Gosnell, who served as pastor and on archdiocesan Tribunal, dies at 69

Father Stephen D. Gosnell, a Knight of the Holy Sepulcher and former pastor of the parishes of All Saints in Liberty Heights, Prince of Peace in Edgewood, and St. Andrew by the Bay in Annapolis, died May 23 in his apartment at Mercy Ridge in Timonium. He was 69.

Archbishop William E. Lori will offer a memorial Mass, June 4, 11 a.m., at Immaculate Heart of Mary, Baynesville. His friend, Father Edward Hendricks, pastor of Divine Mercy Parish in Western Maryland, will be the homilist.

A priest for 43 years, Father Gosnell is remembered for his caring spirit, his outreach to the homeless and his dedication to the Holy Land. Born June 22, 1951, the Baltimore native attended St. Mary’s Seminary and was ordained a priest May 20, 1978.

He served as associate pastor of St. Mark, Fallston, 1978-86; and St. Philip Neri, Linthicum Heights, 1986-88; before being named pastor of All Saints in Northwest Baltimore in 1990. Father Gosnell moved to St. Jane Frances de Chantal in Riviera Beach as associate pastor in 1992.

In 1994, he became pastor of Prince of Peace, where his installation came on the same day auxiliary Bishop William C. Newman blessed the ground for its new church. Though he oversaw the construction of the Edgewood church, Father Gosnell always called it “Father Kolson’s church” since Father Lawrence Kolson, the previous pastor, was responsible for fundraising and planning for the new worship space, according to a parish history.

After eight years at Prince of Peace, in 2002 Father Gosnell was named pastor of St. Andrew by the Bay. He left there in 2007 to serve on the archdiocesan Marriage Tribunal.

In addition to his duties meeting with people seeking annulments, Father Gosnell worked on the cause for sainthood for the Venerable Patrick Peyton, known as the “Rosary Priest,” according to Teresa Ewen, ecclesiastical notary. Known for his administrative skills, Father Gosnell helped process testimony by witnesses from around the world, she said.

He moved to Mercy Medical Center to serve as a chaplain in 2009. Three years later, he also became the first priest of the Archdiocese of Baltimore to serve as the national chaplain of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas.

“He was a wonderful hospital chaplain,” said Father Hendricks.

In 2013, he became associate pastor at St. John the Evangelist in Frederick, then returned to the Baltimore area as associate pastor of St. Ursula, Parkville, and Immaculate Heart of Mary, Baynesville, from 2015 until his retirement in 2018.

Father J. Kevin Farmer, pastor at St. John in Frederick, noted Father Gosnell’s empathy and his faith.

“He was very, very present for the sick, and especially when people were dying,” he said. “He was so energized when he preached. He loved to preach. He loved liturgy.”

Homelessness was an issue Father Gosnell took up during his time at Prince of Peace in Harford County. He helped with efforts to provide those experiencing homelessness with shelter and meals on a rotating basis with other churches. Father Gosnell’s interest in the issue led him to work with Harford County government officials to provide aid, according to Father Hendricks.

At St. Andrew by the Bay, he participated in a similar effort. 

“His care for the homeless was quite good,” Father Hendricks said.

Father Gosnell, who loved to travel, had a special interest in the Holy Land, which he visited several times. His devotion led to his being named to the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem, also known as the Knights of the Holy Sepulcher, an organization of priests and laity supporting the Holy Land.

In addition, he spent a sabbatical in the Holy Land as part of the University of Notre Dame at Tantur.

Father Hendricks, who met Father Gosnell in 1970 when they were college sophomores, joined him on a trip that included a visit to Ephesus, Turkey. “He was delighted we were walking in the steps of St. Paul,” he said.

While he praised Father Gosnell’s intellectual and organizational talents, Father Gilbert Seitz, the Tribunal’s judicial vicar, remembers most how his colleague loved being with people.

“His heart was always in a parish. His heart was always with people. His heart was always engaging with folks,” said Father Seitz.

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