The Reverend Lauren T. McLeavey (Mother Lauren) has been the Rector of St. Stephen’s since October 2019. A native of Massachusetts, Mother Lauren was heavily involved in church youth activities. After high school, she attended Syracuse University and was the president of the Episcopal Campus Ministry there.
After graduating from college, she moved to Queens and joined Zion Episcopal Church in Douglaston, where she taught Sunday School, was on the Vestry, and became Senior Warden at age 25. She attended General Theological Seminary, graduating in 2013. She was ordained in that year, and also married Frank Warren IV. She served on Long Island for three years as Priest in Charge of Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Great River, and Curate at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Islip. In 2016, she and Frank moved back to Massachusetts, and she became the Rector of St. Anne’s in North Billerica, MA.
Staff
Thomas Fierro, Minister of Music (
Thomas Fierro has been the Music Director and Organist at St. Stephen’s Church since October 2021. He received his degrees in piano, organ and theory from the Manhattan School of Music in New York City. Upon graduation, he began his music ministry in parish churches where he directed Adult, Children and Young Adult/Teen choirs as well as the Schola Cantorum.
Mr. Fierro taught Music, Religion and the Sacraments in the parish schools as well as private instrumental lessons. He has a keen interest in the construction of pipe organs, has worked for Pipe Organ companies in the tri-state area and is responsible for the design and installation of many instruments.
Mr. Fierro is very happy to continue the excellent music program here at St. Stephen’s and is grateful for the foundation of great music established by his predecessor, Mr. Mark van Schenkhof.
Bernadette Reyes, Parish Administrator (
Bernadette has been the Parish Administrator of St. Stephen’s Church since September 2016. Prior to coming to St. Stephen’s Bernadette had an eclectic occupational background, working for a variety of non-profit organizations. She has worked for some prominent healthcare institutions in Boston and Manhattan in laboratory and clinical research and data management.
Bernadette has also had a long history of involvement in the arts. She has worked as the Company Administrator, a dance instructor and performer for American Bolero Dance Company in Long Island City, a nonprofit arts organization based in Queens specializing in flamenco and various forms of classical and regional folkloric Spanish dances. Bernadette has been a member of the Huntington Choral Society since 2002, serving on the Board of Directors as President, Vice-President, Membership Chair and Historian, in addition to serving on HCS’s various committees. Bernadette has also done work with the Huntington Arts Council and the Queens Council on the Arts as grant review panelist, awarding funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, Decentralization, the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, and JP Morgan Chase re-grant programs to arts organizations throughout Long Island and Queens.
Rhonda Fay, Children & Youth Minister (
Rhonda leads this most important part of our ministry, overseeing the Sunday School and Youth groups. Rhonda has many years of experience of working in the Sunday School, leading the plays, dramas and classes. Rhonda brings fantastic life, energy and enthusiasm to this ministry and will act as a catalyst for supporting our existing wonderful Sunday School and Youth leaders.
Caren Salkin, St. Stephen's Consignment Shop Manager (
Caren Salkin has worked in wholesale and retail fashion for over 30 years. She is originally from Port Washington, spent time in Connecticut and then New York City in the fashion business, and now lives once again in Port Washington. A Drexel graduate, she was a buyer, has managed departments at major department stores, and has had her own business selling fashion items for several years. She enjoys spending time with her two daughters, her granddaughter and her shih tzu, Bailey. She appreciates the Shop's mission of doing good deals, and good works at the same time for our community.
Vestry
Our Vestry consists of two Wardens and nine Vestry members. The Wardens and Vestry members are elected at the annual parish meeting. At the first Vestry meeting following the annual meeting, the Vestry elects a Clerk and a Treasurer (who do not have to be Vestry members) to a one-year term.
Regular meetings of the Vestry are generally held monthly, and special meetings can be held (in person, or on-line) as required to deal with issues that require Vestry action.
Rachel Golder & Robin Schroeder, Wardens (
Susan Dietz Massingill, Clerk of the Vestry
John Day, Treasurer
Alan Dinn, Clerk Emeritus (
Vestry Members:
Donna Blankman
Abigail Chromy
Randy Forsyth
Roopali Gupta
John Longmire
Gail Grossman
Elizabeth Predmore
Nora Silbersack
Kynan John, Youth Member
