Meet the Staff
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Javier joined the staff in October of 2025. Prior to accepting the call to serve as Holy Family’s Rector, he served as Senior Associate Rector at St. Paul’s, Cary. While there, he was also a founding member and co-chair of ONE Wake, a non-partisan, multi-racial, multi-issue coalition of religious institutions, associations, and non-profit organizations in Wake County. Javier was born in El Salvador and spent a good portion of his formative years in the Pacific Northwest. Before attending seminary, he was a mental health counselor and case manager in Seattle. Javier enjoys fiction of all kinds, finding common ground in surprising places, and looking over the tree line. He looks forward to meeting you and joining Holy Family in worship, prayer, and action.
Angela joined the staff in September of 2013 and has since served as Minister of Formation, and Youth Minister prior to serving as the Associate Rector. Angela especially loves thinking about Christian art and iconography and the liturgical year with the people of Holy Family. In addition to serving as one of our priests, Angela loves theology, gardening, poetry, nature walks with her kids, Montessori education, composting, and raising chickens and worms.
Ireland, spicy food, Siamese cats, the Gospel of John, Wednesday Eucharists, and Sundays/Church are some of Paula’s favorite things. With the support of her United Methodist bishop and the bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina, she joined the staff in 2004. Paula loves the Chapel Hill Public Library; growing jalapenos, habaneros, basil, and caladiums; and feeding a couple dozen hummingbirds each summer.
Eliza joined Holy Family in the summer of 2024. She is grateful to spend her days partnering with the parish to nurture the faith of Holy Family’s youngest disciples, inviting them into the living story of God’s redeeming, reconciling, healing work in the world. Eliza loves to read, explore the outdoors, and linger over a meal with friends and family.
Chelsea joined the staff of Holy Family in September of 2023. She finds great joy in supporting the congregation in communal musical worship and in her work with the choir and instrumental music teams. Chelsea is also a music therapist specializing in working with youth with developmental disabilities and/or histories of trauma. In addition to all things music, she loves foraging and cooking, hiking, reading, and quilting.
Gary joined the staff as the sexton in 2000. He brought with him a wide range of experience and expertise gained through prior employment at FedEx and the Duke Medical Center. Gary greatly enjoys working with the people and staff of Holy Family.
Eli joined Holy Family’s staff in Summer 2024 after a year as Holy Family’s seminarian. He holds an M.Div from Duke Divinity School and is passionate about church life. Eli loves parish ministry, preaching, pastoral care, and theology, and these loves inform his ministry with the youth of Holy Family. When he’s not at church, Eli enjoys reading, writing, hiking, climbing, and porch-sitting. In addition to his ministry at Holy Family, Eli serves as Associate Breakfast Minister and Sexton at St. Joseph’s Episcopal Church in Durham.
Tara joined the staff in January of 2026 as the Parish Administrator, working behind the scenes at “The Desk” to keep daily operations running smoothly as a quiet ministry of support. She draws on her professional background in office management and housing to ensure the parish remains a welcoming, well-organized home for the entire community. A choir member at St. Paul’s, Cary who moved from New Hampshire to be near family, Tara is enjoying rooting herself in the local community and learning the finer points of all things Southern. When she isn’t in the office, she is a creative soul who enjoys cooking, sewing, and painting or being outdoors with her 13 year-old Australian Blue Heeler, Sugaree.
