{"id":5879,"date":"2026-01-28T17:27:44","date_gmt":"2026-01-28T22:27:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/christchurchshrewsbury.org\/?page_id=5879"},"modified":"2026-06-11T15:06:25","modified_gmt":"2026-06-11T19:06:25","slug":"about-us-staff","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/christchurchshrewsbury.org\/?page_id=5879","title":{"rendered":"Staff"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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The Reverend Susanna Cates, Priest-in-Charge, rector@christchurchshrewsbury.org<\/strong><\/p>

Mother Susanna Cates is our new Priest-in-Charge. Originally from Florida, she’s lived in New Jersey for 10 years. She graduated from the Seminary of the Southwest in 2013. She loves to share her faith story of growing up Jewish and joining the Episcopal Church as an adult, and how those traditions have intertwined to shape her faith now. She’s married with five children, two grandchildren, two dogs, and one elusive cat.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Bill Balmer, Deacon<\/strong><\/p>


After spending 40+ years in the financial services industry, Bill was fast approaching retirement when he jumped at the chance to follow the road to the Diaconate ~ hoping to do God\u2019s good work, have some fun along the way, and stay relevant as long as possible.\u00a0 A cradle Episcopalian, Bill had many years of experience in a number of different lay ministries, but his main interest was primarily finance (in addition to parish finances, he served for many years as a Diocesan Investment Trust board member).\u00a0 Bill was ordained a Deacon in the Diocese of New Jersey in May 2015.
Since being ordained, he has become especially interested in preaching and teaching the Good News <\/em>of Jesus Christ, adult faith formation, facilitating weekly lectionary and bible studies, and mentoring first offenders in the local community as well as inmates at the N.J. Youth Correctional Facility in Bordentown.\u00a0 Bill has also been active in various outreach ministries in central Jersey and beyond, including a diocesan supported medical equipment ministry and a faith in action<\/em> Jubilee center which maintains a weekly community fellowship supper, food pantry, and thrift store serving anyone who comes to them for help.
Bill and his wife, Jane, have been married for more than 50 years, and together they have two adult children, Evan and Erin, and six grand-children that have brought immeasurable joy and excitement to their lives.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Denzel Donaldson, Seminarian<\/strong><\/p>

Denzel Donaldson grew up in Florida and came to New Jersey where he attended Neptune High School. After attending Rutgers University in New Brunswick and majoring in Psychology, he spent the next 30 years working in the field of Mental Health at Marlboro Psychiatric, Trenton\u00a0 psychiatric, and the central office of the Division of Mental Health & Hospitals. Denzel combined legal training with his psychology training and advanced through the administrative ranks in positions from the Patient Advocate to Legal Administrator. Denzel also served in the New Jersey Army National Guard (Infantry) for 37 years. Upon retirement, Denzel entered service as a church leader and was licensed as a Lay Minister in the Baptist denomination. After transitioning to the Episcopal church, he was confirmed at St Thomas, Red Bank by Bishop Stokes and was licensed as a Lay Eucharistic Minister. Denzel comes to Christ Church, Shrewsbury after spending 2 years at Trinity Episcopal Church, Asbury Park where he discerned a calling to the priesthood. Denzel has been assigned by Bishop Sally French to be here at Christ Church as a Seminarian working with and serving the parishioners of Christ Church as well as learning new skills for the priesthood from our Priest-in-Charge, Mother Susanna.<\/p>

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Fiona Smith Sutherland, Music Director<\/strong><\/p>

Fiona is pleased to be serving the Christ Church Shrewsbury community.\u00a0She also serves as the full-time Director of Traditional Music at Tower Hill Church<\/em>\u00a0in Red Bank, running a large program of choral and handbell ensembles, and an exciting concert series. A handbell expert, she also has begun a ministry of solo
handbell ringers, bringing a musical education to many teens in the church. Ms. Sutherland also is the staff accompanist and assistant director for the\u00a0Lakeside Choraliers<\/em>\u00a0in Montvale, NJ. Since the Fall of 2021, she has also served as the Music Director of the Monmouth\u00a0County based choral ensemble the\u00a0Shrewsbury Chorale<\/em>, and is pleased to be bringing them to sing Michael John Trotta’s new\u00a0Requiem<\/em>\u00a0in Carnegie Hall this May.Ms. Sutherland has worked as Organist and Choirmaster at many
churches in NJ, PA, DE, NY, and CT over the past 33 years. Before returning to her home state of New Jersey, she worked at\u00a0St.Matthew\u2019s Episcopal Church<\/em>\u00a0in Wilton, CT,\u00a0Trinity Episcopal Church<\/em>\u00a0in Newtown, CT, the\u00a0Church of St. James the Less<\/em>\u00a0in Scarsdale, NY, and\u00a0Christ Church Greenwich<\/em>, CT, leading large choral programs of all levels. As an organist, Ms. Sutherland has played recitals in many states, as well as abroad.<\/p>

She earned her Bachelor\u2019s and Master of Music degrees at Westminster Choir College<\/em>, studying Choral Conducting with Joseph Flummerfelt, Andrew Megill, and James Jordan, organ with Eugene Roan and voice with Lois Laverty and Dan Pratt. Ms. Sutherland has master classed and studied with many sacred musicians, conductors, and singers, including Robert Shaw, Sir David Willcocks, John Rutter, Gerre Hancock, Pierre Pincemalle, Rosephanye Powell, Dale Warland, Michael John Trotta, and Julianne Baird.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Francesca Parker, Office Administrator<\/strong><\/p>

