PRIEST-IN-CHARGE

The Rev. Kris Opat (he/him) came to St. David’s in May 2012 and serves as the Priest-in-Charge. Kris grew up in Bethel Park and graduated from Grove City College in 2002 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He discerned a call to the priesthood while serving at a new church start in the city called Three Nails. He was ordained in 2008 following his graduation from Trinity Episcopal School for Ministry. He lives in the Sheraden neighborhood of Pittsburgh with his wife JoEllen Marsh and their menagerie. Before coming to St. David’s he served as the Associate Rector at St. Paul’s, Mt. Lebanon.

CHILDREN’S MINISTRY DIRECTOR

Jen (she/her) has been a member of the St David’s community since moving to Pittsburgh from Dallas in 2006. Jen has worked with children and families as a Children’s Ministry Leader, and Pediatric Dietitian and Lactation Consultant for over 25 years. She also serves as Children’s Ministry coordinator for the Diocese of Pittsburgh. Jen lives in the Brookline neighborhood of Pittsburgh. She has 3 adult children and a dog, and enjoys gardening, hiking, yoga, and beekeeping.

ASST. CHILDREN’S MINISTRY DIRECTOR

Caylin (she/her) is serving as Children’s Ministry Assistant Director.  Caylin found St. David’s when she was looking for a church where her young kids could feel welcomed and she could find a spiritual connection in community. Caylin was a public school teacher for about 10 years, but now works as a professor in teacher education at Washington & Jefferson and Pitt.  Her for fun she loves to read, play card games, exercise + spend time in Deep Creek with her family. 

MUSIC DIRECTOR

Jim (he/him) joined the staff of St. David’s as Director of Music in July 2019 after coaching the praise band for the first 6 months of that year and came out as gay in October 2019 because he feels safe here. Anyone who plays an instrument and/or sings and is interested in helping to lead the congregation in praising God through music should talk to Jim

INTERIM PRESCHOOL DIRECTOR

Brandy is serving as our Preschool’s Director. She, her husband Mikel, and two sons moved to Peters in 2015. Her boys both graduated from St. David’s Preschool. She graduated with a double major in Business Management and Marketing. She was also a teacher assistant for 5 years with the preschool before stepping into the role of director. During her free time she enjoys reading, watching movies, walking, and spending time with her friends and family.

OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR

Melissa (she/her) is serving as our Office Administrator.  She grew up in Connecticut, and lived in Western North Carolina, where she worked as an English teacher.  She and her family moved to Peters in 2010 and have been members of St. David’s since 2016, with all three children attending the preschool program.  She has a Bachelors in English Education and a Masters in Library Science.  Melissa is also a teacher’s assistant with the preschool.  She feels blessed to be a part of the St. David’s family and community.  When she’s not busy with her children and work, she enjoys reading, singing, dancing, and being outside.

FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATOR

Jill is serving as our Financial Administrator.

SEXTON

Pete is father of three beautiful daughters. He and his wife Laura worship at Christ Community of the South Hills and loves working for St David’s. As Sexton he works with the staff to  maintain a safe and clean building and grounds.

SENIOR WARDEN

Nancy has been here at St. David’s since moving to Peter’s Township in December 2019. Nancy has been a long-standing member of the Episcopal Church, joining us from The Church of the Epiphany in Grove City, Pa. Nancy served on Altar Guild while at Epiphany and taught Sunday School, as well. She has continued serving the needs of Altar Guild here at St. David’s. Nancy is enjoying retirement after a 35+ year career as a Speech & Hearing Supervisor and Quality Assurance Manager at Polk Center/DPW (A residential facility for the Developmentally Disabled). Nancy and her husband, Bernie, are the parents of two children, Adam Emily, and the ‘loves of their life’, grandchildren Rhett and Layla. They also have their very spoiled fur baby, Coco. Nancy enjoys reading, cooking, antique shopping for vintage Christmas items, and traveling with Bernie and Coco.

JUNIOR WARDEN

Liza is a retired Technology professional having worked locally in health care and education. She resides in Peters Township and has attended St. David’s since Fall of 2016. She was raised in the Episcopal church in Southern Ohio and has attended and served in the church in several states.

SECRETARY

Susanne lives in Bridgeville with her husband, Warren.  They were born and raised in the North Hills but moved to eastern PA right after they got married.  They were happy to be able to return to Pittsburgh in 2022, this time to the South Hills.  They have two grown children and two grandchildren. Suzanne is a Financial Assistant for Carnegie Mellon University. Her first visit to St. David’s was in 2023, and she immediately liked the casual and friendly atmosphere. She enjoys the message each week plus the mix of contemporary and traditional music.  She loves to spend time with her family, read, and walk her Golden Retriever, Piper.

