The Rev. Joseph “Joe” Rose became Rector of St. Francis in October 2025. Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, Joe is a former investigative journalist with a Master of Divinity from Yale and a diploma in Anglican studies from Berkeley Divinity School. He first experienced God’s presence in the orchards, forests, and rivers of his youth. Before St. Francis, he served parishes in West Hartford, CT, and Atlanta, GA, and worked at Trinity Church NYC’s retreat center, overseeing a farm and founding a sanctuary for rescued donkeys. Joe is active in Episcopal agrarian and creation care ministries, interfaith and social justice initiatives, and has served on the Camp Washington board and the diocese’s Standing Committee.
Joe and his wife, Heidi, have two grown daughters. His interests include hiking, biking, camping, collecting and listening to vinyl records, reading, watching movies and doing puzzles with Heidi, and waiting for the Seattle Mariners to eventually make it to the World Series!
Richard Weidlich, DMA, has been part of the St. Francis Music Program since 2010 and Minister of Music for eight years, working closely with tenor section leader and accompanist, Jim Fredericks. A versatile performer, Richard has appeared in opera, operetta, musical theatre, and with major orchestras, including the St. Louis, Seattle, Oregon, and Buffalo symphonies.
Richard also performs in choral, cabaret, and recital settings and teaches voice at Western Connecticut State University, the University of Bridgeport, and the Performing Arts Conservatory of New Canaan.
Michele Beudert joined St. Francis in 2017 and brings more than 40 years of experience teaching Sunday school. About two decades ago, she discovered Godly Play, a spiritual practice that quickly became central to her ministry with children.
Michele loves Godly Play because it naturally builds community. Children gather in a circle, prepare to hear the story, wonder together, and share a small feast where they talk about gratitude and what’s happening in their lives. Afterward, they explore through creative activities—using the story materials, painting, planting flowers, or engaging in other hands-on expressions of faith. Older children often look up the stories in the Bible, deepening their understanding and connections.
For Michele, Godly Play is a joyful way to nurture a growing community and to pass on the stories of faith to the next generation.
The vestry is the leadership board of the parish, with representation of the church community. Meetings are monthly, beginning with a reflective prayer service, and focus on committee reports, projects and budget.
Current Vestry members are: Nancy Bisset and Aleta Shipley, Wardens; John Coff, Treasurer; Dawn Randall, Clerk; , Joe Bilotti, Tim Butler, Joan Carty, Joseph Cornacchia, Anne Leonhardt, Patricia Lydon, Andrea Martinez, Terry Murphy, Cathy Ostuw, Anthony Pramberger, and Joseph SanFilippo.
Given St. Francis' commitment to diversity and the variety of religious voices available in the Stamford community, we often invite guest preachers to provide their spiritual perspective. Rabbi Jay TelRav and Rabbi Joshua Hammerman, Baptist ministers, Dawn Snell and Michael Hyman, as well as The Rev. Winton Hill and Deacon Edrice Veichweg are a few of those who have shared their wisdom with St. Francis. These diverse offerings provide spiritual 'food' for the congregation's soul, they encourage our growth, and we are blessed by their messages!