St. Anne’s Ministry Team
The Rev. Manoj Mathew Zacharia, Ph.D.
Rector
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The Rev. Manoj Mathew Zacharia, Ph.D. serves as Rector of the historic St. Anne’s Parish in Annapolis, Maryland—a congregation rooted in the heart of the capital and rich in Episcopal tradition. A scholar-priest with deep ecumenical and global experience, he has been educated at Vassar College, The General Theological Seminary of The Episcopal Church, Trinity College (Toronto), the University of St. Michael’s College in the University of Toronto, Georgetown University, and the University of Chicago.
Manoj is a proud inheritor of the ancient Pakalomattam lineage of the St. Thomas Christians of Kerala, India, and stands within the vibrant legacy of the Syrian Christian tradition. His ministry has spanned three continents—serving the Church in the United States, Canada, and India. His faith journey was shaped by the nurture of Grace Episcopal Church in Port Jervis, NY; the St. Thomas Mar Thoma Church in New York; InterVarsity Christian Fellowship; and the Student Christian Movement. One of his most cherished memories remains receiving his first communion at the age of six from the late Rt. Rev. Paul Moore, then Bishop of New York.
He has previously served as Canon Sub- (Vice)-Dean of Christ Church Cathedral in Cincinnati and as Rector of St. Paul’s and Resurrection in the Diocese of Newark. He has ministered in parishes across multiple ecclesial expressions in communion with the See of Canterbury. A committed church leader, he has served as a Deputy to General Convention; a member of the Episcopal Church’s Standing Committee on Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations; Vice-Chair of the Standing Commission on World Mission; member of the Joint Task Force on the Anglican Communion and Combatting the Colonial Mindset; Ecumenical and Interfaith Officer for the Diocese of Southern Ohio; and founding Co-Chair of the Cincinnati Festival of Faiths, among other diocesan and administrative leadership roles.
Manoj’s theological passions include Syriac Christianity, patristics, New Comparative Theology, the Oxford Movement—particularly the works of Pusey, Dearmer, and Neale—as well as the evangelical (Wilberforce-Charles Simeon) stream within the Anglican Communion. His vocational journey has also extended beyond the Church into political service, congressional constituent affairs, business and economic development, and venture capital. He has taught courses in philosophy, English literature, and Anglican theology. Manoj is also a Fellow of the Christian Leadership Initiative at the prestigious Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem, a program sponsored jointly by Hartman and the American Jewish Committee.
Above all, Manoj finds his greatest joy in family life—married to Joelle Thomas Zacharia (M.A., M.Ed.), a dedicated National Board-Certified teacher, and father to their two beloved children, Abigail and Johan.
The Rev. Canon Mary Sulerud
Associate Rector (start October 1, 2026)
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The Rev. Canon Mary Sulerud will join St. Anne’s clergy staff on October 1, 2026, as Associate Rector. Mary Sulerud is a priest in the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland. She has served as interim rector most recently at Grace Episcopal Church in Elkridge and in other congregations in Maryland and Virginia. Mary has also served on staff for the Diocese of Washington, the Diocese of Maryland, and the National Cathedral in Washington D.C.
She has served as a congregational consultant in the dioceses of Atlanta, Milwaukee, Virginia, Washington, and Maryland on topics that range from creating an environmental justice program to conflict mediation. Prior to ordination she was an arts administrator and consultant for 10 years with the Minnesota State Arts Board.
She has been married for over 50 years to her husband Peder who is a retired architect. They have a daughter who is a social worker and a son-in-law who is a fire fighter in Howard County. Mary and Peder have two grandchildren, a silly dog named Mickey and two churlish cats. They live in Columbia, Maryland.
The Rev. M. Dion Thompson
Senior Associate
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The Rev. M. Dion Thompson serves as Associate Priest for Pastoral Care. He brings great gifts and passion for pastoral care as well as experience and interest in other areas of priestly ministry in the parish. The Rev. Thompson is passionate about studying God’s word, proclaiming the Christian message and caring for God’s people. So, it’s no surprise to him that the Holy Spirit has brought him to serve in the pastoral ministry of St. Anne’s.
