Leadership

You may call me Pastor Cass. I was called to serve at Trinity in 2010 from St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church in Kailua, Hawaii, where I had been the Rector since 1998. In my 12 years there, I oversaw a doubling of membership and an expansion of ministry to include a homeless shelter and a children’s community chorus. I’m pleased to say that the model of spiritual formation we used for developing Christians became the model for the Diocese of Hawaii. I have also served parishes in Hartford and New Haven, Connecticut.

I completed my undergraduate education at Amherst College in Massachusetts and graduated from the Berkeley Divinity School and Yale Divinity School at Yale University. I also hold a certificate in advanced church leadership from Asbury Seminary in Lexington, Kentucky.

My wife, Patricia, completed her undergraduate education as well as a graduate degree in nursing at the University of Virginia. Tish also has a master’s degree in public health and a doctorate in clinical psychology. We have four adopted children (two daughters and two sons), and you will also find our grandson, and maybe one or two foster children, living with us from time to time.

I have been the Minister of Music at Trinity since June 2022. It is such a joy to make music with this congregation and be part of this wonderful community! I love the collaborative spirit of Trinity and the openness to learning music in many different styles. I am especially interested in global music, paperless music, and ways to incorporate improvisation and percussion into our worship.

I have been involved in church music my entire life, starting with the children’s choir, later working toward music degrees at Oberlin College and the Yale Institute of Sacred Music, and now having served at three Episcopal churches in Virginia. Outside of my job, I find joy in practicing meditation and centering prayer, I am active in the Hymn Society of America, and I enjoy running and reading.

I live in Charlottesville with my wife, Laura (a physician at the UVA hospital), our two children and two rabbits. We are enthusiastic about hiking, exploring our beautiful area, playing games and trying new recipes together. On weekends you might find us working in the Trinity garden with Bread & Roses (where our two bunnies are also generous contributors!).

I am thrilled to be serving as a seminarian at Trinity, where I am helping to launch the Youth Group, supporting Children's Chapel, honing my preaching skills and enjoying being part of this justice-seeking, engaged congregation.

I am currently a Postulant for Holy Orders in the Diocese of Virginia, and an Master of Divinity student at General Theological Seminary. Prior to recognizing my call to the priesthood, I was pursuing a career in arts administration. In addition to my studies, I currently work as the engagement director for Light House Studio, a filmmaking education center in Charlottesville. I have an MA from New York University's Gallatin School for Individualized Study, where my thesis work focused on "Transforming Education through Arts-Based Learning." I received my undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia, where I helped to pilot a "pathway" in Arts Administration through the Echols/Interdisciplinary Major Program.

I live in Charlottesville with my husband, Del, and our two daughters. My family and I enjoy weekend adventures such as roller skating, swimming, exploring local parks or just spending time with friends. I love to relax with a good book and would love to hear what you are currently reading and enjoying!