The Reverend Frank Fornaro, Interim Priest

Frank was ordained in the Diocese of Massachusetts in 1996. He served as Director of Education and Formation for the diocese from 1996 until 1999, when he was called to be rector at St. Paul’s Church in Bedford, Massachusetts. In 2006, he was appointed to the position of Dean of the Alewife Deanery, offering support and care to the clergy and lay leaders serving the seventeen congregations in the area. Frank served as a Fresh Start facilitator in the Diocese of Massachusetts from 2001 until 2005 and co-led the newly-called Rector’s Group. Frank recently retired from St Paul’s. He serves as mentor to several newly ordained and veteran clergy in the diocese and province. He also serves on the Pastoral Response Team of the diocese and leads vestry retreats. Prior to his ordination, Frank served as teacher and administrator in the Boston Public Schools from 1964 until 1993. He has a B.S. in Education, an M.Ed. in Administration and Organization, and an M.Div. with concentration in Pastoral Theology.

He has been serving as Associate Priest at St. Mary’s since January and looks forward to working with the enthusiastic congregation and continuing the successful work of the Rev. Cathy George.

The Reverend Ricardo Avila, Assistant Priest

 Ricardo was ordained in the Diocese of California in 2010   and joined the St. Mary’s staff as their Diocesan Urban Resident in August 2011. Originally from Wisconsin, he received his B.A. in English literature from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, performing in their renowned marching band and later joining a local bluegrass/funk band. He lived in San Francisco from 1993-2010, working   for a corporate law firm before attending seminary and receiving his M.Div., at Church Divinity School of the Pacific (CDSP), Berkeley. After ordination, Ricardo served as bilingual deacon at St. Andrew’s/San Andres’ Episcopal Church in San Bruno, CA, and as assistant priest at St. Luke’s, San Francisco, where he also managed an inter-faith food pantry. He is married to William Bonnell, a Latin teacher at a private school near San Francisco.

In addition to his ministry at St. Mary’s, Ricardo coordinates a weekly Eucharist at The Epiphany School, Dorchester. For the example both these communities offer of God’s love enacted in community and in the world, he is immensely grateful.

The Reverend John H. Finley IV, Associate Priest

A graduate of Groton School and Harvard College, the Rev. John H. Finley IV is the co-founder and head of Epiphany School, a tuition-free, independent Episcopal middle school for economically-disadvantaged children and children who have been abused and neglected (www.epiphanyschool.com).  Fr. Finley has helped launch several other schools inspired by Epiphany’s example and has also been involved in other initiatives in education including the Nativity Preparatory School in Boston, the Nativity Schools Educational Network, Codman Academy Public Charter School, Esperanza Academy in Lawrence (MA), Urban Achievers, and Boston Scholars.

He serves on several boards including the Harvard College Overseers’ Visiting Committee for the Memorial Church, the Harvard Episcopal Chaplaincy, the Bethany House of Prayer in Belmont (MA), the Open Gate Foundation at Harvard, and Harvard’s Signet Society well as on the Advisory Board of Forward Movement Publications.  He is also a trustee of the Stephen Phillips Scholarship Fund, which awards several million dollars a year in college scholarships.  In his vocation as an Episcopal priest, he serves at St. Mary’s Church in Dorchester (MA), and he is also affiliated with the Church of the Redeemer in Chestnut Hill (MA).  He lives in downtown Boston with his husband, Stan McGee, who is the policy director for the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development in the Deval Patrick Administration.

Sarah Borgeson, Food Pantry Director

Sarah joined the St. Mary’s staff in October 2010 as Food Pantry Director and Partner Church Coordinator after serving two years as a pantry volunteer.

Sarah has been involved in hunger relief activities for over 25 years in both urban and suburban settings – first through Church World Service/CROP in Columbus, Ohio and later as Founder and Director of the Millis Ecumenical Food Pantry in Millis, MA.  Most recently she worked for 7 years for the American Red Cross of Eastern Massachusetts in its Food and Nutrition Programs.

Kana Dehara, Organist and Pianist

Born in Osaka, Japan, Kana started to play piano at the age of three. She enrolled at KC College in Japan as a classical performance major when she was eighteen years old.She graduated KC College at the top of her class in 2004.After she received substantial scholarship from Berklee College of Music, she was able to begin her studies in the Jazz field in September of 2005.

After graduating from Berklee College of Music as a “Dean’s List” student in December 2008, Kana’s professional career has been defined by performing and composing in musical styles such as Jazz, Funk, R&B, Reggae and World music.

Christopher Whiteman, Organist

Christopher began playing the piano at age six and the organ at thirteen.  His formative organ studies were with Dr. David Runner at Milligan College in Elizabethton, TN.  He has been playing the organ at St. Mary’s since 2001.