Called in January 1991 as the Rector of Christ & Holy Trinity Church, John returned to the Diocese of Connecticut where he was ordained a priest in 1974. He was educated at the College of Wooster; University of Edinburgh, Scotland; Yale Divinity School; and the Center for Christian Spirituality of the General Theological Seminary. John's previous ministries in Hartford, CT. and in Chatham, New Jersey, have included many areas of parish life vital to the strength of Christ & Holy Trinity. Youth ministry, street ministry, dynamics of suburban congregations, counseling, stewardship, and developing a deeper personal spirituality are some areas of special interest to which John has dedicated himself. John's wife Judyth is a teacher of spirituality and a trained psychotherapist. Their daughter, Jessica graduated from Colgate University.
Elsa was ordained an Episcopal priest in June of 2007. Previously, she was ordained a UU minister and served as the minister of the Second Parish in Hingham, MA from 1996-2000. She then had a delightful "gap" in her resume while she stayed home with her three boys, Orion, Carl and Bo before taking the position of Chaplain at Wentworth Douglass Hospital in Dover, NH in 2005. Elsa received her BA in Liberal Arts from Sarah Lawrence College and her MDiv from Andover Newton Theological School. She has a diverse background, not only in her spiritual journey, but also in her professional life, having been a cook and baker, a teacher, a restaurant owner and a licensed massage therapist before attending seminary. Spiritual formation is her passion, and she believes that the local church is called to be a nourishing school of faith. She and her husband Steve feel very glad to be back in a parish, and particularly glad to be a part of Christ & Holy Trinity Church.
Pete is the President/CEO of the Interfaith Housing Association of Westport/Weston, Inc. At Christ & Holy Trinity, along with being an active member of the Church, he teaches Adult Education and preaches on occasion. Educated at North Carolina State University, Virginia Theological Seminary, St. George's College, Jerusalem, The College of Preachers, Washington, D.C., Princeton Theological Seminary, and The Seminary at the University of the South, Pete was ordained in 1976. He served as Rector at several parishes and continues to serve as Interim Pastor of churches. He and his wife Barbara have five children.
The Reverend Dr. Joseph Wagenseller
Priest Associate
Ordained as a priest in 1965, Joe celebrates the Holy Eucharist on a twice monthly basis, preaches and teaches occasionally, and practices as a Jungian Analyst in Westport. Joe graduated from Elizabethtown College and General Theological Seminary and received his Doctor of Ministry in Pastoral Psychotherapy from Andover Newton Theological School. He is a graduate of the C.G. Jung Institute and Blanton-Peale Graduate Institute, both of New York. He has been President and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the C.G. Jung Foundation and Institute, where he continues as a faculty member. He is on the faculty of the Graduate Department of Clinical Psychology, Teachers College, Columbia University. Joe is the Executive Director of Temenos Institute in Westport and is the author of "The Archetype of Vocation" in Protestantism and Jungian Analysis and "Spiritual Renewal at Midlife from a Jungian Perspective," Journal of Religion and Health.(Vol.37, No.3)
He lives in Westport with his wife of 35 years, Ginny, our Parish Nurse. They have three children.
The Reverend Patricia Coller
Priest Associate
Dr. Michael S. Burnette
Organist-Choirmaster
Michael joined the staff of Christ & Holy Trinity Church in July 1999. He leads a full-time music ministry consisting of a graded chorister program and the adult Parish Choir. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Church Music from Westminster Choir College and Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees in Performance and Literature from the Eastman School of Music of the University of Rochester. Michael has served congregations in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York and California. He brings a broad range of musical experience and expression, a sincere love of the Church and the desire to stir minds and souls through music to our parish.
Nicole was born and raised in a suburb of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, as the oldest of four children. As a freshman at the University of Pittsburgh, she changed her major from Pre-law to Religious Studies with the intent to become a Youth Director. Nicole began professional youth ministry right out of college and continued post-graduate work in the Masters in Christian Education - Youth Ministry program at Pfeiffer University. Nicole has enjoyed ministering to and with children of all ages for more than 12 years. Before arriving in Westport, she served churches in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and New Hampshire. Nicole's enthusiasm and commitment to our children and teenagers are obvious in her energy and wealth of ideas. Nicole accepted the invitation to add overseeing Sunday school and Children's Ministries in March of 2006. Since then she has introduced a nursery pager system, a Safe Church Policy, and the Workshop Rotation Model of Sunday school (WORM). She also keeps track of those college bound members of our parish. She has a passion for youth retreats and mission trips - both in the U.S. and abroad. In a parallel life, Nicole has taught Spanish in both a public and a private school. Her husband Matt, a strong support for Nicole, also helps in being an advocate for and mentor to our youth as he participates in the activities of C&HT. Nicole and Matt welcomed baby Benjamin into the world and into this parish in December 2006. Benjamin already enjoys worship music and studying the stained-glass windows in our Sanctuary.
Nathan was born in Boston, Massachusetts, where he was raised until moving to Wilmington, North Carolina in 1991. Growing up in Wilmington, Nathan was active in the Boy Scouts of America, and is an Eagle Scout. Nathan graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2004, where double majored in Philosophy and Political Science. After taking a year off, Nathan enrolled at Yale Divinity School, where he is currently a third year student. This past summer, Nathan worked as the Assistant Director of Camp Trinity, the summer camp of the Diocese of East Carolina. Two summers ago Nathan had the unique experience of working as a Chaplain for a hospital in Anchorage, Alaska. Nathan is a candidate for ordination to the transitional diaconate/priesthood in the Diocese of East Carolina, where, God willing, he will return upon graduating to be ordained and begin working.
Moira joined the staff as Director of Christ & Holy Trinity Preschool in 1998. She oversees a staff of eleven teachers serving 75 chidren. She holds a B.A in Psychology from Regis College in Weston, MA and a Masters in Education from the College of New Rochelle, N.Y. She has worked in the education field for 15 years before coming to C&HT. She is the treasurer of the Mid-Fairfield Association for the Education of Young Children and has recently completed The Connecticut Director's Credential at the Master's Level. Since joining the staff, Christ & Holy Trinity Preschool has been accredited for the second time in 2004. She and her husband John are the parents of three adult children.
Sue joined the staff in 1998 as the Rector's Executive Secretary. She is now responsible for coordinating all Baptisms, Weddings, and Funerals at Christ & Holy Trinity; scheduling all events and keeping the master calendar; supervising the secretarial staff and sextons, and acting as liaison to the directors of Music, Christian Education, and the Preschool. She is also accountable for all business and property management and Human Resource related issues as well as overseeing the C&HT Cemetery and Memorial Garden. Sue has a Bachelors Degree from UConn and a Masters from Indiana University where she worked prior to joining the staff of Syracuse University. She also served as Managing Director of a safari camp she owned in partnership in Zimbabwe.
Ann is a local person, born in Norwalk, raised in Weston and now living in Fairfield. A “cradle Episcopalian”, Ann was baptized at Christ & Holy Trinity and married at the church by Dana Kennedy. Active at St. Paul’s in Fairfield, she has served as Assistant Treasurer of the Church and on the Vestry. Ann has two sons and three step-sons. Previously she worked with The Robert Frances Group in Westport and with News Channel 8 as an Administrative Assistant. Her degrees are from Norwalk Community College and the University of Connecticut.
Marilyn came to C&HT in May 2003. She is responsible for producing the Sunday leaflet and all special service leaflets and maintains the database of all Christ & Holy Trinity church members, parishioners and friends. She is the support staff member for the Assistant Rector and the Organist/Choirmaster as well as overseeing the membership and scheduling rosters of a myriad of church groups and committees. Marilyn is a warm and welcoming addition to the staff. She lives in Redding with her husband and has a daughter, Sarah, and granddaughter, Kaila, in Rhode Island.
Joe has been on the C&HT staff since 2000. He is in charge of maintaining our church properties and keeping the physical plant in good working order. Joe was born and raised in Westport, owned his own floor covering business for most of his career and also served as Sexton for St. Cecilia's in Stamford before coming to Christ & Holy Trinity.
John Cleary
Sexton
John joined the staff of C&HT in July of 2003. Born and raised in Westport, John owned and operated a waste management company here for twenty years. After selling the business, he joined his brother in operating the convenience store at the Crossroads shopping area before retiring from that and coming to work for us at the Church. John combines his experience and expertise in maintenance and repair with Joe Veno's knowledge and they manage the church campus with incredible dedication and diligence. John spends every other weekend in his house in upper NY state.
Ginny Wagenseller
Parish Nurse
A member of Christ & Holy Trinity for over 20 years, Ginny began her work in Health Ministry in the spring of 2004. With a background in pediatric nursing, she was drawn to Parish Nursing out of her interest in holistic and public health nursing. Training for this work was through the National Episcopal Health Ministries and through St. Vincent’s Parish Nurse Program.
A member of the American Red Cross Disaster Health Service, she acts as a liaison to Human Services and other community support services in our town. She serves in our Church as a health promoter, health counselor, referral resource, and advocate. Providing a prayerful presence and comfort during times of need, she works with the Clergy and Pastoral Care Team to visit church members at home, in nursing homes or in the hospital.
She is available Sunday mornings for twice monthly blood pressure screenings and is the point person for the Walking in the Way health initiative.
Ginny may be reached through the Church Office, 227-0827, or 451-9134 or wagaginsing@aol.com.
Linda Christiani
Accounting Assistant
Linda joined the staff in March 2007, making her the newest member of the staff. She graduated from Shepherd College in West Virginia with a degree in Accounting. Linda has enjoyed working for a variety of companies, both service and consumer products. After taking a break from her accounting work to raise three children, she is enjoying her return to accounting. When not at work, Linda enjoys taking walks, playing sports and spending time with her family.
Called in January 1991 as the Rector of Christ & Holy Trinity Church, John returned to the Diocese of Connecticut where he was ordained a priest in 1974. He was educated at the College of Wooster; University of Edinburgh, Scotland; Yale Divinity School; and the Center for Christian Spirituality of the General Theological Seminary. John's previous ministries in Hartford, CT. and in Chatham, New Jersey, have included many areas of parish life vital to the strength of Christ & Holy Trinity. Youth ministry, street ministry, dynamics of suburban congregations, counseling, stewardship, and developing a deeper personal spirituality are some areas of special interest to which John has dedicated himself. John's wife Judyth is a teacher of spirituality and a trained psychotherapist. Their daughter, Jessica graduated from Colgate University.
Elsa was ordained an Episcopal priest in June of 2007. Previously, she was ordained a UU minister and served as the minister of the Second Parish in Hingham, MA from 1996-2000. She then had a delightful "gap" in her resume while she stayed home with her three boys, Orion, Carl and Bo before taking the position of Chaplain at Wentworth Douglass Hospital in Dover, NH in 2005. Elsa received her BA in Liberal Arts from Sarah Lawrence College and her MDiv from Andover Newton Theological School. She has a diverse background, not only in her spiritual journey, but also in her professional life, having been a cook and baker, a teacher, a restaurant owner and a licensed massage therapist before attending seminary. Spiritual formation is her passion, and she believes that the local church is called to be a nourishing school of faith. She and her husband Steve feel very glad to be back in a parish, and particularly glad to be a part of Christ & Holy Trinity Church. 
Pete is the President/CEO of the Interfaith Housing Association of Westport/Weston, Inc. At Christ & Holy Trinity, along with being an active member of the Church, he teaches Adult Education and preaches on occasion. Educated at North Carolina State University, Virginia Theological Seminary, St. George's College, Jerusalem, The College of Preachers, Washington, D.C., Princeton Theological Seminary, and The Seminary at the University of the South, Pete was ordained in 1976. He served as Rector at several parishes and continues to serve as Interim Pastor of churches. He and his wife Barbara have five children.
Ordained as a priest in 1965, Joe celebrates the Holy Eucharist on a twice monthly basis, preaches and teaches occasionally, and practices as a Jungian Analyst in Westport. Joe graduated from Elizabethtown College and General Theological Seminary and received his Doctor of Ministry in Pastoral Psychotherapy from Andover Newton Theological School. He is a graduate of the C.G. Jung Institute and Blanton-Peale Graduate Institute, both of New York. He has been President and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the C.G. Jung Foundation and Institute, where he continues as a faculty member. He is on the faculty of the Graduate Department of Clinical Psychology, Teachers College, Columbia University. Joe is the Executive Director of Temenos Institute in Westport and is the author of "The Archetype of Vocation" in Protestantism and Jungian Analysis and "Spiritual Renewal at Midlife from a Jungian Perspective," Journal of Religion and Health.(Vol.37, No.3)
Michael joined the staff of Christ & Holy Trinity Church in July 1999. He leads a full-time music ministry consisting of a graded chorister program and the adult Parish Choir. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Church Music from Westminster Choir College and Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees in Performance and Literature from the Eastman School of Music of the University of Rochester. Michael has served congregations in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York and California. He brings a broad range of musical experience and expression, a sincere love of the Church and the desire to stir minds and souls through music to our parish.
Nicole was born and raised in a suburb of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, as the oldest of four children. As a freshman at the University of Pittsburgh, she changed her major from Pre-law to Religious Studies with the intent to become a Youth Director. Nicole began professional youth ministry right out of college and continued post-graduate work in the Masters in Christian Education - Youth Ministry program at Pfeiffer University. Nicole has enjoyed ministering to and with children of all ages for more than 12 years. Before arriving in Westport, she served churches in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and New Hampshire. Nicole's enthusiasm and commitment to our children and teenagers are obvious in her energy and wealth of ideas. Nicole accepted the invitation to add overseeing Sunday school and Children's Ministries in March of 2006. Since then she has introduced a nursery pager system, a Safe Church Policy, and the Workshop Rotation Model of Sunday school (WORM). She also keeps track of those college bound members of our parish. She has a passion for youth retreats and mission trips - both in the U.S. and abroad. In a parallel life, Nicole has taught Spanish in both a public and a private school. Her husband Matt, a strong support for Nicole, also helps in being an advocate for and mentor to our youth as he participates in the activities of C&HT. Nicole and Matt welcomed baby Benjamin into the world and into this parish in December 2006. Benjamin already enjoys worship music and studying the stained-glass windows in our Sanctuary. 
