Our Staff
Priest-in-charge
The Reverend Jennifer Elizabeth Mattson was called by the vestry in December 2016. She will begin her ministry the first week of January. Her first Sunday will be January 8th.
Jennifer served for nearly ten years at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Lancaster, as an assistant and associate to the rector before concluding her ministry in anticipation of the birth of her fourth child. She has a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education, with minors in Early Childhood Education and Music from Shippensburg University. She completed her theological studies at Berkeley Divinity School at Yale, earning her Master of Divinity in 2005. She continued her education in pastoral care as a chaplain resident at Yale New Haven Hospital, completing two levels of clinical pastoral education.
Jennifer lives in Lancaster with her husband Bradley and children Anna Gail, William, Thomas and Elizabeth Grace and a very active English springer spaniel. Jennifer loves dancing, Zumba, enjoys singing and plays the piano. She is passionate about roller derby, and recently retired after skating with the Lancaster Dutchland Rollers as “Sojourner Ruthless”.
We expect to welcome Jennifer and her family more formally later in January; her installation will follow in the spring.
Deacon
A confirmed people person, Deacon Jane Miron believes that talking is a great spiritual exercise! She used to occupy her time during the day by “hanging out” with 7th graders trying to instill in them a deep love and appreciation for history. She has since retired from teaching middle-schoolers, but not from church work! Deacon Jane lives in Neffsville, with her husband David. One of her favorite activities is spending time with her two grandchildren, Sierra and Christian. Other activities include biking, walking, reading and spending time with people! She and David have raised two children, Hannah, who lives in Lancaster, and Nick, who lives with his wife Allison and the grandchildren in Lititz.
Pastoral Minister Emeritus
Mildred Lorch was a hospital chaplain for 18 years at what used to be called St Joseph's Hospital, now known as Lancaster Regional, where she also served as a certified addictions counselor. She served as pastoral minister at St. Thomas for more than two decades. Though now retired, she continues to offer pastoral counseling, spiritual direction, and healing prayer to those who request it. Mildred lives in Smoketown with her beloved cat, Micah. She is the mother of four grown sons, has four wonderful daughters-in-law, eight grandchildren, and two great grandchildren.
Choir Director
Dr. Maria Corley was born in Jamaica, but grew up in Alberta, Canada. She had her first public performance at the age of eight. She has since appeared on radio, television, and concert stages in Canada, the United States, Central America, Bermuda, and Europe as both soloist and collaborative artist, including performances at Alice Tully and Carnegie Halls in New York City. A graduate of Alberta University, she also holds masters and doctorate degrees from the Julliard School. She juggles ongoing careers as concert pianist, music teacher, voice actor, and writer with her duties as choir director at St. Thomas and mother of two fabulous kids. It makes for a hectic but very full life!
Church School Director
A warm welcome to our new Church School Director, Katharine "Kit" Suliveras. Kit was born and raised in Lancaster. she graduated from Penn Manor High School in 1994 and recieved her B,.A. from Hampton University. A stay-at-home mother of three, ages 11, 9 and 7, Kit has served as a Sunday School teacher, Nursery caregiver, Child Care Center director, Pregnancy and Parenting case manager, and Education Coordinator. She enjoys swimming, scrapbooking, and has written three children's books. Welcome, Kit!!!
Nursery Caregiver
Please welcome Jessica Harris, nursery caregiver on Sunday mornings. Jessica is a mother and preschool teacher at Hildebrandt Learning Center in Lancaster.
Parish Secretary
Bev Rider joined the St. Thomas staff as the part-time parish secretary in March of 2013 and is happy to be working for such a wonderful and caring church family. She grew up on a farm in East Earl, PA and is the youngest of four children. Bev married Randy, her high school sweetheart, in July of 1993. They moved to Oklahoma in order for Randy to finish college then lived in Texas for a year before moving back to the east coast in 1997. During the summer of 2012, they moved back “home” to New Holland, PA after having lived in Delaware for almost 14 years. Randy and Bev have two children, JR and Mandi, who are both very active in school and sports. Her family enjoys their labradoodle, Nacho, spending time with friends and family, as well as watching the many sports and activities that the children are involved in.
Facilities Manager
Having been raised a "P.K." (preacher's kid), Ken Moyer did not feel called to follow in his father's footsteps! Instead, he worked 39 years for a pharmaceutical company, taking on carpentry jobs on the side as an outlet for his lifelong passion for woodworking. He lives with Jane, his wife of many years, in a house just north of Manheim. After he retired, the two of them traveled several times to Europe, Iceland, and the western U.S. He very much enjoys his "retirement" jobs as facilities manager at St. Thomas and ranger at a local golf course. Ken's motto in life is, "God is good!"
