Vice President & Treasurer

Mrs. Bernadette Burnette serves as Vice President and Treasurer of Soul Fitness Ministries, Inc., working alongside her husband, Stephen Burnette, in advancing the ministry’s mission of “Changing the world one day at a time by continually sanctifying God’s Beloved Bride with patient love, prayerful declarations and actions that are wise.”

Stephen and Bernadette met on July 4, 2019 at a young adults celebration gathering of the 4th of July at the “Walton on the Chattahoochee” in Atlanta, Georgia. She had recently just visited Lourdes, France from June 18 - June 19, 2019. Stephen had been praying for his future wife and years prior had a vision in prayer that Mary would bring him his wife. They married in April of 2023.

Learn more about this special place at - Lessons from Lourdes: Our Lady of Lourdes and St. Bernadette

Originally from Front Royal, Virginia, near the beautiful Shenandoah Valley, Bernadette was raised in a Catholic family as one of eight children. Her parents emphasized the importance of Catholic formation through their involvement in the Saint John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church community. Her family's story also includes the loss of a sibling through miscarriage, whose intercessory prayers she continues to experience.

Bernadette earned a Master of Fine Arts in Acting with a Concentration in Directing from Regent University in Virginia Beach, Virginia in 2017. She previously received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia in 2012.

Her educational background in psychology and the performing arts has contributed to her unique understanding of human relationships, communication, storytelling and creative expression.

From September 2020 through September 2021, she served as the inaugural Director of Evangelization for the Young Catholic Professionals of Atlanta. This opportunity allowed her to contribute to the chapter's early development while supporting its mission “To inspire modern-day saints, equip young workers to take ownership of their faith and work lives, and act as catalysts of personal excellence.”

Additionally, she has worked for Seton Home Study School, which provides Catholic educational resources for homeschooling families.

During her teenage years, Bernadette attended the Steubenville Youth Conferences at Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio and served as a Young Apostle during one of their summer conferences.

She holds a perspective of gratitude and awe of what God is doing and how the Holy Spirit is gathering all believers together. She has propound respect for the Traditional Latin Mass, while understanding the vital importance of the Charismatic Movement within Christ’s Church.

Bernadette’s life has also been shaped by her vibrant and extensive travels. She has visited 19 countries thus far and has traveled across the United States multiple times. Her and her family have traveled all over California, giving them a greater understanding of how to perhaps best serve Californians.

In addition to her leadership responsibilities at Soul Fitness Ministries, Inc. Bernadette is the founder of Sayre Fidei, an independent creative endeavor that complements her commitment to faith-based storytelling and evangelization.

Through Sayre Fidei, she has published Meet Karen: The Friend That Nobody Likes, the first book in her planned novel series.

Learn more at www.sayrefidei.com.

Mrs. Burnette is privileged to help serve God’s people. She prays she continues to do so that is always pleasing to Him and Our Mother Mary and Father Joseph.

Secretary & Board Member

Fr. Seth is an ordained priest with the Catholic Diocese of Richmond in Virginia.

Fr. Seth went to school at Old Dominion University and received a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering Technology with a minor in Engineering Management.  He worked for three years as a design engineer before attending Asbury Theological Seminary with the hopes of becoming a Methodist pastor.  He became a Catholic shortly before graduating from Asbury with a Masters of Divinity (M.Div.), and then attended Theological College in Washington D.C. where he received a degree in Sacred Theology.  Fr. Seth was ordained in June of 2024, and presently serves as the parochial vicar of St. John the Apostle Catholic Church in Virginia Beach.  Fr. Seth's greatest desires are to be the Lord's evangelist, to bring people to the next level of their discipleship in Christ, and to help others encounter the Lord through the sacraments.

Board Member

Dr. Viviano Rodriguez is a chief of human resources, with over a decade of experience helping organizations improve in effectiveness and efficiency. With a background in the federal government and education of a Doctorate of Psychology in Organizational Development, MBA in Human Resources, and Bachelor of Science in Human Resources.  He specializes in strategic planning, operations, and leadership development. Passionate about helping businesses grow, Dr. Rodriguez has worked with government agencies across the administration to streamline processes and drive improvement. When not advising clients, he enjoys being a Catholic life coach who helps individuals integrate their faith into their personal and professional lives, guiding them to achieve their goals while aligning with Catholic values and teachings.