cLERGY

  • RECTOR
    The Rev. Abel E. Lopez

    E-mail: rector@messiah-santaana.org

    Phone: 714.204.0565


    Abel Ernesto Lopez is a life-long Episcopalian born in Cuba. He received theological education and training at the Seminary in Matanzas, Cuba and at The Episcopal Theological Seminary in Austin, Texas. He graduated with a Master of Divinity Degree in 2000 and moved to Pasadena, California in 2001 to serve as Director of Peace and Justice Ministries at All Saints Church. As a Senior Associate Priest at All Saints his ministry expanded to several areas during 13 years. On December 12, 2012 after much prayer and discernment he accepted the call to serve as Rector at Church of the Messiah in Santa Ana, California.

    Abel has served on the boards for both local and national organizations including Equality California (EQCA), Board of Trustees at the Bloy House School of Theology, and others.

    Abel is married to May Ling Lopez and has a daughter, Jessica Lopez, and a son, Sebastian Lopez. He enjoys reading books on Psychology, leadership, and theology. He loves having dinner with friends and discussing controversial topics such as politics and religion. He enjoys design and making things look better. He has great suggestions for God on how to “polish” creation a bit more.

  • Associate PRIEST
    The Rev. Jim Lee

    E-mail: associate@messiah-santaana.org

    Phone: 949.232.0278


    Born in South Korea, and raised along the U.S. East Coast, the Rev. Dr. Jim Lee currently resides in Irvine, California, and serves as an assisting priest at Church of the Messiah. Jim grew up in the Reformed tradition, but discerned in the late 1990s to join the Episcopal Church. He was ordained to the diaconate in June 2012 and the priesthood in January 2013. Jim received a Master of Divinity degree from the Claremont School of Theology, where he received the Presidential Award for Academic Excellence; in addition he completed coursework through the Episcopal Theological School at Claremont, where he was the recipient of the Excellence in the Study of Theology and Ethics Award, the Excellence in the Study of the First (Old) Testament Award, and the Highest Academic Achievement Award.


    Jim is also Chair and Associate Professor of Asian American Studies at the University of California, Irvine. He received a Ph.D. in English and an M.A. in Asian American Studies from UCLA, and is an alumnus of the University of Pennsylvania, where he majored in English. Jim is the author of several academic articles, as well as a book titled Urban Triage: Race and the Fictions of Multiculturalism, published by the University of Minnesota Press in 2004. He is currently working on a book project on memoir, race, and illness in the contemporary United States.

    Jim is married to Julie Cho and has two daughters, Sona and Jihae. He enjoys reading, cooking, listening to podcasts, and running. He has run three marathons and several half marathons but refuses to disclose how glacially slow his run times are.

  • RECTOR EMERITUS

    The Rev. Canon Brad Karelius

    Email: karelius@cox.net


    Raised in Pasadena, CA, Father Brad has been Associate Rector of St. Mary’s, Laguna Beach, CA 1970-1981 and Associate Professor of Philosophy at Saddleback College, Mission Viejo, CA 1973-2018. He was Rector of Messiah Parish 1981-2011. During that time, he was founder of Hands Together---A Center for Children. St. Joseph Ballet/The Wooden Floor and THINK Together were also started at the Messiah Parish campus.


    Father Brad is author of four books including The Spirit in the Desert, Encounters with the World’s Religions, Desert Spirit Places and Desert Spirituality for Men. He is married to Janice Karelius, a Family Nurse Practitioner in Emergency Medicine. They have two children: Kathryn Marie, also an FNP, and Erik Michael. Currently, he has been offering workshops on desert spirituality and spirituality for men.

staff

  • RECTOR

    The rev. Abel e. Lopez

    E-mail: rector@messiah-santaana.org

    Phone: 714.204.0565

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  • aSSOCIATE PRIEST

    The Rev. Jim Lee

    E-mail: associate@messiah-santaana.org

    Phone: 949.232.0278

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  • DIRECTOR OF LITURGY AND MUSIC

    Dr. David Sheridan

    E-mail: MUSIC@MESSIAH-SANTAANA.ORG

    Phone: 949.543.9389

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  • OFFICE MANAGER

    Silvia Lopez

    E-mail: OFFICE@MESSIAH-SANTAANA.ORG

    Phone: 714.204.0564

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  • ASSOCIATE MUSICIAN

    MOISES VAZQUEZ

    E-MAIL:

     MOI4MUSIC@GMAIL.COM

    PHONE: 714.791.3504

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  • BOOKKEEPER

    EMILY PANKAU

    E-MAIL: FINANCE@MESSIAH-SANTAANA.ORG

    PHONE: 714.204.0563

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  • ORGANIST

    JOYCE DERY

    E-MAIL:

    JOYCEDERY@GMAIL.COM

    PHONE: 949.680.8281

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  • MAINTENANCE

    GLORIA JIMENEZ

    E-MAIL: JIMENEZGLORIA215

    @GMAIL.COM

    PHONE: 714.543.9389

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vestry

Other than Father Abel, here are the members of our Vestry:

  • SENIOR WARDEN

    jack miles

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  • JUNIOR WARDEN

    ANDRE J. OUELLETTEE

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  • CLERK

    Linda Malloy

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  • Youth Representative

    Kal-el oquendo

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  • irene bautista

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  • Cynthia Burgess

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  • bob butcher

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  • ANNE WOHLCKE

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  • maria bousono

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  • Virgil Nolde

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  • Paublo Martinez

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  • Bill turpit

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finance committee

The Finance Committee is an advisory committee of Church of the Messiah Vestry, created for the purpose of (1) overseeing the monthly financial operations of the parish, (2) regularly advising the Vestry and its Executive Committee on the financial condition of the parish and (3) recommending to the Vestry and its Executive Committee new or modified financial procedures to safeguard the operating accounts and funds of the parish.

 

The Committee shall consist of up to 8 members: The Rector, the Clerk, at least one Warden, the Treasurer, two Vestry members, the Bookkeeper, and one non-Vestry parishioner. All members, except the Bookkeeper, must be Qualified Electors of the Parish under Diocesan Canons.

Finance Committee Formation Procedures Revised 2023

  • andre j ouellette

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  • anne wohlcke

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  • emily pankau

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  • janet hryniewicki

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  • linda malloy

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  • paublo martinez

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  • TREASURER

    steve hively

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buildings & grounds

The Buildings and Grounds Committee ensures that the church buildings and grounds are fit for the exercise of the church’s worship, mission, ministry, and outreach programs. The Committee is tasked with monitoring the church buildings and grounds to advise the Rector and Vestry of issues regarding maintenance, repair, or replacement. The committee membership provides an opportunity for parishioners to use their skills and experiences and their talents for use in property maintenance and improvement projects.


The Committee’s responsibility includes research and recommendation of action plans for the Vestry, including costs. Act on approved proposals. Liaise with contractors, technicians, staff, and volunteers to ensure access and good communication. Organize work parties of volunteers for ‘clean-up’ tasks, and minor maintenance and repairs in the buildings and grounds. Liaise with the Bookkeeper and Rector to ensure timely payments are made. The Committee submits a monthly written report on new developments and/or current projects to the Vestry and prepares an annual report for the Annual Meeting of the Church.

  • bill turpit

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  • jean hollingshead

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  • murray schrantz

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  • paul cook-giles

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