Dion received his M.Div. from the General Theological Seminary in New York City in 2007 and was ordained to the diaconate in June 2007. He was ordained to the priesthood on Jan. 26, 2008, the feast day of Timothy and Titus, companions of St. Paul. Before taking up the priest’s collar, he enjoyed a 20-year career in journalism, working for The Baltimore Sun, The Miami Herald and The Hartford Courant. He started his career in Hartford as a night police reporter and went on to cover a wide variety of news beats, including the state prison system in Connecticut, the neighborhoods of Little Haiti and Liberty City in Miami, and the state legislature in Maryland. Born in Los Angeles, California, he holds a B.A. in English from California State University, Long Beach, and an M.F.A. in Professional Writing and Publishing from the University of Southern California. His novel, Walk Like A Natural Man, was published in 2003. During the past year he has written several articles for the Episcopal News Service and the Episcopal Journal.
He and his wife, Jean, also a former journalist, have been blessed with 31 years of marriage and have one son, Tevin. Hobbies include playing guitar, bike riding, losing himself in the Greek New Testament and listening to music, everything from Blind Willie Johnson to Mozart and John Coltrane. Having been baptized in the waters of the U.S.C. Trojans and the Los Angeles Lakers, he asks that you refrain from extolling the alleged virtues of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Boston Celtics.
The Rev. Alice Grant
Associate Rector for Formation and Evangelism
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The Reverend Alice Grant serves as the Associate Rector for Formation and Evangelism.
Prior to St. Anne's, Alice served as an associate rector at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Cary, North Carolina. Prior to St. Paul's, Alice served as curate for the Episcopal Church of the Advocate in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
A lifelong Episcopalian, Alice has responded to a call to nurture the growth and vitality of the Church. She is passionate about the fusion of arts and the Christian faith and experiences her own artmaking as a form of prayer and thanksgiving.
In her ministry, Alice enjoys preaching, nurturing the faith of young families, and feels that the care of souls of all ages is one of the greatest privileges of her life.
After earning a B.A. in Studio Art from Davidson College, Alice worked in sales and management for art galleries in New York, NY and in Jackson Hole, WY. Her professional path led her into finance and financial technology, first for StreetAccount/Factset and then for BlueMatrix. Throughout, Alice's artmaking and the Holy Spirit led her to serve the church through ordained ministry.
A native New Yorker, Alice grew up as a member of Grace Church, Brooklyn Heights. Alice lives with her family in Annapolis, where she hopes to get to know you, and how God is working in your life.
The Rev. John T. Smith
Pastoral Associate
St. Anne’s Music
J. Ernest Green
Director of Music
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J. Ernest Green is the Music Director of St. Anne’s Episcopal Church, the Artistic Director of Live Arts Maryland and the Music Director of the Annapolis Chamber Orchestra and Annapolis Chorale. He served as a Cover Conductor with the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, where he worked with such artists as Metropolitan Opera star Denyce Graves, Sir James Galway, Pinchas Zuckerman, Stanislaw Skrowaczewski, Osmo Vanska among others. He received acclaim for conducting the National Symphony Orchestra for a subscription weekend with a last-minute call when Bill Conti was unable to appear – he had less than 20 minutes to prepare and conduct an entirely new program!
As a Pops Conductor, Mr. Green regularly worked with and conducted for the late Marvin Hamlisch. In January 2013, he conducted the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra’s tribute to Mr. Hamlisch, featuring Idina Menzel, Robert Klein and Lucie Arnaz, Maria Friedman, Brian D’Arcy James and Klea Blackhurst. In fall 2012, he was the Musical Advisor for the Memorial Concert for Mr. Hamlisch at The Juilliard School where he worked with Mike Nichols, Liza Minnelli, Aretha Franklin, Chris Botti, Kevin Cole, Maria Friedman, Lang Lang, and Barbra Streisand.
Mr. Green was the Musical Supervisor and Conductor for a new production of “Sweet Smell of Success” at the Hudson Theatre on Broadway. In June 2013 he was the Music Director and Conductor for “One Singular Sensation” a Broadway celebration honoring Mr. Hamlisch at the Hudson Theatre featuring, in addition to the artists listed above, Donna McKechnie, Marissa McGowan, Matthew Morrison, John Lloyd Young, Stephanie J. Block, Teal Wicks, Capathia Jenkins, Michael Douglas, Bernadette Peters, and Joel Grey. Recent engagements include concerts with the Pittsburgh Symphony and the Adrian Symphony and this fall he will conduct Verdi’s “La Traviata” with the Baltimore Concert Opera. Last season he conducted a new production of “Pagliacci” with Opera Naples.
Known for his adventurous and creative programming as he pushes the boundaries of the concert hall, Mr. Green has created several “fusion” programs combining standard concert repertoire with popular and contemporary music, which he has lead with orchestras both here and abroad. In addition, he has received acclaim for his concert productions of operas and other stage works, among them Verdi’s “La Traviata,” “Sweeney Todd” and Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “South Pacific.” He has also been engaged to develop similar programs for other orchestras. Mr. Green also created a new concert production of “Don Giovanni,” which premiered in 2010.
