The Clergy and Staff

The Rev. Desmond Goonesekera has served as Rector of St. Cuthbert Church since March 2000. Fr. Desmond was born and raised in Sri Lanka. He completed his theological training at The Divinity School, Colombo, Sri Lanka, where he earned his M. Div. and was ordained as an Episcopal priest in 1970. He and his wife, Ewena, have been married for 36 years. Their daughter, Deluca, graduated with a Bachelor's degree from The University of Texas and from Our Lady of the Lake University with a Masters in Psychology. On May 12, 2007, Deluca married Casey Koehn and lives in Houston. Fr. Desmond and Ewena's son, Dilhan, is completing his degree in Engineering Technology at Texas A & M and will graduate in 2008.

Fr. Desmond and his family first came to the United States in 1978 so that he could attend the Lutheran Bible Institute in Issaquah, Washington, in order to pursue a BA in Biblical Studies, to increase his knowledge and understanding of God's Word. From 1978 to 1980 he also served as Assistant Rector at St. Luke's, in Seattle, Washington.

He then returned to Sri Lanka where he served as a parish priest until 1987 when God called him to be Rector of St. Patrick's Episcopal Church in Big Fork, Montana. During his ministry in Montana he also served as Diocesan Chair for evangelism and as Vice President of Province VI. In 1991, God moved Fr. Desmond and his family to Colorado Springs, Colorado, where he became the parish evangelist and Associate Rector for Grace Church. While serving Grace Church, he also served as President of Province VI and as a member of the National Executive Council of the Episcopal Church. Beginning in 1995, Fr. Desmond served as Rector of Trinity Church in Baytown, Texas, before being called as Rector to St. Cuthbert in Houston.

God has given Fr. Desmond a love for people and has equipped him to be a Biblical teacher and preacher. Above all, he has a heart for bringing people into a saving and healing relationship with Jesus Christ.

Email Fr. Desmond.

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The Rev. Janet Gilmore, Assistant Rector: I am very excited to be joining you in your ministry and outreach to Houston and the rest of God’s most magnificent creation. I return to the 1960/HWY 6 area after being away from Houston for 30 years. I graduated from Spring High School, when the blimp was still around and the area where St. Cuthbert sits was dairy farms and hay fields. Boy, have things changed. I left Texas to pursue an undergraduate degree in Mathematics from Louisiana State University (Geaux Tigers) and a Master of Science in Mathematics Education from Florida State University.

I married an Army Special Forces officer and for 16 years we traveled the world with our two daughters, Colleen and Caitlin. He died of service related injuries in 1995 and I moved to Austin, TX to live near my parents and sister. Austin was a wonderful place to raise two daughters as a single parent. They were able to pursue their artistic and scholarly gifts, continue religious training at St. John’s Episcopal Church and develop strong relationships with their grandparents and other relatives. Colleen (22) is currently working on her PhD in Emergency Management and Disaster Planning at the University of North Texas in Denton and Caitlin (18) is a sophomore at TCU in Ft. Worth majoring in dance and kinesiology.

In our 14 moves with the military, I had worked in many different fields; petroleum engineer at Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, teacher, comptroller, as well as many volunteer positions within in the church and outside of it. When I came to Austin, I began working as a paralegal in an estate planning attorney’s office mostly dealing with probate and hospice issues. I also became very active in the life of St. John’s Episcopal Church by serving as senior warden, elected to the vestry twice, as a Lay Eucharistic Minister, served on the rector search committee, and was head of the building committee and capital campaign, for the new church that was completed in 2004. This was also a time that I began to discern a call to the ordained ministry which culminated in my graduation from the Episcopal Seminary of the Southwest (ETSS) in Austin on May 15. I was ordained Deacon at Christ Church Cathedral in Houston on June 23, 2007, and to the Sacred Order of Priests here at St. Cuthbert on January 8, 2008.

Having grown up in both Jewish and Christian environments (my father’s family is Jewish), my years at ETSS have helped me become more confident in expressing both the diversity and continuity of our faith. I look forward to sharing my heritage with you and how it has broadened my understanding of God’s universal and saving work in creation and our world. I feel blessed at the opportunity to live and work among you. I have already been privy to the energy, love, and care of this great Christian community and our future endeavors for Christ will be filled with excitement and the proclamation of God’s love and mercy.

Shalom,
Janet

E-mail Rev. Janet.

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Barbara Adams, Minister of Music: Barbara has been the Minister of Music at St. Cuthbert since 1990.  Her heart for worship and love for all kinds of music has brought about a vibrant blend of worship styles in our services.  Having received her music degree from the University of Houston in 1982 and later joining the St. Cuthbert team, her long tenure and liturgical background have afforded her the ability both to treasure the church’s musical traditions as well as to continue to forge new musical ground.  Her servant leadership example, both as part of the staff and in the music ministry, continues to bless and inspire those around her.  Barbara’s goal is to guide the musical worship in ways that will be God-honoring as well as relevant to our growing community.

Email Barbara.

Learn more about St. Cuthbert's exciting Music Ministry.

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Margaret Guillory: Margaret has been the secretary/receptionist at St. Cuthbert since May of 2006. When she's not busy routing calls, taking RSVP's, and finalizing Journeys, Connections, and bulletins, she enjoys spending time with her three daughters.

Email Margaret.

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Sally Mahon, Lay Ministry Coordinator: Would you like to be involved in a ministry at St. Cuthbert but aren't sure where God is calling you? Maybe He's calling you to contact Sally for help! Sally works with the various ministries and matches people, with their skills and passions, to those areas at St. C which could really use their help. Not involved yet? Email Sally today!

Email Sally.Check out St. Cuthbert's Ministries.

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Britney Maxwell, Director of Children's and Youth Ministries: I have recently begun work here at St. Cuthbert and feel extremely blessed with this opportunity! My husband and I moved from Cleveland, Ohio, where we lived for the past three years. Both of us think of ourselves southerners at heart and are so happy to be back “home.” I was born in Bossier City, Louisiana and have moved around a bit as a child and adult. Places I have lived include: Bossier City, LA; Houston, TX; Tulsa, OK; Norman, OK; Helsinki, Finland; Akron, OH; Cleveland, OH; and Oklahoma City, OK, and back again in Houston! Each place I lived, I joined a new church and encountered some sort of new facet of faith.

I received my Bachelor’s in Psychology at The University of Oklahoma and my masters in Marriage and Family Counseling at The University of Akron. I also studied Christian Theology abroad at The University of Helsinki. I am married to George Shirk and we have a dog named Boomer (who is like a baby for us!). George works for Enterprise Products and Boomer is a trained therapy dog. I am also an aspiring artist so commission me to create something for you! I love to meet new friends, travel, learn and hope to never take myself too seriously!

I have met so many personal mentors and spiritual guides and feel eternally grateful for those who have blessed me with their wisdom. If we all could look to each other as an opportunity to love and be loved the world would be a much better place. Thus, I hope to continue deepening my own spiritual walk as well as foster others’ journeys.

Email Britney.

Learn more about our Children's Christian Education.

Come join our Youth!

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