Parish Staff

"And his gifts were that some should be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up
the body of Christ" (Eph 4:11-12).

These are the people in charge of the day-to-day operations of the parish. Each one of us is here to serve you in his or her own way. If you are new to the parish, introduce yourself! We would love to get to know you better. If you would like to give any of us a call or send an email, please see the "Contact Us" page.

Pastor: Fr. John Meredith

Fr. John Meredith has been a priest for 29 years and a church pastor for 24 years. He was the pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Owensboro, KY for 13 years before moving to Blessed Mother in June of 2008.

Fr. John is from Leitchfield, KY and is one of six children. His older brother, Richard Meredith, is also a priest serving in the Owensboro diocese. His mother still lives in the house in which they grew up.

Fr. John graduated from Mt. St. Mary's Seminary in Emmitsburg, MD, with a Master's degree in Sacred Scripture. What he likes the most about being a priest is celebrating the Sunday liturgy and preaching. In his down time, he likes to read mystery books.

Parish Administrator: Jan Storm

Blessed Mother Church has always been a part of Jan's life. She received the sacraments here and completed grades 1-8 at the old Blessed Mother School (now the 4-6 Center). In 1968, she married Terry Storm here (they've been married ever since) and in 1972 she buried her father from here. Her two children, Jerry and Sean, received their sacraments here, her grandchildren have all been baptized here, and 7 of the 9 made their First Communion here.

In 1977, Jan was hired as a bookkeeper for the school cafeteria, where she served for 8 years. In January of 1985, she came to work for the parish as a secretary/administrator at the time when computers were first being introduced. She's been here ever since.

When you think "Blessed Mother Church," you think "Jan Storm." Nobody currently living knows more about this parish then she does, and it's a safe bet that this parish would not function sufficiently without her. We hope she never retires, and yet we know that we can only delay the inevitable for so long. We love you, Jan!

Administrative Assistant: Darlene Quinn

We like to jokingly say that Darlene does the jobs that no one else wants to do! She is definitely a great help to everyone on the parish staff.

Darlene has been a member of Blessed Mother Church for approximately 35 years. She has been volunteering and working here as an office assistant for about 11 years. She also serves on the Liturgy Committee as a representative for "Arts and Environment."

She has been married to her husband Tom for 35 years, and is blessed with four children and three grandchildren. She is pictured here with Tom, and her daughter, Alicia.

Director of Religious Education: Nicholas Hardesty

Nicholas has been the Director of Religious Education ("DRE") at Blessed Mother since July of 2008. Like Jan, he also grew up at Blessed Mother, went to the parish school, and received his sacraments of initiation here.

In 1998, he graduated from Owensboro Catholic High School ("OCHS"). In 2002, he graduated from Lindsey Wilson College with a B.A. in Human Services and Counseling. In 2004, he graduated from the same college with an M.Ed. in Counseling and Human Development, with an emphasis in Mental Health Counseling. In May of 2009, he received his M.A. in Theology and Christian Ministry and a Certification in Catechetics from Franciscan University of Steubenville.

Mr. Hardesty is the oldest of four children. His mother, Jan, has been a Catholic elementary school teacher since 1980, and his father, Perry, was in the restaurant business for several years before becoming a manager at Home Depot. His twin brother, Matthew, is a seminarian for the Archdiocese of Louisville, KY. His next brother, Andrew, is the DRE at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church here in Owensboro. His youngest brother, Benjamin, teaches and coaches at OCHS.

His favorite part about being a DRE is leading Bible studies, teaching in the RCIA, and writing his weekly "Catholic Q&A" in the parish bulletin. In his spare time, he likes to play word games, watch movies, and post on his blog. He considers it a blessing to be able to serve the parish that he grew up in. He is pictured here with his wife, Amy.

Director of Music and Liturgy: Brett Ballard

Brett has been the Director of Music and Liturgy since Mother's Day, 2001. He holds a Bachelor of Music Education from Morehead State University, and a Master of Arts in Music from Saint Joseph's College in Rensselaer, Indiana.

Brett was a high school band director in Salisbury, North Carolina before moving back to Kentucky in 2000. He is a percussionist who has played with various civic groups, including the Salisbury Symphony Orchestra, and various liturgies with the Diocese of Owensboro. In addition to his performances, Brett is a published composer with World Library Publications. Recently, Brett helped form a Liturgy Committee, which will help coordinate the various liturgical ministries at Blessed Mother. He has also recently started a small pep band at Brescia University.

Brett's family includes his wife Katie, who serves on the Youth Group cooking team and on the Welcoming Committee; daughters Erin and Becca, who also participate in the music ministry; and their 11-year-old Lab, Max.

Director of Youth Ministry: Christina Best

Christina Best has also grown up in Blessed Mother Parish. She attended the school next door (then St. Angela Merici Elementary), and received her sacraments here. In high school she was an active member of the Blessed Mother Life Teen group. The Blessed Mother Parish family is very special to her.

Christina is the daughter of Keith and Jeannie Best, who serve the parish as an usher and Eucharistic minister, respectively. Her younger sister, Holly, is a student at Western Kentucky University. The youngest, Daniel, attends Owensboro Catholic High School, and serves the parish as an altar server.

Christina graduated from Owensboro Catholic High School in 2004. In May 2009, she graduated from Brescia University with a B.A. in Pastoral Ministry. She feels very blessed to have the opportunity to “come home” and serve the parish that has served her throughout the years. She loves young people, and the energy and enthusiasm they bring to the table. She is eager to serve alongside other Young Disciples!

Maintenance Mechanic: Roman Osowicz

"Romie," as we call him, is our jack of all trades. He came to work for Blessed Mother in 1989 and has been working hard ever since.

When you pass by you may see him mowing the lawn, painting, pouring concrete, tiling, laying shingles on a roof, building something (a stable, a church picnic game, a shed, etc.), changing a light bulb, fixing the air conditioner, or doing a myriad of other tasks that are necessary to maintain the parish grounds. We have yet to find something that he cannot do!

Romie truly is a blessing to this parish and we are very proud to have him on our staff. According to Jan, he's a great brother too, although she'll never admit that in public!