St Pauls Episcopal Church, Fairfield, CT

About our clergy and staff

The Reverend
Bennett A. Brockman, Ph.D.
Rector

The Rev. Bennett Brockman (everyone calls him Ben) was called as the Rector of Saint Paul's in 1993. He previously served at St. Michael's parish in Litchfield and taught medieval literature and Shakespeare at the University of Connecticut at Storrs for twenty years before being ordained to the priesthood. He loves to connect faith with art and daily life, and he especially enjoys the preaching and teaching

aspects of parish ministry. He doesn't let many sermons go by without a quotation from Shakespeare . . . or Dilbert, or a reference to fly-fishing on the Housatonic River. He and his wife, Linda, live in the Rectory, across the street from the church, and they have two grown sons--and now two grandsons and a granddaughter.

Ben is in the office daily except Mondays.
You can contact him at (203) 259-3013 ext.# 11
or via e-mail, bbrockman@stpaulsfairfield.org

The Reverend Nicki Kimes, M. Div.
Assitant to the Rector

The Rev. Nicki Kimes, Deacon, ordained just this past December, joined our staff in August, 2006.

Rev. Nicki grew up in Westport. Prior to seminary and ordination she had a business career and was an active member at St. Mark’s, New Canaan. She served as a seminarian intern at Saint Saviour’s in Old Greenwich.

Her special interests include contemplative prayer; the Prayer Shawl ministry; spiritual direction; and spirituality and youth. Her hobbies include spinning, weaving, and painting, and she loves attending sheep and wool festivals. She also loves fast cars and is a NASCAR fan. She lives in New Canaan with her husband Russell. They have two grown sons.

Nicki is in the office Monday - Thursday. Her contact information is (203) 259-3013 ext. #18, or,
E-mail: nkimes@stpaulsfairfield.org

John Abdenour, B. Mus., J.D.
Organist, Director of Music

John Abdenour, our organist and music director, sang as a boy in the choir of the Episcopal cathedral in Detroit. Now a composer as well as an organist and conductor, he received his professional musical training at Oberlin College, where he majored in American History. After a law degree and a brief career as an attorney, he returned to his first love, sacred music. John came to Saint Paul's in January 2000, after having served churches in Milford and New Haven, CT. He and his wife, Margaret, live in New Haven. She is also a musician, and they are both proficient carpenters.

You will find John at church most weekday afternoons and evenings, when the choirs rehearse. He can be reached at:
(203) 259-3013 ext. #15 or
e-mail:jabdenour@stpaulsfairfield.org

Pam Pellegrini
Church School Director

Pam is a very active volunteer in many areas of parish life. She and her husband Bill have two sons who are in church school, Massimo and Gianni.

You may e-mail Pam @ ppellegrini@stpaulsfairfield.org

Cathy Comstock
Accounts Manager

Cathy Comstock joined our staff as Accounts Manager in 1997. A parishioner and mother of three sons ranging in age from college student to seventh grade, Cathy keeps our bills paid and our records of income and outgo straight, and she assists the Rector, Treasurer, and the Stewardship and Finance Committees in administrative aspects of their work. She delights in outdoor recreation, especially kayaking. She also is an avid supportor of the music program, having been a Choir Parent, as mother of chorister Trevor, and she is active with the parish Outreach Committee.

Cathy is in the office most mornings: (203) 259-3013 ext. #13. Alternatively, you can write to her ccomstock@stpaulsfairfield.org

Barbara Jacovino,
Office Manager

Barbara Jacovino came to St. Paul's as Office Manager in 1993 after extensive experience in the commercial sector. She coordinates the parish office volunteers and reminds all the staff, especially the Rector, about appointments and deadlines they would probably otherwise forget. She produces the Sunday service leaflet with its weekly newsletter and supervises the production and distribution of most other parish publications. She enjoys traveling with her grown daughter, and she is a notably passionate fan of the New York Yankees and the Giants.

Her official office hours are Monday to Friday 9:00 - 4:00; but it's a rare day when she's away that early. You can reach her at (203) 259-3013 ext. #19
e-mail Barbara @ bjacovino@stpaulsfairfield.org

Ralph Paradise
Sexton

Ralph Paradise, our parish Sexton, has been the custodian of our building and grounds since 1983. He has an apartment upstairs in the church that contains a remarkably extensive collection of vintage movie videos, and he can be recognized by his trademark baseball cap and sometimes-smoking cigar. Ralph's loyalty to the parish is such that you will find him on duty in the middle of nights. He is available through the parish office.