Clergy & Staff
THE REV. JEFFREY AUSTIN ROSS
RECTOR AND PASTOR
As the Rector and Pastor of Saint Peter's Episcopal Church, I would like to welcome you to our parish webpage! We are glad you have found us and want you to know that if you are looking for a spiritual home, you would be most welcome in our community. Here is a little about me. Since August of 2005, I have served as the Rector of Saint Peter's Episcopal Church which has been in existence for over 300 years and is an active and growing community. We have a strong ministry reaching out to youth, young families, and newly retired adults. We are passionate about our local outreach ministries. I am a life-long Episcopalian and have been ordained since 1998 (my sister is also a priest!). Prior to ordination, I worked as a family therapist as well as on Bishop's staff for Christian Formation. I am a graduate of the General Theological Seminary and I also hold a Master of Science degree in Pastoral Counseling from Neumann University. My wife has a PhD in Corporate Leadership and she currently serves as the Executive Director of the Delaware Alliance for Non-Profit Advancement. We have a grown daughter and a son. We enjoy swimming, skiing, and traveling. Personally, I am trying to enhance my novice skills in photography and playing the penny whistle as my official hobbies (along with loving movies, books and theater!).
THE REV. JEFFREY AUSTIN ROSS
RECTOR AND PASTOR
The Rev. Kathy Andonian
The Priest Associate for Newcomer Engagement
(part-time)
The Rev. Kathryn Andonian is one of the retired clergy who make their spiritual home at
St. Peter’s. Her particular area of interest and ministry is that of newcomer engagement,
also known as Invite, Welcome, Connect. Prior to her retirement and relocation to the
Delaware Beaches in mid-2023, Kathy served for nearly 20 years as the rector of
Church of the Holy Spirit, a growing, multi-generational, and innovative parish in the
Diocese of Pennsylvania. Prior to her second vocation as an Episcopal priest, Kathy
enjoyed a first career in public policy in the areas of gerontology and health care. Kathy
is an avid quilter, bird-watcher, traveler, and novice golfer. She and her husband, Marc,
are enjoying this new season of life and this welcoming church community.
The Rev. Kathy ANDONIAN
PRIEST ASSOCIATE
THE REV. PAULA J. WAITE, M.TH., ACC
DIOCESAN CHAPLAIN TO BEEBE HOSPITAL
Paula is a vocational deacon whose service within the Diocese of Delaware is fulfilled by her ministry as a Staff Chaplain at Beebe Healthcare at the main campus in Lewes. Paula graduated from St. Mary’s Seminary and University in Baltimore Maryland and was ordained to the diaconate by Bishop Chilton Knudsen in 2018. Paula completed her residency in chaplaincy at Christiana Hospital in 2017 and joined Beebe Healthcare upon graduation. Paula has a certificate in the Foundations of Palliative Chaplaincy and is Board Certified by the Association of Professional Chaplains. Paula created and offers a community education program, Life Before Death, that focuses on Advance Care Planning. Paula and her husband Tom reside in Milton with their cat Samantha. Please contact Chaplain Paula at Beebe Healthcare if you or your loved ones are hospitalized.
THE REV. PAULA J. WAITE, M.TH., ACC
DIOCESAN CHAPLAIN TO BEEBE HOSPITAL
T.J. Thomas
Minister of Music
T.J. serves as Minister of Music at Saint Peter’s Episcopal Church, Lewes, DE. He oversees a vibrant music program including several choirs, a concert series, and the annual residency of a prominent Anglican Church musician. Prior to St. Peter’s, T.J. was Interim Director of Music at the Lutheran Church of the Holy Spirit in Emmaus, Pennsylvania. During his undergraduate career, he served on the music staff at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Pro-Cathedral (Wilkes-Barre, PA) under the direction of his organ teacher and mentor, Canon Mark Laubach. An active member of the Royal School of Church Music in America, T.J. functions as Liturgist and Co-Music Manager for the King’s College Course every summer. He is active in the American Guild of Organists and Association of Anglican Musicians. T.J. received his Bachelor’s degree in Music from Marywood University (Scranton, PA). He was received into the Episcopal Church in 2006.
T.J. THOMAS
MINISTER OF MUSIC
Jessica Potter
Director of Family Ministries and Communications
Jessica serves as the Director of Family Ministries and Communications at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Lewes, DE. She became a member of St. Peter’s in 2014 and volunteered with Godly play, Vacation Bible School, and Heart and Soul. Later she served as the under 30 delegate for Convention and was the Vestry liaison for Christian Formation.
Jessica oversees St. Peter's online platforms and Christian formation programs from Godly Play through S.P.Y High school. She is on the Diocesan Youth Leaders Advisory Group.
Jessica has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Delaware and is a Certified preschool teacher. Jessica lives in Millsboro with her spouse Michael and dog Charlie.
JESSICA POTTER
DIRECTOR OF FAMILY MINISTRIES & COMMUNICATIONS
BOB REEHORST
SEXTON
Helen Waite
Helen was born and raised in Toronto, Ontario, Canada with English gardening parents. Her mother was a family practitioner and her father an Anglican Organist and Choir Master in Toronto. Music and gardening have been important all her life.
She received her BSc from York University(Toronto) and her Masters in Soil Science from U of DE. She became a Master Gardener in DE in 1995, and qualified as a Certified Nursery Practitioner twice with DE Nursery and Landscape Association, as a landscape designer, and as a landscape maintenance specialist.
She was the principal of Waite Garden Design for a number of years. With her husband John Feliciani she owned and operated a market farm called Black Hog Farmstead, located on New Rd in Lewes. They sold their own produce at Lewes Farmers Market, had a B and B, and offered Sunday Lunchtime Dinners once a month.
She sang in St Peter’s Choir for 25 years and currently plays with the Bell Choir.
Now “retired”, and having been the Head of the St Peter’s Garden Committee ( known as St. Peter’s Weeders) for a decade at least, Helen works part-time to keep St. Peter’s Square tidy and blooming, managing trees, shrubs, perennials, bulbs and annuals. The Rectory Garden and Pilottown Cemetery are also under her purview.
John and Helen have four thriving adult children between them, and one grandchild and live in Lewes.
HELEN WAITE
GARDEN MANAGER
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