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Meet Our Clergy & Staff
Rector
The Rev'd Dr. James Weldon, Jr.
The Reverend Dr. James A. Weldon, Jr. is the twelfth rector of the the Parish of the Good Shepherd. He is responsible for all areas of parish life and is oversees worship, music, Christian education, outreach, and community activities.
Fr. Jay is originally from Georgia and has served at parishes up and down the east coast. Previous to his arrival in Waban in 2016, he was Rector of St. Patrick’s, Albany, GA, Assistant Rector at Grace Church in New York City, and Curate at King of Peace, Kingsland, GA. Before ordination, he worked in finance, homeless ministry at First Presbyterian, Atlanta, and youth ministry at Peachtree Christian (Disciples of Christ) in Atlanta. He earned degrees from the University of Georgia, the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Mercer University’s McAfee School of Theology, General Seminary, and Emory University.
Jay is married to Alison and they have two children, Ella and James.
Priest Associate
The Rev'd Kevin Vetiac
The Reverend Kevin Vetiac serves as Priest Associate at Good Shepherd, primarily preaching and celebrating Eucharist on Sundays. His sermons are loving and inspiring, and they are a gift to PGS.
Kevin grew up in Boston, the child of Hatian immigrants, and was formed in both the Evangelical and Roman Catholic traditions. He studied theology at Boston College's School for Theology and Ministry.
Kevin came to the Episcopal Church through The Crossing, a ministry of the Cathedral of St. Paul, designed to serve members of the LGBTQ+ community. Subsequently Kevin came to Good Shepherd to work in the Christian Education department, and Good Shepherd sponsored Kevin for ordination.
Kevin serves as the Episcopal chaplain at Northeastern University and MIT.
Organist/Choirmaster
Dr. James Apgar
Jamie Apgar is a versatile musician. He came to Good Shepherd from Berkeley, CA, where he held a joint appointment directing the wide-ranging music programs at All Souls Episcopal Parish and Church Divinity School of the Pacific, a seminary of the Episcopal Church. A scholar specializing in early modern England, Jamie earned his Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley, in 2018, and has published several essays on the role of music in post-Reformation religious politics. His reconstruction of Alfonso Ferrabosco the Elder’s Da pacem, Domine has been recorded by the Byrd Ensemble (Seattle) and has been sung in concert by Musica Intima (Vancouver). He also has extensive experience as a consort singer, most recently with Schola Cantorum of Boston. When not engaged with music, he can usually be found in the company of his wife Melanie, whether on a walk, baking cookies, or watching pro football.
Deacon
The Rev'd Deacon Margaret Lias
The Rev. Margaret E. Lias serves as Deacon. Ordained in June 2023 by the Rt. Rev. Alan M. Gates, Deacon Margaret brings with her a love of liturgy, music, and God’s children (that’s all of you). At PGS, Deacon Margaret will assist by proclaiming the gospel, engaging and enabling others to serve, and helping to “...interpret to the Church the needs, concerns and hopes of the world.” (The Book of Common Prayer p. 543) As is the nature of the diaconate, a non-stipendiary role, Deacon Margaret also has a full-time job outside of PGS as well as other pursuits. Deacon Margaret serves as Administrator for Governance and Grants and Assistant to the Canon to the Ordinary for the Diocese of Massachusetts, she is a retired professional musician, and serves on the board of directors of Bethany House of Prayer and the Dedham Cultural Council. When she’s not doing all those other things, Deacon Margaret loves to spend time at home in Dedham with her spouse, the Rev. Dr. Meghan T. Sweeney, son Elliot, goldendoodle Seamus, and sassy cat Gertrude.
Christian Education Director
Dr. Rachel Teubner
Dr. Rachel Teubner is a 2011 graduate of Yale Divinity School and currently works as a Visiting Scholar in Medieval Studies at Harvard. She is married to Jonathan and brings three children to PGS- Ella, Isaiah, and Asa. Rachel works with Children’s Christian Ed, Confirmation and formation with teenagers, as well as support adult formation.
Rachel was born in Massachusetts and grew up in Maine. She and her husband Jonathan started their family in Charlottesville, Virginia, and after that lived in Melbourne (AU) and Berlin prior to moving to the Boston area in 2021.
She is a teacher of literature and theology and the author of Dante and the Practice of Humility: A Theological Commentary on the Divine Comedy (2023). She worked for five years at Australian Catholic University, where she was a research fellow in Medieval and Early Modern Studies. Prior to her doctoral work, Rachel held jobs in bookstores, libraries, university public engagement, Catholic Worker ministries, Lutheran summer camps, and community college teaching. She holds degrees in religion and literature from St. Olaf College, Yale Divinity School, and the University of Virginia.
Parish Administrator
Sara Foley
Sara Foley serves as the Parish Administrator of Parish of the Good Shepherd. Sara grew up in West Roxbury and currently still resides there. She is close with her family and has one son.
Sara has worked as an Executive Administrative Assistant for the last 20 years. Many at a Boston Law Office and more recently with Newton Public Schools.
She is in the parish office Monday through Friday from 10am - 3pm.
Phone: (617) 244-4028
Sexton
Oscar Vasquez
Oscar Vasquez has served as sexton at Good Shepherd since 2022. He is responsible for building maintenance, upkeep, landscaping, and repairs. As a native speaker of Spanish, he plays a special role in working with the Spanish Immersion Montessori School.
Oscar was born in Chile and immigrated to the United States shortly before the end of the Pinochet regime. After a career in chemical engineering in Santiago, he translated his skills to public building maintenance in MetroWest Boston. Shortly before his arrival at PGS, Oscar retired after thirty (30) years of work for the City of Wellesley.