Staff & Leadership
The Rev. Stephen Hood
rector
The Reverend Stephen Hood (you can call him Steve or Father Steve) is the rector (lead pastor) of St. Matthew’s, and he has served here since July 2020. Prior to serving at St. Matthew’s, Father Steve served parishes in Oklahoma, Alabama, and Louisiana. Steve has an undergraduate degree in Political Science and Philosophy from Texas State University (1995) and a Master of Divinity from the School of Theology at the University of the South (2002). Prior to his ordination to the priesthood (Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana—2002), Steve worked as a field executive with the Boy Scouts of America. He also spent six years managing pizza restaurants during his college years. Steve is married to Tracy (Wall). They have a blended family of four children. They also have two family dogs, Luna and Daisy. Tracy is an academic coach by profession. Steve grew up in Richardson, Texas, and both Steve and Tracy graduated from Berkner High School, where they met in the band. Although they dated in high school and college, they didn’t get married until 2016. Steve has no serious hobbies, although he loves being outdoors. He also likes to cook, kayak, canoe, hike, and camp. He follows auto racing and Texas A&M and Alabama football sporadically. It is a happy day when either team wins—even when they outscore the other.
The Rev. Rich Paul
deacon
Our deacon, Rich Paul, was ordained to the order of deacons in June, 2017 after completing an extensive diaconal minister formation education program through the Diocese of Colorado. Originally from Pennsylvania, Deacon Rich is a gradute of the US Military Academy (West Point) with a bachelor degree in aerospace engineeing and also has a master's in early childhood education from Old Dominion University. He is married to Amy, who has a dermatology practice, and they have 4 children. They moved to Grand Junction in 2009 after their retirement from the Army. Deacon Rich serves the community through various outreach projects and volunteering with Mesa County Search & Rescue. He also manages the St. Matthew's Shoe Drive ministry which distributes shoes for children in need to local elementary schools .
jan head
associate priest for healing and wholeness
The Reverend Janice Head joined the staff at St. Matthew’s in April 2022. Mother Jan (or just Jan) moved to Grand Junction in 2013 and in 2014 began the discernment process for ordination as an Episcopal Priest. Jan received her Master of Divinity degree from Iliff School of Theology in 2018 and holds a Diploma of Anglican Studies from the School of Theology at the University of the South (Sewanee.) She worked as a hospice chaplain for HopeWest from 2018 until joining the staff at St. Matt’s.
Jan grew up in southern Illinois and attended the University of Colorado, Boulder where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing. She also holds a Master’s Degree in Nursing and a Master’s of Business Administration, both from Northern Illinois University. Her first job was as a nurse at the 97th General Hospital in Frankfurt, Germany and her last as a Regional President for Kaiser Permanente in Hawaii. After retiring from health care, she focused her creative spirit on fiber arts with a special interest in quilting. Single since her husband’s death in 2014, Jan is pleased to have extended family in the Grand Valley and the companionship of Grace, a shepherd mix RezDawg rescue from the Navajo Nation. Jan and Grace enjoy hiking and cross-country skiing together. Jan is a world traveler and has visited all seven continents. If she’s missing on a Sunday, it’s a pretty good bet you’ll find her doing one of those things.
Becky Vroman
director of youth and children's ministries
Becky brings her love of children and families into her role as director of children's ministries at St. Matthew's. Some of Becky's duties include overseeing and staffing the nursery as well as developing curriculum for our Sunday School program. Born and reared in Grand Junction, Becky loves living and playing here, whether it's hiking, running, or just having fun around the house with her husband, five kids, and beloved Black Lab and Basset Hound. When she's not busy with family and kids, she is an avid reader.
the rev. Jamie galbasini
Deacon
episcopal chaplain at CMU and youth director
A father of six daughters, Deacon Jamie has a lot of experience with children and brings joy to the youth group. Known for his wisdom and listening capacity, he helps young people to be leaders in their community.
Desiree Bougeaux
administrative assistant
Desiree is our front desk person and handles some of the office work flow including creating our worship bulletins and announcements inserts, our Evangel newsletter, and a bunch of other things. Chances are if you call the church Desiree will be the one you talk to first.
