Parish Staff
John D. Rohrs
Rector
The Rev. John D. Rohrs was called as the ninth rector of St. Stephen's Church in the summer of 2022, and began his ministry here that September. When he was called to St. Stephen's, John had been rector of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Norfolk, in the Diocese of Southern Virginia, since 2009. Before that, he was associate rector at Christ Church, Raleigh, N.C. John's wife, the Rev. Andie Rohrs, is also an Episcopal priest. They have three children: Anna and twins Tom and Will. John is a 1999 graduate of Duke University and Berkeley Divinity School at Yale. He has extensive community and diocesan leadership experience. He is known for balancing worship and spiritual formation with meaningful engagement in the world through outreach. He has a passion for family ministry and a successful track record of bringing young families into the church.
Cate Anthony
Associate Rector
The Rev. Cate Anthony is delighted to begin her ordained ministry at St. Stephen’s. A child of Florida and Delaware, Cate is a graduate of McGill University, Berkeley Divinity School, and Yale Divinity School. Before earning her Master of Divinity at Yale, Cate spent three years in Chicago. While there, she spent a year in the Episcopal Service Corps (where she met Anna Jones, our farmers market manager), was chaplain to the Emergency Department at Rush University Medical Center, and worked in development at a Roman Catholic seminary. During her time at YDS, Cate’s academic and pastoral work focused on ministry to individuals and communities in the midst of trauma and conflict. As a member of the clergy of St. Stephen’s, Cate will coordinate our extensive pastoral care ministry, act as a dedicated clergy presence to the family and children’s ministries, and help craft a bold vision for our food ministries (a dream come true for Cate, an aspiring master chef).
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Kitty Ball
Office Coordinator
Kitty Ball joined St. Stephen’s staff in July 2022, working in the front office part-time. Kitty is a native Richmonder and proud graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University. She has a background in events and legal marketing. In her spare time she enjoys hiking, live music, attending VCU basketball games and her air fryer.
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Larry Bidwell
Facilities Manager
Larry joined the staff in early 2020 when he returned to the Richmond area, just as the pandemic began changing parish life in dramatic ways. He is a graduate of both Maryville College and the University Of Tennessee College Of Law. When not at work, Larry enjoys running, cooking, and learning to play the guitar.
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Omar Catedral
Sexton
Omar joined the staff full time in October 2021, coming from a commercial HVAC company in the Richmond area. Born in Richmond, he is the middle child of Salvadoran parents. Omar is a graduate of Southside Virginia Community College. When not working at St. Stephen’s, he enjoys spending time with his family and friends. He also enjoys weight training and running. Omar is an avid sports fan, especially football.
Diana Chou
Associate Director of Music
Diana holds a bachelor of arts, summa cum laude, from Amherst College, a master of musical arts in organ performance from the Yale School of Music, and master’s and doctoral degrees from Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. She has been a music intern at Trinity Episcopal Church in Bloomington, Indiana, where she has sung in the choir, conducted the choir and led choir rehearsals, led youth choir rehearsals, and worked in music administration and communications. While working on her doctorate, she was an associate instructor of organ. She was an organ scholar at St. Paul’s on the Green in Norwalk, Connecticut and has served several other churches as an organist, choir director, and accompanist. We are thrilled to have her on our staff as an organist and choral director.
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Chris Edwards
Director, St. Stephen's Choir
Chris joined the staff in 2016 as the director of the St. Stephen's Choir. The Birmingham, Alabama native earned his undergraduate degree at Washington and Lee University and his master of music degree in choral conducting at Portland State University in Portland, Oregon. Prior to his arrival at St. Stephen’s, Chris held director of music positions at Bridgeport United Church of Christ and Rose City Park Presbyterian Church (both in Portland) and served as director of evening worship at Christ and Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Westport, Connecticut. Chris is married to the Rev. Whitney Zimmerman Edwards, vicar of Varina Episcopal Church. They have four daughters: Emmeline, Georgia, Eva, and Selma.
Mary Feldman
Executive Assistant to the Rector and Vicar
Mary joined us in 2022 as the executive assistant to the rector and vicar. She previously served as administrative coordinator at St. Gabriel Catholic Church in Chesterfield, executive assistant at Shepherd’s Center of Chesterfield and development assistant at St. Andrew’s School. A native of Philadelphia, Mary holds a B.A. in communications from La Salle University. She spent many years in marketing management for the cable television and internet industry. She lives in Glen Allen with her husband, Todd, and their maltipoo, Bolt. They have two grown sons, Dan and Ryan.
