Bishop Bernardin is a native of Columbia, South Carolina. He is the son of Mrs. Marie Simion Bernardin and the late Mr. Joseph Bernardin. He completed St. Peter’s Parochial School and Columbia High School and attended the University of South Carolina. He then began his preparation for the priesthood and enrolled at St. Mary’s College in Kentucky.

His philosophical studies were completed at St. Mary’s Seminary, Paca Street, in Baltimore where he received his degree graduating summa cum laude in June 1948.

Theology

He then entered The Catholic University of America in Washington for theology where he was a student at the Theological College and earned his M.A. degree with a major in school administration in 1952.

He was ordained to the priesthood in his native Columbia at St. Joseph’s Church by Most Reverend John J. Russell, April 29, 1952. Following ordination he was assigned as assistant pastor of St. Joseph’s Church in Charleston and to the faculty of Bishop England High School. He then served as assistant pastor at the Cathedral parish and continued as a faculty member of the high school. In 1954 he was named assistant chancellor of the diocese by Bishop Russell and in 1956 the bishop named him to the post of diocesan chancellor.

Honored

He was elevated to the rank of Papal Chamberlain in 1959. He then was appointed vicar general of the diocese by Bishop Francis F. Reh in September of 1962. The following December he was further honored by being named Domestic Prelate with the title Right Reverend Monsignor.

He was director of cemeteries since 1960 and undertook the development and operation of the new Holy Cross Cemetery on James Island. In addition he was the director of Catholic Charities from 1956 to 1961. During the vacancy in the diocese prior to the appointment of Bishop Ernest L. Unterkoefler, Bishop Bernardin was selected to serve as administrator of the diocese by the Board of Consultors from September 9, 1964 to February 25, 1965.

DDF, Chairman

Bishop Bernardin served as chairman of the Diocesan Development Fund Campaign of the diocese from its inception and in the five years of the program the diocesan goal has been exceeded each year. He served as chairman of the Catholic Human Relations Council and has been active in civic programs in the Charleston area.

He attended the fourth and final session of the Second Vatican Council with Bishop Unterkoefler.

Atlanta

Recently, he was named Rector of The Cathedral of Christ the King in Atlanta and vicar general of the Archdiocese of Atlanta by Archbishop Paul J. Hallinan.