St. Andrew's Episcopal Church

St. Andrew's is a parish of the Episcopal Diocese of Central Pennsylvania
                           The Rt. Rev. Dr. Nathan Baxter, Bishop

With God's help, the people of Saint Andrew's Church will strive to know and accept God's love in Jesus Christ for people of all sorts and conditions and to witness to God's love in word and action.

Church Staff

• The Rev. Larry J. Hofer – Rector

Fr. Hofer has been Rector of St. Andrew's Church since July, 1994. He is currently on sabbatical, and will be retired in September. Father Hofer is a graduate of Kenyon College and Trinity Lutheran Seminary. In 1987 he completed Anglican Studies at the General Theological Seminary in New York and was ordained deacon and priest the same year. He has been a chair of several committees, including the Commission on Ministry in the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania. He is married to Susan M. Hofer. They have two children: Kristen Parker and Eric Hofer, and three grandchildren: Patrick, Ryan, and Isabelle.

• The Rev. Richard Virgil – Associate

Fr.Virgil was ordained a Lutheran minister in 1974 in Brooklyn, NY. He served in a variety of urban ministries until moving to State College in 2002. He studied at the University of Chicago Divinity School, and Union Theological Seminary in New York City. He has a wife, Barbara, and a daughter, Samantha, who will enter High School in the fall of 2007. Before arriving in State College, he served as a Church Resource Developer for Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service in NYC. He is most interested in Ministries that bring a clearly visible religious witness to bear on issues of everyday life and in the larger social and political issues of our times.

• The Rev. Joseph DeLauter – Deacon

The Rev. Joseph H. DeLauter has been Deacon assigned to St. Andrew's since November, 2005. Deacon Joe completed the Diocese’s Diaconate program with the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania School of Christian Studies in May 2005, and was ordained to the diaconate in November 2005. He is a graduate of Penn State University. He is a native of State College, and was baptized and confirmed at St Andrew’s. He and his wife Sandra L. DeLauter were married at St.Andrew’s in 1965. They have two children, Christine Krasnansky and Joseph DeLauter II, and two grandchildren, Chloe and Lauren Krasnansky.

• Robin Bagby – Director of Christian Education

Robin Bagby has been an active member of St. Andrew’s since 1984 and Director of Christian Education since January 2000. She and her husband John were received at Calvary Episcopal Church in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1983. In 1973 Robin received a B.S. in Elementary Education at the University of Kansas. In 1983 she earned a Masters in Education from the University of Cincinnati. John and Robin’s two teenagers Julia and Jack were both baptized at St. Andrew’s.

• Meredith Kirby – Youth Ministry Coordinator

Meredith Kirby has been the Youth Ministry Coordinator since March, 2004. Previously she was a church school teacher at St. Andrew's for 3 years and served on the Journey to Adulthood formation committee. She has worked as a children's library assistant and a nanny, after leaving cooperate sales. Meredith has an undergraduate degree in English literature and a Master's degree in Education, both from Penn State. She and her husband Steve have a son Max.

• Walter Wells – Choir Director

Walter Wells has been choir director at St. Andrew's since 1973. He did his undergraduate and graduate studies at Penn State, studying voice with Willa Taylor, William Lewis and Robert Trehy, conducting with D. Douglas Miller and composition with James Case. He is active at the diocesan level, having been a member of the Commission on Liturgy and Music for over 20 years. He is a member of the Association of Anglican Musicians and the National Association for Pastoral Musicians. He is a founding board member of the Junior Baroque Festival in State College. He is a published composer and has written a number of works for chorus, both accompanied and unaccompanied, and for the organ. His wife Molly is a member of the Adult Choir. They have one daughter, Erica.

• Gwen Catchen – Organist

Gwen Catchen has been organist at St. Andrew’s since 1983. Gwen holds a Master of Fine Arts from Penn State and a Bachelor of Music from Syracuse University. She studied organ with Donald Sutherland and June Miller. Gwen is a member of the Diocesan Music and Liturgy Commission, the American Guild of Organists, the Association of Anglican Musicians and the National Association of Pastoral Musicians.

• Julie Valora – Administrative Assistant

Julie joined the staff of St. Andrew's in September of 2007. She was born and raised in Howard, PA, and graduated from Bald Eagle Area High School in 1995. She has owned a pizza shop, worked in home care, and as an audit clerk. She recently returned to school and graduated from South Hills School of Business and Technology this year with an Associate's Degree in Specialized Business Management and Marketing. Julie is the mother of a son, Jordan, who just turned eleven.

• Jill Ascah - Financial Secretary

• Susan Stephenson - Treasurer

Sue Stephenson has been coming to St. Andrew’s since 1981. She has been an active member of the choir since then, and is involved in other groups, especially the book group and Stephen Ministry. She became treasurer in January, 2001. She earned a bachelor of music degree from the University of Michigan in 1974 and currently plays cello in the Nittany Valley Orchestra. Married to Andy Stephenson, they have two grown children, Lydia and Gabe, both of whom were baptized members of St. Andrew’s.

• Julie Kwasnica – Nursery Coordinator

Julie Kwasnica has been an active member of St. Andrew’s since she and her husband, Tony, were received in March 2001. She joined the staff as Nursery Coordinator in September 2006, but has volunteered in the nursery since 2001. When she’s not in the nursery, Julie is a stay-at-home mom to her daughters Anna and Marlee. She is a former church school teacher and she currently serves on the Christian Education Commission. Julie has a B.S. in Finance from the University of Alabama and an M.S. in Social Science from Caltech.

• Rose Bohn - Director of Spiritual Life Growth

Rose Bohn is a graduate of Oasis Ministry's Spiritual Direction for Spiritual Guides program and holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in poetry. She teaches workshops and classes and has a private practice in Spiritual Direction, Holistic Life Coaching and Reiki in State College where she is a farmer, poet, and mother of two.

• Janet Engeman - Parish Coordinator

Janet Engeman serves St. Andrew’s in a variety of capacities, ranging from writing for the Monthy Messenger, taking photos of parish events, acting as the contact person for the St. Francis Ministry, chairing or serving as needed on committees, initiating special projects and facilitating communication within the parish. Her background includes a degree in Economics, and many years as a manager in a computer software company where she participated in product design, technical writing, and client communication. She is the mother of two grown sons, and is married to Matthew Thompson.