Music Staff
Katie walters
music director
Katie Walters has been called to be the Music Minister at St. Matthews. Katie is a musician and educator and has lived in Grand Junction for almost 20 years. She is a graduate of CMU. She grew up in Louisiana where she sang in Baptist church choirs where her father served as the music minister. Katie is a single mom and has a teenage daughter, Emily Grace. She is the principal vocalist with the Grand Junction Rockestra and Katie and the Players. Katie specializes in working with small ensembles and groups, and loves to collaborate with other musicians and vocalists. She has a particular love for blues and jazz, yet she enjoys all types of music including sacred and classical forms.
Sandra Moore
Sandra “Erwin” Moore was born in Grand Junction and went to Tope Elementary School where she began piano lessons in the second grade. She is a graduate of Grand Junction High School. While in high school she played flute in the original Grand Junction Symphony Orchestra.
Sandra has been married to Dale Moore for 56 years. Together they have 5 children (2 girls and 3 boys), 10 grandchildren and 1 great granddaughter and 2 dogs. Before settling back in Colorado, Sandra and Dale lived in Oregon, Washington, Montana and Nebraska. She has been pianist / organist at St. Matthew’s in Prosser, WA, St. Matthew’s in Alliance, NE, St. Barnabus in Cortez, CO and St. Luke’s in Delta, CO. She began playing at St. Matthew’s GJ with the junior choir during the seventh grade when St. Matt’s was on North Ave.
While living in Alliance, NE she served on the Alliance Public Schools Board of Education for nine years. She and Dale also owned a small gift shop and a travel agency. After returning to Colorado, Sandra enrolled at then Mesa State University and received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Piano Performance at the young age of 60! She has, at different times, taken organ lessons, but is hesitant to call herself an organist. At. Mesa State she studied with Dr. Andrea Elias, Dr. Michael Baron and has also studied under Katheryn Mientka. As well as taking class piano at Montana State University she played flute in the University orchestra.
Sandra has worked at Colorado Mesa University (also known as Mesa State College) since 2000 as a collaborative pianist in the music dept. She accompanies students in lessons and performances while, on occasion, playing a musical gig. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with Dale at their home north of Fruita, sewing, computering, and her work in P.E.O Chapter GF.
Robbie breaux
Robbie took piano lessons from age 5 to 13, and hated every minute of it. Thanks to a very devoted mother, she learned to play piano. In her teens, her mother sat Robbie down at the organ at church and taught her about that instrument of God. She has no other formal training in piano or organ. But as she grew older, she came to appreciate playing both instruments. She can now sit at the piano or organ bench for hours, enjoying playing for no other reason than to play. It is hard work, but she very much enjoys playing for church - this is now a passion of hers.
When she’s not playing piano/organ, you can likely find her at The Art Center, where she teaches two classes in ceramics - making pottery is as important to her as playing piano/organ.
Assisting Clergy
Our volunteer assisting clergy includes:
Fr. Emil Belsky: After having served six parishes in Nebraska and Utah, Fr. Emil Belsky and his wife Cindy, a registered nurse, retired in 2013 and purchased the house directly across the street from their daughter Jackie, her husband Brian, and two teenage grandsons. Emil holds degrees in Philosophy, Theology, and Christian Spirituality, has worked in the business world as a management consultant and in mental health as a psychiatric counselor. Since retirement he has remained active in adult spiritual formation, pastoral care, clergy supply work, and in calling on patients in palliative and hospice care as a HopeWest volunteer.
Nick Mayer, a retired Episcopal priest from Texas who teaches an engaging Tuesday morning Bible study
Bob Engels, a retired Episcopal priest who had served Church of the Nativity for several years, leads our Wednesday morning healing service, provides pastoral care, and assists with worship as needed
Judy Schneider is a retired deacon who still occasionally assists in worship and offers trainings to altar assistants as needed.
Teri Shecter has been a deacon for 20 years and recently retired from a 30-year career with the 21st Judicial Department where she provided constitutional rights to crime victims. She is passionate about creation care and animal welfare and volunteers with a number of local and national humane organizations. She has a degree in art and maintains a studio adjacent to the home she shares with her husband Chip Page.