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CLERGY, STAFF & ​VESTRY
Our Church Leadership
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THE REV'D BENJAMIN STRALEY
Rector
Father Benjamin Straley began as Rector of S. Stephen’s parish on 15 August 2020, the Feast of the Assumption. Prior to his call to S. Stephen’s, Fr. Benjamin served for two years as the Assistant Rector of St. John’s in Essex, Connecticut. While there, his primary focus was pastoral care along with Christian Formation and Adult Education. He was particularly passionate about forming deeper engagement with discipleship and spirituality. He also led the parish in a diocesan initiative called Joining Jesus in a New Missional Age, which worked to equip church members with the skills necessary to attend to the stories in their neighborhood, and to see what “God is up to” in the lives of those outside the church walls. Prior to ordained ministry, Fr. Benjamin was Associate Director of Music and Organist of Washington National Cathedral, and he is a graduate of the Yale School of Music and Berkeley Divinity School at Yale.
In his free time, he enjoys cooking (being a huge Ina Garten devotee), British television, improving his sailing skills, and heaping affection on his pets: two cats named Charlie Brown and Linus, and an Australian Shepherd-Siberian Husky mix named Grace. Grace is quickly becoming an ambassador for S. Stephen's as she encounters Brown University students around campus!
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L. GRAHAM SCHULTZ
Organist & Choirmaster
A dedicated and passionate church musician, L. Graham Schultz currently serves as Organist and Choirmaster of S. Stephen’s Church in Providence, Rhode Island. Prior to Providence, Graham served as the Associate Director of Music at Church of the Incarnation in Dallas, Texas, one of the nation’s largest Episcopal Parishes.
Mr. Schultz holds degrees from Southern Methodist University, the Cleveland Institute of Music, and Interlochen Arts Academy. In 2019 he earned the prestigious Fellowship Certificate from the American Guild of Organists. He has been heard on BBC Radio 3’s Choral Evensong, American Public Media’s Pipedreams, and national broadcasts of With Heart and Voice. Schultz has been featured as a performer at conventions of the American Guild of Organists, the Organ Historical Society, the Association of Anglican Musicians, and the Conference of Roman Catholic Cathedral Musicians, in addition to multiple appearances at the East Texas Pipe Organ Festival. He has served as course organist for multiple courses of the Royal School of Church Music.
FR. BILL LOCKE
Assisting Priest
Fr. Bill Locke was ordained as deacon and priest in Rhode Island by Bishop George Hunt. He served as Rector of the Church of the Good Shepherd and then St. Paul's Church, both in Pawtucket. For the past eight years he has been engaged in interim ministry, including a brief time at S. Stephen's. His wife Ethel teaches physics at Woonsocket High School. They have two adult daughters and two grandsons.
FR. MICHAEL PEARSON
Assisting Priest
Fr. Michael Pearson was ordained to the Diaconate (1977) and the Priesthood (1978) by Bishop William Weinhauer (Diocese of Western North Carolina). He has served as the Curate at S. Stephen's Church, Providence (1977 - 1981), the Rector of the Church of the Epiphany, Providence, Priest Associate at St. Mark's Church, New Canaan, Ct. (1989 - 1992), Rector of St. Luke's Church, Anchorage, Ky. (1992 - 2001), and St. Mary's Church, Wayne, Pa. (2001 - 2012). Fr. Pearson retired in 2013 and returned to Rhode Island where he has supplied at various parishes throughout the Diocese. He is married to Julie and they have one grown child.
MTR. VERONICA TIERNEY
Assisting Priest
Mother Veronica Tierney was ordained deacon (2007) and priest (2008) in the Diocese of Los Angeles. She began her ordained ministry as a doctoral student in Early Christian Theology at Boston College, earning her PhD in 2018. She has served as Assistant Chaplain at St. George’s School, Middletown, and as Priest-in-Charge at Christ Church, Lincoln and Saints Matthew and Mark, Barrington. In 2021 she founded a consulting practice focused on helping faith communities improve the business aspects of their ministries. Prior to ordained ministry, she worked in the investment management industry. Her husband, Peter, serves St. James Episcopal and St. Mark Lutheran churches in Woonsocket, where they live with their dogs Cruz and Liza.
KIERSTEN MAREK
Nursery Coordinator
Kiersten Marek, LICSW, worked as a therapist in Rhode Island for 29 years. She now works as a Nanny and is a graduate student at Quantic School for Business and Technology, studying to receive her Executive Masters in Business Administration (EMBA) degree in April of 2025. Her current passions include the care of small children, acrylic painting, and singing karaoke from the 1990's. Kiersten is also the founder and Publisher of Philanthropy Women, a media site dedicated to the discussion of gender lens grantmaking. She is thankful to be part of the St. Stephen's community as the coordinator of the Nursery
VESTRY
The Vestry is the legal representation of the parish with regard to all matters pertaining to its corporate property. Vestry members are elected by parishioners at the Annual Parish Meeting. They are responsible for the parish's finances, property, and human resources. The Vestry also works with the Rector to define and carry out the parish's mission.
THOMAS
BLEDSOE
Senior Warden
MOLLY
ELLIS
Clerk
MURIEL JOBBERS
Class of 2027
KATY GILCHRIST
Class of 2028
ROBERT
ROSE
Junior Warden
JENNIFER DEPARDO
Class of 2026
RUTH OLIVER
JOLLIFFE
Class of 2027
ROBERT
DRAKE
Class of 2028
GREGORY DEPARDO
Treasurer
JULIA
STEINY
Class of 2027
GREGORY
GOINS
Class of 2027
ANDREW LONARDO
Sexton
Andrew oversees the weekly maintenance and "odd jobs" around the parish, and began working at S. Stephen's in 2021. His primary work is with the Episcopal Diocese of Rhode Island, helping to take care of its properties in Providence and Wickford, as well as the Episcopal Camp and Conference Center in Burrillville. Andrew is most often found at S. Stephen's on weekday afternoons, and is the father of "Little Drew," who sometimes accompanies him to S. Stephen's.