WELCOME PASTOR MARY CANAVAN, OUR NEW INTERIM RETOR
In September the Wardens, Vestry, and parish welcomed the Rev. Mary Canavan to be the Interim Rector of Christ Church, Stratford. She brings a deep spirituality, energy, and strong administrative skills to the parish. Pastor Mary comes to us from St. Andrew’s in Madison, CT where she served as Rector. Prior to that she served as Vicar for seven years at Calvary Episcopal Church in Pascoag, Rhode Island, and before that as Associate Rector for two years at Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church in Wickford, Rhode Island.
Pastor Mary received her Masters in Divinity from General Theological Seminary in New York. She did her undergraduate work at Bryant University, Smithfield, Rhode Island graduating Summa cum Laude in business Administration. Following graduation, she worked for Price Waterhouse as an Auditor and at Holson Company as Controller. She continued her work as Business Manager for the Oregon Symphony in Portland, Oregon.
We are delighted to welcome Pastor Mary and her children, David age 8 and Sarah age 4 to Christ Church and to Stratford.
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REV. LEE FORSHAW, DEACON
We are so blessed to have had Deacon Lee with us since his ordination in 2007. He has a strong spirituality and is more than willing to share it. The mutual love and support between Lee and the parish makes both stronger especially during this time of transition in calling a new rector to Christ Church.
In an earlier stage of his life, Lee worked for 22 years in corporate management as an independent contractor. For the past 6 years he has worked with the Kennedy Center in Trumbull, CT as a case manager for children and adults with special needs. Lee places, supervises, and supports adults in competitive employment jobs.
Lee has been married to his wife Val for the past 36 years. They are the parents of two married sons and eagerly anticipate becoming grandparents for the first time in December.
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REV. JAMES WILSON, RESIDENT PRIEST
Our resident priest, the Rev. James G. Wilson, assists at Christ Church by celebrating the Holy Eucharist several times a month, on Thursdays as well as Sundays, and by assisting in other ways as requested by the Rector. Father Jim graduated from Berkeley Divinity School in New Haven in 1967. Upon graduation he was ordained a transitional deacon, and then a priest, in the Diocese of Long Island.
Father Jim served parishes in Long Island for twelve years before being called back to Connecticut to be Rector of St. John’s, Waterbury, where he served for eight years. During his parish ministry he was active in diocesan and national affairs, particularly with regard to issues relating to ministry development and strengthening the ministry of clergy. He was a founder, board member, and President of the National Network of Episcopal Clergy Associations.
In 1988 Father Jim was called to be an executive on the national staff of the Episcopal Church, first as Associate Director, then as Executive Director of the Church Deployment Office. As such he was responsible for managing the clergy placement system for the Episcopal Church, developing fair and accessible personnel procedures, and training bishops, diocesan officials, and clergy in their use of the system. He was responsible for introducing a new web-based personnel system for clergy and lay professionals in 2002. He also implemented policies at the national level that did much to facilitate the placement of ordained women in the Episcopal Church.
Father Jim retired from active ministry at the end of 2003, enabling him to offer his services as a volunteer at Christ Church. He is most grateful to the clergy of Christ Church for sharing their ministry with him.
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