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Dillon Gwaltney
Communications Associate/Videographer
Dillon is a key member of our expanding communications ministry, with a particular focus on video. Although a VCU graduate (Go Rams!) and a Richmond native, Dillon recently returned home from working as an editor in Los Angeles to restore his Virginia roots. He has worked for a majority of his career in action sports media where he produced high energy content for companies like RedBull and NBCSports. Dillon loves skateboarding and surfing, and being outdoors.
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Claire Hackley
Church Supper Coordinator
Claire coordinates the planning and preparation of our Sunday and Wednesday evening suppers. She is well known to many at St. Stephen's Church, since she worked for many years as a barista in the Café @ St. Stephen's. Claire is the back of house manager and lead baker at WPA Bakery, which will not be surprising to those who’ve enjoyed her baked goods at the Sunday Community Supper or in the café. When she’s not working, she enjoys gardening, tending to her 100-plus-collected of houseplants (she calls it her “in-home jungle”) as well as “spending time with my amazing dog and cats, making jewelry and other creations in my small in home studio.” Claire graduated from VCU Arts in 2010. Claire is always eager to have helping hands to prepare our church suppers. Send her an email to learn more.
804.288.2867
Caroline Harris
Youth Ministry Coordinator
Caroline is honored to serve as youth ministry coordinator at St. Stephen's Church. A recent graduate of Rhodes College in Memphis, Caroline holds a B.A. in anthropology and sociology, complemented by minors in health equity and religious studies. Her academic journey has equipped her with a deep understanding of the world and a profound appreciation for diversity and inclusion. Caroline's passion for youth ministry is rooted in her upbringing at St. James Episcopal Church in Wilmington, N.C., and her summers at Camp Trinity in the Diocese of East Carolina. Caroline enjoys exploring the intersections of faith and culture, and she's always up for an adventure, whether it's in the great outdoors or through a good book.
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Chris Holman
Sexton
Chris has been a sexton at St. Stephen’s since 2016, and was baptized here. In his off time, Chris is working toward a degree in Information Technology. He enjoys pro football and is a big fan of the Carolina Panthers. Parishioners are familiar with Chris’s smile and booming laugh.
John Jenkins
Associate Rector
John joined St. Stephen’s in March of 2021, having served as associate priest at Saint Paul’s in Augusta, Ga. since his ordination there in 2015. In lay and ordained ministry he has been active in congregational development, conflict transformation, reckoning with emerging racial consciousness and equity, pastoral care, and Christian formation. Prior to ordination, he served low wealth seniors through the nonprofit sector and has worked in management and fundraising at various institutions. John is native of South Boston, Virginia, a graduate of Virginia Military Institute and the School of Theology at The University of the South, Sewanee, Tennessee. His teenage children, Ellie and John Turner, reside in Sewanee.
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Anna Jones
Farmers Market Manager and Assistant Director of Outreach
After working on vegetable farms and in food pantries in Chicago, Ohio, and Virginia, Anna is thrilled to manage the Farmers Market at St. Stephen's as well as our food ministry. She brings an understanding of the joys and challenges of farm work and interests in sustainability and delicious meals to the vital food ministry at St. Stephen's Church. Anna grew up at St. George's in Fredericksburg and participated in the Episcopal Service Corps in Chicago. She is grateful to have been nurtured by Episcopal traditions throughout her life.
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Wondell Kareem
Sexton
Wondell joined the facilities staff of St. Stephen’s in August 2022 after serving as the facility manager at Episcopal Church of Redeemer. The Huguenot High School graduate played football and was the captain of the wrestling team there. The Richmond native has five brothers, including his twin. Wondell is not only from a large family, but he and his wife have six children themselves, four boys and two girls (also twins). His professional experience includes working at Sunrise Senior Living, first as a caregiver and then in housekeeping and maintenance, including as maintenance coordinator. He has also worked for Richmond Redevelopment & Housing, Shady Grove United Methodist Church, and Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Cathedral. In addition to working at St. Stephen’s and raising six children, Wondell also has his own cleaning business!
Zaccheaus Katta
Assisting Priest
Zacc served as a rector in the Church of South India, Diocese of Medak, for nearly two decades, where he worked passionately for homeless children and with the dying. He arrived in the United States in 2014, and volunteered with various social organizations. Subsequently, he trained as a chaplain for residents in the memory care portion of Westminster Canterbury in Richmond. Zacc has a master’s degree in Patient Counseling from Virginia Commonwealth University and did Clinical Pastoral Education at VCU. He also worked as a chaplain at VCU Health, with special focus on oncology-palliative/hospice care. He graduated with an economics degree and a master’s degree in philosophy from Osmania University in India, holds a master of divinity from United Theological College, and a diploma in social work administration. Zacc uses his gifts of art, photography, and sculpture in his spiritual and pastoral care ministry. He enjoys the nature, gardening, long drives on his motorbike, diverse food and culture, and volunteering for rehabilitation work. Zacc’s wife Suchi is a registered nurse. They live in Glen Allen.
