Monsignor Russell L. Dillard was born on March 1, 1948 in Washington, DC. In 1960, at the age of 12, he converted to Roman Catholicism and enrolled in catholic school, entering the seminary immediately after high school. After seminary training at Saint Charles College, Saint Mary’s Paca Street, Saint Mary’s Seminary and University, and The Theological College of Catholic University, Monsignor Dillard was ordained a Roman Catholic Priest by the Archdiocese of Washington in 1978.
From 1978-1983, Father Dillard was Associate Pastor for Youth at Saint Anthony of Padua Parish in Northeast Washington, DC. Recognizing his gift for youth ministry, in 1983 the Archdiocese of Washington presented Father Dillard with an award for his work as moderator of the St. Anthony CYO (a teen club) and named him Pastor of the Newman Center at Howard University in Northwest Washington, DC. He was the first Diocesan priest to serve the Howard University community in that capacity.
In 1987, he became the first African-American pastor of Saint Martin of Tours Parish in Northwest Washington, DC, were he served until 1990, while continuing as Catholic Chaplain at Howard. While at Saint Martin’s Parish, Monsignor Dillard implemented the "Orange Hat" patrol to combat drug trafficking in the surrounding neighborhood. In 1990, Father Dillard was named the first African-American Pastor of historic Saint Augustine’s Roman Catholic Church in Northwest Washington, DC. He was elevated to Reverend Monsignor by James Cardinal Hickey in May of 1991.
In addition to his role as pastor of St. Augustine School, Father Dillard serves as Chaplain for Elizabeth Seton High School in Bladensburg, Maryland and the Academy for the Holy Cross in Bethesda, Maryland. From 1973-1976, he taught English and Language Arts at Our Lady of Perpetual Help School in Southeast Washington, DC. He also taught 11th and 12th grade Religion at Regina High School in Hyattsville, MD throughout the eighties until it’s closing in 1990.
Throughout his career, Monsignor Dillard has been an active member of the Washington, DC community. He currently serves on the boards of the following organizations: City Lights School (an independent alternative school), the Public Defenders Service of Washington, DC and Covenant House, an organization that helps at-risk teens. He is a member of the Archdiocese of Washington’s Priest Council, which advises the archdiocese on matters concerning clergy, and is a priest member of the Association of Catechumenal Ministries Team that trains dioceses across the country in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. In 2001, he was one of four priests chosen to help administer the sacrament of confirmation. He is also a member of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher.
A respected advisor, Father Dillard is a member of the Mayor’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Youth and the Mayor’s Interfaith Advisory Committee, as well as the Black Church Initiative of the Children’s Defense Fund. He has also served on the boards of: The Religious Roundtable on AIDS, Safe Haven Outreach Ministry, the Northwest Family Center, and the Fair Housing Council of Greater Washington. He has served on the Board of Directors for Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington, including a term as board chair, and was awarded the Caritas Award for his service. He has also served as Steering Committee co-chair for the Reclaim our Youth Crusade and co-chaired the Committee to End Gun Violence of Washington, DC.
Monsignor Dillard has often been chosen to speak on behalf of the Archdiocese on a variety of social issues. In addition to interviews with DC television stations and newspapers over the years, he appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show in 1989.