New Clergy Calls - Fall 2020

The following is a roundup of new positions in the diocese year to date.  Biographies for those new (*)  to the diocese can be found at the bottom of this page.

• Christ Church, Ithan/St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, Radnor:  *The Rev. Veronika Travis, Rector 
• Church of the Good Shepherd, Rosemont: The Rev. Dr. Kyle Babin, Rector
• Gloria Dei (Old Swedes') Episcopal Church:  The Rev. Koshy Matthews, Interim Rector
• Hispanic Missioner in South Philadelphia: The Rev. Yesenia Alejandro
• St. George St Barnabas, Philadelphia: The Rev. Al Holland, Interim Rector; The Rev. Darrell Tiller, Curate for Christian Formation
• St. James Episcopal Church, Langhorne: The Rev. Paul Briggs, Interim Rector
• St. Matthews Episcopal Church, Maple Glen: *The Rev. Rodney Roehner, Rector
• St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Chester: *The Rev. Lawrence Civale, Deacon-in-Charge
• St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church, Whitemarsh: *The Rev. Dr. Matthew Burdette, Rector
• Washington Memorial Chapel, Valley Forge: The Rev. Tommy Thompson, Rector

The Rev. Lawrence Civali (lower left): “I grew up in the Albany, New York area. Raised Roman Catholic, faith has always been fairly ecumenical as my mother’s family was from the Methodist tradition and my father’s was Roman Catholic. I first started worshiping in the Episcopal Church as a teenager and have primarily attended and served in more urban parishes in the Albany area, New York City and Boston. I am a clinical social worker and have enjoyed many years working primarily as a psychotherapist, but also in medical and psychiatric settings and more recently as a congregational consultant in the Diocese of Massachusetts, my sending Diocese. After three years of study, I graduated from Virginia Theological Seminary in May. I love to be outdoors and enjoy long walks and hiking and touching the things that nature offers. I enjoy museums, singing, concerts of all types of music, and exploring the world- both locally and globally.”

The Rev. Dr. Matthew Burdette (upper right): “My wife and I are lifelong friends who grew up in central New Jersey, but we have been living in Dallas for the last few years. It has been a fun adventure down here, but we are ready to come home. We have two cats, are now expecting our first child! So we have a great deal of exciting change right now, and we are filled with gratitude for what God is doing in our lives.  I’m a bit of a nerd. I love reading and writing, and I hope to serve the church as a teacher and ecumenist. My journey of faith began in the strange apocalyptic country of Seventh-day Adventism, in which I learned to love the Bible, and to believe that the world I live in each day and the world of the Bible are in fact the same world. In my early twenties, I happily joined the Episcopal Church, and was ordained to the priesthood in 2017. Each day I learn more fully what it means to be a disciple of Jesus, and I am thankful to be able to look at my life and to see that God is patiently forming me, and even condescends to use me.”

The Rev. Veronika Travis (upper left): Growing up in The Episcopal Church as the daughter of a priest, Veronika spent a lot of time playing hide and seek among the pews, escaping from adults as she and her friends ran through the halls, and learning to love God and her neighbor. As an adult, she remembers those years of learning and freedom to encounter God, and this motivates her to share her love of Jesus with others and to build up Christ's church. Her work before entering ordained ministry was in Christian formation, communications and technology. She has a passion for helping people to meet Jesus through new technologies and through the church's ancient traditions and spiritual practices. Veronika earned her BA in Comparative Literature from Smith College and her Master in Divinity from Virginia Theological Seminary and previously served in the Diocese of Vermont as a lay leader and as the Associate Rector of St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Alexandria, VA.

The Rev. Rodney Roehner (lower right):  The Rev. Roehner was previously at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in New Smyrna Beach, FL, where he was the Rector for five years. Prior to that he was the Associate Rector and school chaplain at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in New Orleans. He brings to the diocese and St. Matthew’s Maple Glen significant experience, accomplishment, spirituality, ability, and enthusiasm. He was born and raised in Montgomery County, graduating from Methacton High School and Villanova University. He attended seminary at Nashotah House Seminary in Wisconsin, where he earned a Masters of Theological Studies with a concentration in Anglican Studies. The Rev. Roehner is married to Carolina, and together they have two children, twin 11-year old girls, Sophia and Alexa.