New Beginnings: It is a great pleasure and an honor to write my first article for the Shepherd’s Voice as the new rector of the Church of the Good Shepherd. As I write I hear the sounds of happy children playing at the Bright Beginnings Daycare down the hall from the parish office: my son Liam is among the children at the day care. Like me, he is thrilled to be among new friends in a new place. When I dropped him off he began to introduce himself to those around him; I think I will follow his example and introduce myself.
My wife Nicole and I were married in 2004. We have two children: Liam, who turns three in November, and Nicholas, who is four month old. Before coming to Good Shepherd we lived in Times Square in Manhattan. Nicole is originally from Long Island, and most of her family lives in Whitestone, Queens. She went to Syracuse University where she studied Journalism and French. While we were in New York City, she worked as a health editor (most recently at RedBook Magazine). Nicole plans to continue freelancing as a writer and an editor once we settle into the rectory.
I was born in Boston, Massachusetts, and have also lived in Philadelphia, Boston (a second time) and New York. My father is an Episcopal Priest (rector of Saint Thomas Church on Fifth Avenue in New York), so we moved each time he was called to a new parish. I went to college at the University of Chicago where I studied Philosophy (my mother said I studied Fraternity – I was in fact president of my fraternity). After college I worked in a law firm as a paralegal for three years before discerning a call to the priesthood. I went to Seminary at the Yale University Divinity School. After Seminary, I served for five years as the Curate for Liturgy and Christian Education at the Church of Saint Mary the Virgin (known affectionately as “Smoky Mary’s” for their prodigious use of incense!) in Times Square. In late July of 2009, I was elected rector of the Church of the Good Shepherd!
We love living here: the transition from Times Square to Granite Springs has been wonderful so far – we have a yard and we don’t live in a fifth floor walk-up, what more could you ask for! I look forward to meeting and getting to know my sisters and brothers in Christ at Good Shepherd: please forgive me if I have trouble with faces and names for a few weeks. I am so honored to be your priest and pastor. Please know I am always available for pastoral care. If you can’t reach me at the office, my home phone is a listed number and my cell phone is always on (917-696-1027). God bless and thanks so much for the warm and gracious welcome you have given us. It has been a bright and wonderful beginning and we are looking forward to many happy years at Good Shepherd!