David Clagett joined St. David’s in 2012, along with his wife, Jennifer, and three daughters, Athena, Annamaria, and Alaina. Growing up in an Army family, he moved frequently as a child. After earning his Bachelor’s degree in Social Science from Florida State University, he spent time working as a union organizer and as a community organizer in low income neighborhoods. Inspired to become a high school Social Studies teacher, he completed a teacher preparation program at the University of Pittsburgh. For the past ten years, he has taught online at the Agora Cyber Charter School. At St. David’s, he has been involved in the Children’s Ministry and Vacation Bible School, as well as serving as a Lay Eucharistic Minister (LEM.) He values St. David’s, and the Episcopal Church more broadly, for creating a place where all people are welcome.

Gary and his wife Linda joined St. David’s in 2018 and were married by Rev. Kris Opat in 2019. Their home is in Peters Township and their blended family includes six adult children and seven grandchildren. They enjoy traveling, golf, gardening, and spending time with family and friends.

Gary grew up in Houston, Texas. He earned an engineering degree at Texas A&M University and spent the next 41 years in the energy industry in Texas, West Virginia, Colorado, and Pennsylvania. He retired in 2024 and is now refocusing his time and energy on family, community, and personal interests. He appreciates the opportunity for greater involvement and engagement at St. David’s as a member of the Vestry.

TREASURER

Denny has been a native to Western Pa and Pittsburgh all his life. Born and raised in Brookine, he has had a lifelong love affair with his Western PA roots matched only by his fierce pride in his Irish heritage and his faith in God. He has raised four adult children and has been blessed with his three grandchildren. Professionally, Denny is well suited for his duties as the Treasurer. A 1974 graduate of West Virginia University, he majored in accounting and earned his CPA designation while working with Deloitte right out of college. He went on to spend his entire career in the accounting and financial world. He loves anything outdoors, particularly long hikes in state parks. He loves to read, watch sports, and enjoys a wide variety of music, travelling, dogs, and getting to know his St. David brethren.

Adam is a lifelong member of St. David’s. He loves playing drums in the Church band. When he was a teenager, someone made the mistake of asking him to bring his drums to play in Church on Sunday, and they have become a permanent fixture ever since.  Adam‘s favorite thing about St. David’s is that you don’t have to be perfect or have your life neat and tidy to belong here. We believe you belong here just the way you are and we welcome all.

Adam is a resident of Bethel Park where he lives with his wife, daughter, son and boxer named Lucky. Adam works as a project estimator for Dr. Roofer and is a lover of many types of music. His hobbies include woodwork, rock climbing, and seeing live music.

Bill Orrison resides with his wife, Rachel; both are originally from southwestern Pennsylvania. They have two sons and five grandchildren, who are a great source of joy to them. Bill earned a BSBA in Accounting from Waynesburg University and later completed an MBA there. He retired from Pennsylvania American Water Co. after 38 years of service, with experience in auditing, rates and revenue, and accounting. He has been a member of St. David’s since 2018. Bill served on the vestry in 2019 and currently serves as an usher, collection counter, retiree group member, and food collection volunteer. He previously served as an audit committee member and Vacation Bible School volunteer. He looks forward to developing additional relationships at St. David’s.

Erin Viale grew up in Knoxville, Tennessee, and moved to Pennsylvania for her husband’s work. She serves as Director of Human Resources for UPMC Health Plan, where she leads UPMC’s Pathways to Work program, a workforce development initiative supporting job seekers who face barriers to employment. Passionate about expanding access to meaningful work, Erin has served on the Pittsburgh HR Association Board of Directors since 2021 and regularly speaks at human resources conferences. She is committed to helping individuals navigate career transitions and helping organizations build inclusive, effective workplaces. Erin attends St. David’s with her husband and their two sons, and she enjoys singing in the praise band. Outside of work and church, she can usually be found cheering on her children at their many activities, reading, running, or playing the banjo. She also enjoys connecting with others in the community and finding practical ways to support workforce opportunities across the region.

Tom and his wife, Janice, have two sons and three grandchildren, and his family is the center of everything that matters to him. The two of them have lived in Peters Township for 40 years and in the Pittsburgh area all their lives.

Tom holds bachelor’s degrees from Notre Dame and Carnegie Mellon, and he is retired from the construction business. The spiritual side of his life has always been important to him.

What he values most about St David’s is how welcoming it feels. He leaves service on Sunday having experienced something that helps him in his ongoing effort to become a better person and to recognize the many blessings in his life. He hopes to help build on the community and warmth that he and Janice have found there.