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ABOUT US
St. John’s Episcopal Church is an active and historic community church. We openly welcome ALL who walk through our doors as individuals sent by God who will enrich our lives. On Sundays, we come together as the people of God to celebrate the life and message of Christ. We hope you will honor us with a visit and we look forward to sharing God’s love with you.
OUR VISION
To draw families, single parents, couples, and individuals from all walks of life, age, background, race, or gender into a family of love and acceptance, where the teachings of Jesus are tangible and where everyone can make mistakes, and learn how to grow into an authentic community.
WHAT WE DO
St. John's, as a church, has stood on the corner of Union & Congress since 1809. In that time, this parish has seen all manner of social and economic trials and tribulations in our culture and in our city. But we have endured. Out of that endurance, has come a resolve to be a better place where people can live together, love one another, and help each other in times of need.
OUR COMMUNITY
We are a small, but dedicated, community of believers who are crossing barriers that have been created historically by ageism, prejudice, class, and sexual orientation. We bring "welcome" to our dialogue, faith to our service and compassion to our points of view. We understand that life in community is not easy. But we are willing to take the risk.
ST. JOHN'S LEADERSHIP
Click on each member's photo to learn more in their bio.
Father Josh Messick
Rev. Josh was ordained in 2014 and has served parishes in his home diocese on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, the Diocese of Mississippi, and his current home here in the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland as both a rector and long-term supply clergy. He has always felt called to work directly with those who are most in need and after a stint as a hospice chaplain and bereavement coordinator he accepted the role of Executive Director of the Baltimore International Seafarers’ Center where he serves as the Port Chaplain for the Port of Baltimore. This has always been his dream job and he is grateful for the opportunity to work with seafarers from around the world while serving local congregations that fill his heart.
Deacon Jane O'Leary
Jane came to St. John’s during the pandemic in 2020, after serving as Archdeacon of the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland. Jane was ordained in 1989 in the Diocese of Connecticut, coming to MD in 2002. She has served several parishes in both dioceses, most recently in Baltimore City. Jane is a licensed social worker and is retired after 50 years leading human service organizations in support of low income and vulnerable people. Jane and her husband Bill Mundy live in Baltimore County and have a blended family of 6 adult children and 7 grandchildren.
Irmgarde Brown - Sr. Warden
Irmgarde Brown is an author, a semi-retired librarian/manager from Harford County Public Library, a long-time blogger, photographer, playwright and director, an active volunteer in the Havre de Grace arts community, and a friend to the Village of Hope, Zambia. Irmgarde has attended St. John’s since the Fall of 2019 and has lived in Havre de Grace since 1985. In July 2023, she completed a two-year commitment to the Living School of Action and Contemplation (online) out of Albuquerque, New Mexico. She is a widow, the mother of three adoptees from Eastern Europe (now grown), and a grandmother of three. Her first novel, Sister Jane, launched in June 2021. A companion novella to this book, Sister Jane’s Lenten Journal, was released in 2022. In December 2023, her third book, Children in the City of Czars: A Novel was released. She is also the co-author of the memoir, Evidence
Now Seen: How God Used One Couple to Touch the Lives of Orphaned and Vulnerable Children in Zambia.
Now Seen: How God Used One Couple to Touch the Lives of Orphaned and Vulnerable Children in Zambia.
Ray Mastnjak - Jr. Warden
Ray was born in the Netherlands and at age 3 immigrated to Canada with his parents. Ray later moved to upstate New York where he attended high school and
entered the chemical engineering program at Syracuse University. Ray did not grow up in a church environment however while attending Syracuse University he made the commitment to become a Christian and follow the gospel of Christ. Ray met his wife Debi in 1975 and they married that same year; living in New York State, Connecticut,
and then finally in Maryland. Ray was employed by the Department of Defense for 36 years as a supervisory scientist, which also brought Ray and Debi and their two children to Germany for 3 years for Ray's work at Seventh Corps Headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany. Once their children were grown, Ray and Debi became involved with a Methodist Church ministry to orphan children in Namibia, a country in the southern part of Africa, where they served for about 2 years total. Ray also became a member of the orphanage board of directors and later the board chairperson for several years. In retirement Ray and Debi enjoy time spent with their 4 grand-daughters along with traveling, hiking, kayaking and gardening.
entered the chemical engineering program at Syracuse University. Ray did not grow up in a church environment however while attending Syracuse University he made the commitment to become a Christian and follow the gospel of Christ. Ray met his wife Debi in 1975 and they married that same year; living in New York State, Connecticut,
and then finally in Maryland. Ray was employed by the Department of Defense for 36 years as a supervisory scientist, which also brought Ray and Debi and their two children to Germany for 3 years for Ray's work at Seventh Corps Headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany. Once their children were grown, Ray and Debi became involved with a Methodist Church ministry to orphan children in Namibia, a country in the southern part of Africa, where they served for about 2 years total. Ray also became a member of the orphanage board of directors and later the board chairperson for several years. In retirement Ray and Debi enjoy time spent with their 4 grand-daughters along with traveling, hiking, kayaking and gardening.
Jackie Brandon - Vestry Member
Jacqueline Brandon (Jackie) was born in Havre de Grace in 1951 at Harford Memorial Hospital. I was raised in Havre de Grace, MD and attended Havre de Grace public schools. I attended Grace Reformed Episcopal church where I was baptized and confirmed as a child through my early teens. My family moved to Elkton when I was entering 9 th grade and I graduated from Elkton Sr High in 1969. I attended East Carolina University for only one semester and returned home to Elkton. I went to work at C&P Telephone Company and worked as a telephone operator, then clerk in the test center, then on to frame-hop and then Central Office Tech. Bob and I were married at Grace Reformed Episcopal Church in
1971, moved back to HdG and have two children, William (Billy) and Laura who have given us three handsome grandsons Bennett, Jacob and Fritz. I began attending St Johns in 1989 when my children were baptized by Father Rory Harris. My Mother and I served at Grace Place for a few years when it first began and my Mother was the coordinator for the St Johns contingent. I also served as the President of St Johns Nursery Co-op when my children were little and attending. I currently serve on altar guild, sing in the choir, serve on the Worship Committee and schedule the lectors.
1971, moved back to HdG and have two children, William (Billy) and Laura who have given us three handsome grandsons Bennett, Jacob and Fritz. I began attending St Johns in 1989 when my children were baptized by Father Rory Harris. My Mother and I served at Grace Place for a few years when it first began and my Mother was the coordinator for the St Johns contingent. I also served as the President of St Johns Nursery Co-op when my children were little and attending. I currently serve on altar guild, sing in the choir, serve on the Worship Committee and schedule the lectors.
Bill Price - Vestry Member
William A. Price III is an entertainment technology consultant and a freelance designer. He has been active in the Entertainment industry for over 40 years. Most recently Bill was the Vice President for AKT3 the Mid-Atlantic representative of lighting, rigging and draperies for entertainment. He is also the Chair and Founder of the Havre de Grace Arts Collective, the Immediate Past Chair of United States Institute of Theater Technology Chesapeake Section, and former Chair of the USITT eSET Council an education organization of the entertainment industry. He has directed several shows for area theatres including re “A Few Good Men” for MST and Scrooge” for the Scottfield company. He designed and installed lighting for The Newseum, The Studio Theatre and Theatre J in Washington DC. As a free-lance Lighting and Set Designer Bill has designed for the Olney Theatre, the Baltimore Choral Arts Society, Phoenix Festival Theatre, the Milburn Stone Theatre and the Kennedy Center. Bill received the 2013 and 2016 Broadway World Baltimore Awards “Best Lighting Design” for “Spring Awakenings” and “American Idiot”. He was Senior Warden of St John’s church for six years and remains an active member of St John’s church. He holds a degree in Arts Management from Johnson State College, Vermont and a Master’s of Fine Arts in Theatrical Design from the University of Maryland. He resides in Havre de Grace, Maryland with his wife Gay Lynn.
Barbara Snyder - Vestry Member
Barbara have been a member of St. John’s for 40 years and has seen it thrive and struggle. She is excited to be a part of the team that brings St. John’s back to a healthy existence. Barbara was a founding member of our church’s food cupboard, and has watched the program grow from a table of donated groceries to the thriving lunch program it has become. The community depends on us, and Barbara want to help guarantee that St. John’s will be here for a long time to help. She wants to help in finding a new rector and bringing St. John’s bank account to a working level. Barbara intend to be as actively involved as her seventy years will
allow.
allow.
Cary Chabalowski - Vestry Member
Cary was born in Chicago but grew up in the suburbs of Milwaukee. He received a Ph.D. degree in chemistry at the University of Kansas, where he met and married his very patient wife, Molly. Early in his career he spent one year as a research professor at Johns Hopkins University, which was their introduction to Maryland. Cary and Molly enjoyed living on the East Coast, so in 1986 they moved from the Chicago area to Bel Air after getting a position at the US Army Ballistics Research Laboratory (now Army Research Lab.), APG. In 2003 Cary transferred to the DC area as a research administrator for the US Army, continuing until retirement in 2012. Upon retirement, Cary and Molly moved to their small lake home in Wisconsin, which they sold in August, 2021, and moved to Havre de Grace to be closer to their kids and old friends. Cary and Molly have two adult children who grew up in Bel Air and still reside in the area. Molly is a retired elementary school music teacher who taught in Harford and Fairfax Counties. Cary’s church experience includes serving on several vestries and trying his best to support other church activities as needed.
Peter Murray - Vestry Member
Peter Murray was born outside of Philadelphia, but grew up in the suburbs of Nashville, Tennessee. His family moved to Harford County in 1987. He graduated from the University of Maryland with a BS in Psychology, and from Indiana University with an MA in Psychology. He and his wife, Nicole, married in 1999, and they moved to Havre de Grace in 2008, where they raised their son and daughter. Peter works for Firaxis Games, a video game developer in Hunt Valley, Maryland. Previously he was the Cubmaster for Pack 235 in Churchville and Scoutmaster for Troop 965 in Level/Webster. He has previously served on the Pastoral Council of St. Margaret’s Church in Bel Air.
Fred Vesci III
Frederick (Fred) Vesci was born and raised in Philadelphia and brought up in the Catholic Faith, which included attending catholic elementary middle and high school. He graduated from Drexel University with a degree in Architectural Engineering. He has been with the engineering firm HNTB since interning with them in college (nearly 25 years). Fred has worked on rail, bridge, and infrastructure projects for his company in Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, Charlotte…and now Baltimore. He and his wife plan to stay in this area until their children, Charlie and Adele, graduate from high school (or longer)!
His wife, Renee Vesci, was born and raised in the Methodist Church in North Carolina. After visiting various churches and services, they decided that the Episcopal was the best blend and fit. Renee and Fred went through confirmation together in All Saints Episcopal in Salt Lake City. They were married at St. Paul’s Episcopal in Virginia City, Montana. Charlie was baptized at Saint Mary’s in Ardmore, PA and Adele was baptized at St. Alban’s in Davidson, NC. Their family hopes to make St. John’s their home church for many years to come.
His wife, Renee Vesci, was born and raised in the Methodist Church in North Carolina. After visiting various churches and services, they decided that the Episcopal was the best blend and fit. Renee and Fred went through confirmation together in All Saints Episcopal in Salt Lake City. They were married at St. Paul’s Episcopal in Virginia City, Montana. Charlie was baptized at Saint Mary’s in Ardmore, PA and Adele was baptized at St. Alban’s in Davidson, NC. Their family hopes to make St. John’s their home church for many years to come.
Renee Vesci - Registrar
Renee Vesci was born and raised in North Carolina. After graduating from NC State University with a degree in Psychology, she moved to Charlotte and worked as a PA/Production Coordinator in the film community for over a decade. In 2008, she made the cross-country move to Utah with her future husband…fellow Vestry member Fred Vesci. While Fred worked on engineering projects, Renee went to graduate school at Westminster University and completed her MAT Degree in Teaching (K-12 License/Mild-Moderate Learning Disabilities along with a Reading Endorsement). In 2010, Methodist-raised Renee and Catholic-raised Fred were confirmed into the Episcopal Church at All Saints in Salt Lake City and were married at St. Paul’s in Virginia City, Montana (after serendipitously finding it during a trip to Yellowstone). At Saint John’s in Havre de Grace, Renee has enjoyed revamping the grounds with the Garden Committee, her son Charlie is an Acolyte, and her daughter Adele attends Sunday Children’s Time.
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