Francesca Parker was born in Venezuela where she lived as a young child. She was raised in southern Louisiana and then studied International Business and Marketing at the University of San Francisco. After completing her studies, Francesca moved to New York City where she worked in sales and marketing in the real estate industry. It was at work that she met her husband of 16 years, Gregory. They have 2 wonderful children, Alexander and Valentina, and a rescue dog named Lucky. Francesca has spent the last 15 years enjoying being a mother and spending her free time volunteering at various organizations and schools. She is happy to be back working with such a nice group of people.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Donna Devlin, Guest Educator<\/strong><\/p>

Donna Devlin is our Regular Guest Educator. She has written a reading comprehension workbook for 6th<\/sup>\u00a0graders called African Folktales and in it is the story of Kalumi from which was made a drama for children at the Asbury Park Boys Club. She continues to write dramas\u2014”Brenden the Navigator\u201d, \u201cThe Golden Calf\u201d, \u201cRufus\u2019s Quest\u201d, \u201cRosevelt the Owl\u201d–some of which have been presented at Christ Church, Shrewsbury and the Cathedral Church of St John the Divine in NYC. A book called\u00a0Midrashy,<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0published in 2023 is a collection of possible alternatives to some familiar Bible stories.\u00a0Scenic Vistas,\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>published in 2024 is a collection of essays from her times as newsletters editor and Christian Educator. Magazine articles in\u00a0The Living Church<\/em>, the Journal of Fellowship in<\/em>\u00a0Prayer<\/em>,\u00a0The Living Pulpit\u00a0<\/em>and poetry of haiku and senryu type are also among her credits. She has served on Diocese of New Jersey Life Long Christian Formation, and Stewardship Commissions and is currently the chairperson of the diocesan Commission on Ministry WITH the Disabled. Donna is a long time EfM (Education for Ministry) mentor in both the Diocese of New York And the Diocese of New Jersey. She is a licensed Lay Eucharistic Minister in the Diocese of New Jersey and the Diocese of New York. Donna leads the weekly Peak in the Week book study at Christ Church and has often done events with the children of our church. Her website is\u00a0http:\/\/www.OneOtherVoice.com<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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The Right Reverend Dr. Sally J. French, Bishop of the Diocese of New Jersey<\/b><\/strong><\/p>

The Rt. Rev. Sally French was consecrated as the 13th Bishop of the Diocese of New Jersey in 2024. \u00a0Before her election, Bishop French served as Canon for Regional Ministry and Collaborative Innovation in the Diocese of North Carolina. Her work provided ongregational support to churches in the diocese\u2019s Raleigh, Durham, and Rocky Mount. She worked with clergy and lay leaders to strengthen vitality and foster collaboration. Prior to joining diocesan staff, Bishop French spent twenty years in parish ministry. She served congregations of all sizes and types, in a variety of roles and capacities. Most recently, she designed and oversaw the process to revise the Journey to Adulthood youth ministry curriculum, a program of Christian education for teens that has been used by thousands of Episcopal congregations since 1995.Bishop French was raised in Toronto, Canada, in a secular home. She was baptized, confirmed, and sponsored for ordination through campus ministries at the University of Toronto.She is married to the Rev. Dr. Clarke French, and they are parents to Jack and Libby.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Vestry 2026<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
\u00a0<\/td>Elaine Feyereisen<\/strong><\/td>Senior Warden<\/td><\/tr>
\u00a0<\/td>Peggy James
<\/strong><\/td>		Junior Warden, Stewardship<\/td><\/tr>
\u00a0<\/td>Carl Alfano<\/strong><\/td>Vestry<\/td><\/tr>
\u00a0<\/td>Madna Aubry<\/strong><\/td>Liaison Girls Friendly Society<\/td><\/tr>
\u00a0<\/td>Julie\u00a0 Sinn Cassidy
<\/strong><\/td>		Youth Ministries<\/td><\/tr>
\u00a0<\/td>Walter Dein<\/strong><\/td>Property<\/td><\/tr>
\u00a0<\/td>Bramley Maber
<\/strong><\/td>		Vestry<\/td><\/tr>
\u00a0<\/td>Lisa Marino
<\/strong><\/td>		Vestry<\/td><\/tr>
\u00a0<\/td>Sue Napoletano<\/strong><\/td>Church School<\/td><\/tr>
\u00a0<\/td>Dianne Regiec
<\/strong><\/td>		Food Insecurity<\/td><\/tr>
\u00a0<\/td>\u00a0Susan Sellers<\/strong><\/td>Liaison to the ECW and The Gathering<\/td><\/tr>
\u00a0<\/td>\u00a0Bob Stewart
<\/strong><\/td>		\u00a0Graveyard Commission<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>
Office Of The Vestry<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
\u00a0<\/td>Steve Craven<\/strong><\/a><\/td>Treasurer<\/td><\/tr>
\u00a0<\/td>Lynn Marengo<\/strong><\/td>Assistant Treasurer<\/td><\/tr>
\u00a0<\/td>Nancy Stewart<\/strong><\/td>Vestry Clerk<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>
Other<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
\u00a0<\/td>Bob Stewart<\/strong><\/td>Parish Historian<\/td><\/tr>
\u00a0<\/td>\u00a0<\/td>\u00a0<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>

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The Reverend Susanna Cates, Priest-in-Charge, rector@christchurchshrewsbury.org Mother Susanna Cates is our new Priest-in-Charge. Originally from Florida, she’s lived in New […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-5879","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/christchurchshrewsbury.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5879","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/christchurchshrewsbury.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/christchurchshrewsbury.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christchurchshrewsbury.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christchurchshrewsbury.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5879"}],"version-history":[{"count":143,"href":"https:\/\/christchurchshrewsbury.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5879\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8764,"href":"https:\/\/christchurchshrewsbury.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5879\/revisions\/8764"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/christchurchshrewsbury.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5879"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}