Greetings my friends,

Let's pause to remember how the disciples received the gift of the Spirit and were empowered to share the good news with those near and far. As followers, we are invited to do the same, partnering with the Spirit who weaves us into one another's lives, forming us into a beloved community.

Allow me to introduce myself; I am Father John Daniels, your appointed Priest in Charge. I am delighted to serve the people of this community, especially given the historical significance of Elkins Park and the City of Brotherly Love! The joy evident by the smiles on your faces as we sing and worship as a multicultural community gives me joy and hope for the future of this congregation and our country.

A lifelong Episcopalian, I grew up in Lambertville, NJ, before moving to the West Coast to attend college and start my career in banking, insurance, and real estate, primarily in Seattle, Washington. My wife Lori and I have been married for more than 30 years, and we have four adult children. We do not have any grandchildren yet, but we have two Briard dogs named Genevieve (Genna) and Napoleon (Poley). They are a handful and keep us very busy!

My journey to ordination began at our home parish, Saint Thomas Medina, WA. The then Bishop, Vincent Warner, encouraged me to pursue ordination, which, after much discussion with my family, I agreed. We moved our young family to Alexandria, VA, where I attended Virginia Theological Seminary. During seminary, I was a hospital chaplain for Children's National Hospital. I continued my chaplaincy work after seminary at Virginia Hospital Center and Community Hospice in Washington, DC, along with working as a youth minister and school chaplain in Bowie, Maryland. Then, I received a call to Church Farm School in Exton, PA, to serve as their school chaplain, world religion teacher, and community service director. Where I served for nine years before accepting a call, as the middle school chaplain and religion teacher at the Episcopal Academy. Then I began serving as priest-in-charge at Saint Paul’s Elkins Park in 2023, and currently servicing as priest in charge at two local congregations!

I live my life believing that God is in control, not John Daniels! So, when the diocese approached me to consider a priest in charge ministry, I did not hesitate in responding to the call. And I am so happy that I did!

As I reflect over the first few months of my ministry here at Saint Paul's, I am mindful of how the Spirit has been at work, weaving us in and out of one another's lives. Let us continue to trust in God and one another as we build and grow God's church. o that we may continue to worship, sing, praise, and give thanks for the many blessings of this life! Thank you for welcoming me into your community and join us, as we spread the Good News!

Faithfully,

Fr. John Daniels

I was born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, to Paul Coriolan and Marie Jeanne Lise Michel. I spent all my childhood and adolescence in Port-au-Prince.

I did my primary studies at the Holy Trinity School of the Episcopal Church of Haiti, my secondary studies at Saint Peter’s College of the Episcopal Church of Haiti, my master’s degree in theology at the Seminario Episcopal del Caribe in Puerto Rico, my studies in Sociology at the Faculty of Ethnology of Haiti, my studies in cooperatives in the center of Dr. Legrand Bijou in Port-au-Prince, and my training in CPE at Hackensack Hospital in New Jersey and in the hospital San Lucas from Rio Piedras to Puerto Rico.

I was ordained Deacon on September 29, 1974 and Priest on May 22, 1975. In Haiti, I worked both in cities and in mountains, where I had to go to the back of a mule or a horse.

After the earthquake of January 12, 2010, which killed my sister and destroyed everything I owned, I had to take up residence in the USA and more precisely in Philadelphia, where I met the Rev. Father Paul DeWitt Reid, who is a great support for my psychosomatic balance.

À propos de moi:

J’ai pris naissance à Port-au-Prince, Haïti des parents Paul Coriolan et Marie Jeanne Lise Michel. J’ai passé toute mon enfance et mon adolescence à Port-au-Prince.

J’ai fait mes études primaires à l’école Sainte Trinité de l’église épiscopale d’haiti, mes études secondaires au collège Saint Pierre de l’église épiscopale d’haïti, ma maîtrise en théologie au Seminario Episcopal del Caribe de Porto Rico, mes études en Sociologie à la faculté d’Ethnologie d’haïti, mes études en coopératives au centre de Dr Legrand Bijou à Port-au-Prince et ma formation en CPE à l’hopital Hackensack dans le New Jersey et à l’hopital San Lucas de Rio Piedras à Porto Rico.

J’étais ordonné Diacre le 29 Septembre 1974 et Prêtre le 22 Mai 1975. En haïti, J’ai travaillé tant en villes qu’en montagnes, où j’ai dû me rendre à dos de mûle ou de cheval.

Après le séisme dû 12 Janvier 2010, qui a tué ma soeur et détruit tout ce que je possédais , j’ai dû élire domicile aux USA et plus précisément à Philadelphia , où j’ai rencontré le Rév. Père Paul DeWitt Reid, qui est d’un grand support pour mon équilibre psychosomatique.

I sometimes call myself, “a garden evangelist,” because I believe that cultivating and caring for our gardens—big and small—is a part of deepening the roots of our faith, both individually and in community. As I am a professional garden designer, I am able to “evangelize” the garden in my daily work as well.

My husband, Wayne, and I moved to Elkins Park in 2021. At that time, I was serving as deacon at St. Paul’s, Camden. Over time, the Spirit directed me to put down roots in the faith communities where I lived and worked, and I transferred my canonical residency to Pennsylvania.

In addition to gardening, I am an avid knitter and textile artist. I am starting a knitting ministry called, “Bright Lights,” brightly colored hats and gloves for our neighbors who have a life on the street. Watch for details on the official “launch” soon! I know there are knitters at St. Paul’s who I hope will want to participate.

My husband, Wayne, is an immigration attorney in private practice. We have five children, three grandchildren, and one senior dog, Roxy.

David Antony Lofton, Music Director and Choir Master, is a native Philadelphian and a graduate of The Curtis Institute of Music, where he studied piano with Dr. Vladimir Sokoloff, and was an accompanying apprentice of the late Todd Duncan for eight years. He also attended Westminster Choir College, where he developed his choral conducting skills. He has served as Artistic Director of Opera North Inc. (formerly Opera Ebony). He has been a recital collaborator for renowned singers including Wilhelmenia Fernandez, Marietta Simpson, Nancy Fabiola Herrera and Indra Thomas.

The list of singers with whom he has worked includes Jubilant Sykes, Frederica von Stade, Samuel Ramey, Florence Quivar, Kathleen Battle, and the late William Warfield. He served as coach/accompanist for The Luciano Pavarotti International Voice Competition and participated in the Festival dei due Mondi in Spoleto, Italy where he was assistant conductor for a televised production of Carmen and the filming of Amahl and the Night Visitors, directed by Menotti himself.

Mr. Lofton has performed as piano soloist and is a frequent collaborator in chamber music performances. He is a member of the Ritz Chamber Players and has been a guest pianist with The Young Eight, 1807 and Friends and various other performing groups. As well as having conducted many full operatic productions, he also led a concert of operatic and symphonic music featuring the famed Harlem Boys Choir at Carnegie Hall.

He served on the faculty of The Curtis Institute of Music for ten years and is a Master Vocal Coach at the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia.