CLERGY, STAFF AND LEADERSHIP
Rev. Patrick Perkins
Rector
Pat joined the St. Francis community in September 2014. Prior to coming to Holden, he served as the Associate Rector at St. John’s Church in West Hartford, Connecticut for five years. He currently serves as a member of the Standing Committee of the Diocese; he is the Diocesan Disaster Coordinator and is a member of the Diocesan Disaster Planning & Recovery Team; and supports the local community through the Holden CERT, and is involved in various emergency communications through VOAD and local volunteer groups. Prior to being ordained, he worked in various positions of quality and operations management, following more than ten years of service as a Nuclear Submarine Officer in the United States Navy. Pat and his wife, Carol, live in Holden, and Carol works for the town of Holden.
REv. S. Jane Griesbach
archDeacon
Jane came to St. Francis in January of 2017. She was ordained to the permanent diaconate in 2008 and assigned to St. Luke’s, Worcester. Some years later she was assigned 1/2 time each at St. Matthew’s/St. Luke’s; then full-time at St. Matthew’s. Jane worked at Saint Vincent Hospital as a medical photographer for many years. She also serves the Diocese as the Archdeacon. She is currently involved with urban ministries in Worcester – Worcester Fellowship, Laundry Love, and Walking Together. She’s also involved with St. Francis mission partners: Dismas Family Farm, Oakham, and Abby’s House in Worcester. Jane grew up in Queens, NY, and now lives in Charlton, MA, with her two dogs and two cats.
Elizabeth Keusch
minister of music
Beth Keusch grew up in rural southwestern Indiana and is a daughter of music teachers/church musicians. Following the family vocation, Beth enjoys performing, teaching and sharing music.
She plays piano, organ, and guitar. As a classical soprano, she has been a soloist with Boston Symphony Orchestra, Dallas Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Seattle Symphony, and has also performed avant garde operas with Paris Opera and Stuttgart Opera, among many others. While being an international soloist for a number of years, Beth still kept working with spiritual music, as vocal soloist and then organist at First Baptist Church Waltham, with the intention of transitioning more fully to worship music. Currently, in addition to her ministry at St. Francis, Beth is a cantor at St. Leonard's Catholic Church in Boston, and Vocal Soloist and choral conductor at Temple Beth Elohim in Wellesley. Beth has a Bachelor of Music from University of North Texas,
and a Master of Music and Artist Diploma from New England Conservatory of Music.
Amy Mellors
church school coordinator
Amy started attending Saint Francis in 2016. She volunteered in the church school ministry as a teacher last year and is very excited to be Church School Coordinator this year! She has earned her Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from Worcester State College and currently works with children aged birth to three for Early Intervention. She is also a dance instructor at Premier Dance Academy in Auburn, MA where she loves teaching children of all ages. Amy, her husband, Andy, and their two children, Addison and Jacob live in Leominster and love being a part of the Saint Francis community.
Elena poirier
parish administrator
Elena joined the St. Francis staff in February of 2018. She holds a bachelor's degree from Clark University and prior work experience in medical and corporate offices. Elena, her husband Mike, their two children, Andrew and Katy, alongside Esme the cat and Westley the dog, reside in Holden.