Nathan was born in Boston, Massachusetts, where he was raised until moving to Wilmington, North Carolina in 1991. Growing up in Wilmington, Nathan was active in the Boy Scouts of America, and is an Eagle Scout. Nathan graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2004, where double majored in Philosophy and Political Science. After taking a year off, Nathan enrolled at Yale Divinity School, where he is currently a third year student. This past summer, Nathan worked as the Assistant Director of Camp Trinity, the summer camp of the Diocese of East Carolina. Two summers ago Nathan had the unique experience of working as a Chaplain for a hospital in Anchorage, Alaska. Nathan is a candidate for ordination to the transitional diaconate/priesthood in the Diocese of East Carolina, where, God willing, he will return upon graduating to be ordained and begin working. 
Moira joined the staff as Director of Christ & Holy Trinity Preschool in 1998. She oversees a staff of eleven teachers serving 75 chidren. She holds a B.A in Psychology from Regis College in Weston, MA and a Masters in Education from the College of New Rochelle, N.Y. She has worked in the education field for 15 years before coming to C&HT. She is the treasurer of the Mid-Fairfield Association for the Education of Young Children and has recently completed The Connecticut Director's Credential at the Master's Level. Since joining the staff, Christ & Holy Trinity Preschool has been accredited for the second time in 2004. She and her husband John are the parents of three adult children.
Sue joined the staff in 1998 as the Rector's Executive Secretary. She is now responsible for coordinating all Baptisms, Weddings, and Funerals at Christ & Holy Trinity; scheduling all events and keeping the master calendar; supervising the secretarial staff and sextons, and acting as liaison to the directors of Music, Christian Education, and the Preschool. She is also accountable for all business and property management and Human Resource related issues as well as overseeing the C&HT Cemetery and Memorial Garden. Sue has a Bachelors Degree from UConn and a Masters from Indiana University where she worked prior to joining the staff of Syracuse University. She also served as Managing Director of a safari camp she owned in partnership in Zimbabwe.
Ann is a local person, born in Norwalk, raised in Weston and now living in Fairfield. A “cradle Episcopalian”, Ann was baptized at Christ & Holy Trinity and married at the church by Dana Kennedy. Active at St. Paul’s in Fairfield, she has served as Assistant Treasurer of the Church and on the Vestry. Ann has two sons and three step-sons. Previously she worked with The Robert Frances Group in Westport and with News Channel 8 as an Administrative Assistant. Her degrees are from Norwalk Community College and the University of Connecticut.
Marilyn came to C&HT in May 2003. She is responsible for producing the Sunday leaflet and all special service leaflets and maintains the database of all Christ & Holy Trinity church members, parishioners and friends. She is the support staff member for the Assistant Rector and the Organist/Choirmaster as well as overseeing the membership and scheduling rosters of a myriad of church groups and committees. Marilyn is a warm and welcoming addition to the staff. She lives in Redding with her husband and has a daughter, Sarah, and granddaughter, Kaila, in Rhode Island.
Joe has been on the C&HT staff since 2000. He is in charge of maintaining our church properties and keeping the physical plant in good working order. Joe was born and raised in Westport, owned his own floor covering business for most of his career and also served as Sexton for St. Cecilia's in Stamford before coming to Christ & Holy Trinity..jpg){kind=spacer}
John joined the staff of C&HT in July of 2003. Born and raised in Westport, John owned and operated a waste management company here for twenty years. After selling the business, he joined his brother in operating the convenience store at the Crossroads shopping area before retiring from that and coming to work for us at the Church. John combines his experience and expertise in maintenance and repair with Joe Veno's knowledge and they manage the church campus with incredible dedication and diligence. John spends every other weekend in his house in upper NY state.
A member of Christ & Holy Trinity for over 20 years, Ginny began her work in Health Ministry in the spring of 2004. With a background in pediatric nursing, she was drawn to Parish Nursing out of her interest in holistic and public health nursing. Training for this work was through the National Episcopal Health Ministries and through St. Vincent’s Parish Nurse Program. 