Clergy
The Rev. Michele Morgan, Rector
On April 30, 2017, the Rev. Michele H. Morgan was installed as the 12th Rector of St. Mark’s Capitol Hill. It was a joyous celebration, officiated by the Right Reverend Mariann Budde, Bishop of Washington.
Michele, the seventh of nine children, was born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, where she learned her love of hockey and baseball. After growing up in a family that moved frequently, she made her own move to Minnesota to attend the College of St. Catherine. Following a long stint in retail management, she went to the General Seminary of the Episcopal Church in NYC. Arriving in New York in late August 2001, her call to serve the people of God was formed by many things, but most notably the terrorist attacks of September 11th. Michele served successfully in a number of churches in Minnesota, including Stillwater, St. Cloud, and Minneapolis, as a transitional rector helping congregations choose and live into new leadership. The work of parish ministry speaks to Michele’s soul. Not shy—in fact, possessing what she herself calls a “screaming extrovert” personality—she loves to connect people and help those within the parish, as well as those without, live into creating a deeper sense of community by doing justice work for all people.
Michele lives with her wife, Michelle Dibblee, in Northeast DC. Her best day ever is to ride her bike while listening to her beloved Minnesota Twins as she dodges traffic, getting home in time to see a final couple of innings.
The Rev. Christopher Phillips, Associate Rector
The Rev. Christopher Phillips serves St. Mark’s as the Associate Rector. He is committed to fostering strong and enduring relationships and sharing God’s joyful message of radical welcome. He is passionate about safe, sacred, and accepting spaces for worship, reflection, and spiritual growth.
Prior to coming to St. Mark’s, Christopher served as the Upper School Chaplain at an Episcopal day school in Maryland and as the Program Director for the Episcopal Church at Yale. Before pursuing his call to ordained ministry, he worked as a development officer for several major academic institutions.
Christopher received his A.B. in History from the University of Chicago and his M.Div. from Yale Divinity School. He also earned a Certificate in Educational Leadership and Ministry and a Diploma in Anglican Studies from Berkeley Divinity School at Yale.
The Rev. Patricia Catalano, Liturgy and Pastoral Associate
The Rev. Patricia Catalano was born and raised in Colombia and has lived almost half of her life in the United States. She first lived in California, where she taught simultaneous translation in Monterey. This is where she became an Episcopalian and was later ordained to the priesthood. As a priest, she served in Menlo Park, Carmel, and Marina, California. She moved to Washington, D.C., in 2008.
Patricia has been actively working as a simultaneous interpreter since moving to DC but has had a renewed calling to serve as a priest at St. Mark’s, where she has been leading a Centering Prayer group since May 2018.
Patricia lives on Capitol Hill with her daughter and two grandsons.
Staff
Jeff Kempskie, Director of Music
Jeff Kempskie has served St. Mark’s as Director of Music and organist since the fall of 2010. He directs the Chancel Choir, oversees the Boys & Girls Choir and Teen Choir, and manages all other aspects of the music program. In addition to his responsibilities at St. Mark’s, Jeff accompanies the University Singers at George Washington University, is a regular substitute countertenor at the Washington National Cathedral, sings with the Cantate Chamber Singers, and maintains a small piano studio.
Prior to moving to Washington, D.C., Jeff taught choral music at the Eaglebrook School and Quabbin Regional Middle/High School while serving as organist or director of music at a variety of churches of different denominations—Unitarian Universalist, Catholic, Episcopal, and Presbyterian—in Massachusetts and New York. He has been piano and organ accompanist for choirs at the Eastman School of Music, Smith College, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst. In addition, Jeff has music-directed or played keyboard for nearly 60 musical theater productions.
He received his Bachelor’s degree in Music Education and a Master’s degree in Choral Conducting from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, studying conducting with Dr. E. Wayne Abercrombie. Jeff also earned a Master’s degree in Organ Performance and Literature from the Eastman School of Music, where he studied with Dr. William Porter. Other significant teachers include Larry Schipull on organ and Kevin McGinty on piano.
Caleb Nelson Amaker, Director of Youth & Family Ministries
After serving as St. Mark’s Interim Director of Youth and Family Ministry since February 2019, Caleb Nelson Amaker was made Director of Youth and Family Ministries in April 2020. He is known to many at St. Marks as a parishioner, a Sunday School teacher, and a Christian educator. He worked at Shrine Mont as a youth conference director and cabin director.
A lifelong Episcopalian, Caleb enjoys sharing his gifts, his joy, and his love of working with children and youth as a way of bringing more goodness and light into the world. He is deeply committed to making the faith journey and works with St. Mark’s children as they meaning within this faith community. He strives to help the children and teens of this parish grow up to be connected, compassionate adults with a faith story they can lean on and draw from.
Caleb’s main responsibilities include recruiting, convening, supervising, and contributing to teams of parishioners who plan and execute youth activities, events, outreach, and Sunday School classes; serving as St. Mark’s liaison to youth leaders in the Episcopal Diocese of Washington; completing administrative duties such as maintaining youth budget accounts, maintaining an online calendar of family and youth events, and tracking which parishioners and staff have completed diocesan sexual abuse prevention training.
Annick Milde, Parish Financial Administrator
Annick joined St. Mark’s as the Parish Financial Administrator in January 2022. Born and raised in Brussels, Belgium, she moved to Washington, DC, in 1986 to work for the World Bank. Before coming to St. Mark’s, Annick served as the Finance and Administration Coordinator at an Episcopal church. In her free time, she enjoys music and cooking.
Annick keeps the Realm database up-to-date and tracks donations, pledges, and expense reimbursements. Contact her for help with making a pledge or a donation or for help navigating the church’s finance system.
Michael Gravlee, Parish Administrator for Building and Facilities
“I’m so excited to join the team here at St. Mark’s! Since being received in the Episcopal Church at 14, I’ve had incredible opportunities to grow in my faith and serve my community. As a college student, I got to spend my summers working as a summer camp counselor at one of the largest Episcopalian summer camps, Camp McDowell in my home state of Alabama. After graduation, I went back to Camp McDowell as an environmental instructor. In the past year and a half, I did the research for the Doug Jones for Senate campaign and grassroots fundraising for the Human Rights Campaign. In my free time, you can usually find me hanging out with my dog Janis, rock climbing, or reading a book. I’m new to Washington and still exploring my new home, so I welcome any and all recommendations!”
As Parish Administrator, Michael handles space use contracts and reservations, keeps the parish calendar updated, prints the weekly bulletins and announcements, and manages office-related accounts payable and office equipment.
Katherine Parr Philipson, Bulletin Coordinator
Katherine grew up in Oregon and has lived in D.C. for seven years. She has worked as an advocate and organizer for peace, economic and racial equity, and climate stability. When not at St. Mark’s, Katherine manages a house for the Church of the Brethren Volunteer Corps, sings in a social justice a cappella choir, and seeks to become more healthy and aligned with divine purpose.
Deborah Cunningham, Nursery Coordinator
The youngest of children may be placed in the loving and attentive care of Deborah Cunningham during worship services on Sunday mornings and one-Sunday-month during the 5 p.m. service. Deborah has been providing Nursery Care at St. Mark’s for many years and is a valued and valuable member of the team!