Abby Kocher
Director of Children's Ministry
The Rev. Abby Kocher is an elder in the United Methodist Church and has been involved at St. Stephen's for several years as a catechist in our Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program. Abby joined our staff in March 2023 as director of children's ministry, where she will continue to be involved in Catechesis as well as the Palmer Hall service, Vacation Bible School, and other offerings for young children. Abby has served in several Methodist churches, include Reveille UMC here in Richmond, several congregations in North Carolina, and was on the staff of Duke University Chapel. She is a graduate of Duke University and holds an M.Div. from Duke Divinity School. Abby has also been a teaching assistant at Richmond Montessori School. She and her husband, the Rev. Dr. Craig Kocher, have two children.
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Susan McNamara
Finance and Administrative Assistant
Susan’s portfolio includes processing contributions, stock gifts, accounts payable, and other financial transactions; administering employee benefits; record-keeping for annual giving and our membership database; front office support; and other projects related to finance and administration. Susan has had a successful banking career, first as a vice president for portfolio management at Truist and then as a vice president for credit analysis at Atlantic Union. She has worked at a number of small businesses and banks as a staff accountant, accounting director, and in other roles. Susan has an active CPA license and brings great expertise and skill to this position. She brings a warm personality to her work, along with varied experience volunteering at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, where she is an active member.
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William L. Sachs
Associate Rector
This is Bill Sachs’ third time on the staff of St. Stephen’s Church, having served during the late Raby Edwards’ tenure as rector. After leaving St. Stephen’s, he served several parishes as rector and was on the staff of the Episcopal Church Foundation. He returned to this parish in 2006 to found the Center for Interfaith Reconciliation. Beginning in 2019, Bill served as interim rector of two parishes in our diocese. He is the author of numerous books and articles, and is well-known throughout the church for his expertise in interfaith relations, church renewal movements and church growth. He and his late wife Austin Tucker have a daughter, Sloan, and two grandsons.
Fred Staley
Executive Director of Church Operations
Fred E. Staley Jr. joined St. Stephen's staff in early November 2022. With many years of experience in church and private sector settings, Fred brings valuable skills as well as comprehensive knowledge of business affairs in the church. Most recently he served in a similar position at the Episcopal Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea in Palm Beach, Florida, another large parish. He is active in several church-related professional networks, including the Episcopal Parish Network (formerly the Consortium of Endowed Episcopal Parishes), to which St. Stephen’s belongs. Fred serves on their board and is assistant treasurer. Hegraduated cum laude from King College in Bristol, Tennessee, and holds an MBA from Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tennessee. Fred’s wife, Debbie, works from home as a health and life insurance agent, a freelance editor, a writing coach, and is herself is an award-winning published author. They have one son, Ethan, who lives with his wife Shelby in Nashville.Fred and Debbie are also the parents to two precious dachshunds, Buster and Phillie, who was named for Fred’s beloved Philadelphia Phillies, who made it to the World Series this year!
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Will Stanley
Vicar
The Rev. William S. Stanley was called as vicar of St. Stephen's Church in January 2020. Besides sharing in the pastoral, preaching, and teaching ministries as a member of the clergy team, Will leads the program staff and helps ensure both attention to detail and faithfulness to vision. A native of Washington, D.C., he is a graduate of the Landon School, the University of the South, Berkeley Divinity School at Yale, and the Yale Institute of Sacred Music. He was ordained deacon and priest in the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta and served Holy Innocents’ Church as curate for two years. He was then called west to Southern California where he served two different Episcopal parishes—St. Cross in Hermosa Beach and All Saints’ in Beverly Hills—focusing on pastoral care, outreach, and work with youth and young adults. Will lives in Carytown and outside of work he enjoys exercise, time on the golf course, and exploring Richmond’s excellent food and beverage scene.
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Brent te Velde
Director of Music
Brent came to St. Stephen’s in 2019. A native of Stillwater, Oklahoma, he earned his undergraduate degree in organ and German at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas, his master’s degree in organ and sacred music from the Yale Institute of Sacred Music, and his doctoral degree from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. Prior to arriving at St. Stephen’s, Brent served as associate organist and choirmaster at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Columbia, South Carolina, and has served churches in Indiana, Connecticut, Texas, and Oklahoma. Brent is married to the Rev. Jennifer te Velde, a chaplain at Westminster-Canterbury of Richmond. They have two children, Charlie and Anna, as well as five cats.
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