Vestry Meeting Highlights from September 19, 2024 Meeting

We reviewed recent successes:

• The replacement of the roof on Dove Hall on budget. Thanks to Alex van Veldhuisen for his leadership on this project.
• Outing to the Somerset Patriots game. 45 people attended. We would like to make this an annual event. Thanks to Dale Dabour for her leadership on the outing.
• Showing of the Philadelphia 11 Documentary. 35 people attended. Rev. Elizabeth Wigg-Maxwell did an excellent job of introducing the Documentary and leading a discussion after the showing. Thanks to Jane and Jeff Anderson for providing refreshments and to Marge Keller for making the coffee.
• The Welcome Back Sunday breakfast hosted by the Vestry. __ people attended and had the opportunity to get to meet Fr. Andrew.  Thanks to Eva Lesniak for organizing the breakfast.
• Our application for a loan of $50,000 from the Diocese to fund the replacement of the roof on Dove Hall, upgrade our fire alarm system and repair the walkway to First Step was recently approved. The term of the loan is 10 years and the interest rate is 4%. Thanks to Sally Bird, our Treasurer, for completing and filing the Application.

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1. We reviewed the annual Diocesan Marks of Mission assessment for 2025. The Assessment is $40,752. The Vestry decided that given the uncertainties during this time of transition to maintain the same level of commitment as we did for 2024, which is $35,000.
2. Eva Lesniak reported on the Breakfast with Santa that is scheduled for December 8. There will be one service at 9:00 that day. 
3. Eva Lesniak reported on the Annual Pledge Campaign that will kick off on November 24.
4. The Vestry is reviewing the Parish Profile produced by the Search Committee in preparation for submitting it to the Diocese for approval.

 
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact John Andrews or Diane Hrozencik.

​Dear Family and Friends of CHS,
 
On behalf of the Vestry, we are very pleased to announce that Fr. Andrew Calandriello has been called to become the Interim Rector of the Church of the Holy Spirit.
 
Fr. Andrew was a Roman Catholic priest from 1975 to 1980. He then had a 32-year career in marine insurance claims management with several major insurance companies. After retiring from the insurance business, he felt God calling him back to active ministry. He became a parishioner at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in New Providence, NJ. With the encouragement of the Rector at St. Andrew’s, he became active in the parish and eventually met with Bishop Chip Stokes, who encouraged him to become a priest in the Episcopal Church. Fr. Andrew’s Holy Orders were received into the Episcopal Church on September 20, 2020. Since then, he has been serving as a supply priest in the Diocese of New Jersey.
 
During our search for an Interim Rector, Bishop Sally French presented Fr. Andrew to us as a candidate for the position. Fr. Philip Carr-Jones, who as Dean of the Watchung Convocation has gotten to know Fr. Andrew, encouraged him to seek the position.

Fr. Andrew will be serving as Interim Rector on a part time basis. He will work an average of 20 hours per week. In addition to preparing for and officiating at Sunday services, he will maintain office hours one day per week. He is committed to providing pastoral care, including accompanying LEVs on their visits to home-bound parishioners. He will attend Bible Study, Theology on Tap, and our social events. He will also assist in developing Formation programs for adults and our youth. He will attend Vestry meetings in his capacity as Interim Rector. Fr. Andrew’s extensive experience as a manager and administrator will also be helpful to us.
 
Fr. Andrew resides in Watchung with his wife, Mary Caterson. He has two adult sons and three grandchildren. He enjoys reading, listening to music, cooking, and rooting for the New York Yankees.
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Fr. Andrew looks forward to leading our parish through this period of transition and his comments are enclosed with this letter.
 
We are excited to have Fr. Andrew join us. Please join us in welcoming him.
 
Sincerely,
 
John T. Andrews, Jr.                                                                        Diane F. Hrozencik
Senior Warden                                                                                  Junior Warden