Referring to his creativity and innovation in and beyond the concert hall, The Baltimore Sun recently said, “Green should be commended for his downright prodigious programming.” Mr. Green has appeared with many orchestras including: The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, The Philadelphia Orchestra with Marvin Hamlisch, The National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center, The Florida Orchestra, The Tuscia Festival Orchestra (Italy), The Queen’s Orchestra (at the Aaron Copland School of Music), Cumberland Valley Chamber Orchestra, Annapolis Symphony, the Sophia Symphony and Varna Symphony (Bulgaria), Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, Lincoln Symphony, Orquestra Sinfonica Nacional (Santo Domingo), Mesa Symphony, Cumberland Valley Chamber Players and the Trinity Chamber Orchestra (Cleveland). He has toured with the Ballet Arabesque (Bulgaria) the Ballet Theatre of Maryland, MozartFestival Opera and the Teatro Lirico d’Europa.
Mr. Green’s opera credits include the Opera Naples, Hawaii Opera Theatre, Teatro Lirico d’Europa, Boston Aria Guild, Indiana Opera North, Associacão Opera de Brasilia, Boston Academy of Music and the Young Victorian Theatre Company. He made his Carnegie Hall debut in 1993 and in 1986 made his international debut conducting performances with the Fundacão Orquestra Sinfoni ca de Brazil, Associacão Opera de Brasilia, and the Orquestra Jovem de Brasilia.
Mr. Green is also a Lecturer in Music at Washington College. He is an avid advocate for the arts and an active fundraiser for his own company as well as other community organizations. He has served as a music panelist for the Maryland State Arts Council and has served as an advisor on its Strategic Planning Committee. In 2002, he was given the Performing Arts Award (also known as the “Annie”) by the Arts Council of Anne Arundel County and, in 2012 was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Awar
Larry Molinaro
Organist
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Larry Molinaro, parish organist for St. Anne’s, also serves as harpsichordist for the Annapolis Chorale and Chamber Orchestra. As co-director of the Bach+ series for St. Anne’s and Live Arts Maryland, Larry Molinaro regularly presents concerts of the music of J.S. Bach. In recent seasons these have included performances of the Goldberg Variations, the Art of Fugue, the Clavier-Übung series, the Well-Tempered Clavier, and a series of lecture-recitals, “Dance, Dance, Revelation,” about dance rhythms in the music of Bach. His interpretation of the music of Bach has won praise from critics and audiences alike for being innovative, thoughtful, informative, and “a model of its kind” (Washington Post). Critics have written about his “graceful agility” and his ability to be “both instructive and entertaining” (Baltimore Sun). Following a performance with the Annapolis Chorale and Chamber Orchestra, The Capital wrote that “Molinaro opened the program with a spectacularly rousing performance of Bach...There were times when one would swear there had to be another person at the organ, too: two hands and two feet couldn’t have struck all those notes and produced all that marvelous sound.” About Molinaro’s recreation of Felix Mendelssohn’s famous Bach recital at the Thomaskirche in Leipzig in 1840, the Washington Post remarked that “...the organist’s propulsive, immaculately articulated playing revved the evening to a thrilling conclusion.”
In addition to his performances of the music of J.S. Bach, Larry Molinaro pursues an interest in the art of classical improvisation and is a frequent contributor to music conferences in the research area of 18th-century improvisation practice and pedagogy. In recent years, he has presented at conferences in South Hampton (UK), Salzburg (Austria), Canterbury (UK) and Cremona (Italy). For Live Arts Maryland, he also regularly improvises live scores to silent films including Lon Chaney’s Phantom of the Opera (1925/1929), Buster Keaton’s Sherlock Jr., (1924) and Cecil B. DeMille’s King of Kings (1928).
Larry Molinaro earned the Artist’s Diploma in organ performance from the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia and continued his studies at Yale University’s School of Music where he was Frank Bozyan Scholar for Organ. In addition to his musical studies, he earned a B.S. in Biochemistry from Temple University and an MBA in international business from INSEAD, Fontainebleau, France.
Advancement
Hugh Reese
Director of Advancement
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With the approval of our Executive Committee and knowledge of our Vestry, The Rector has invited Hugh Reese to serve as St. Anne’s Director of Advancement.
Hugh works with all of you by serving to remind us that all that we have is from God and to be given to God. Working with John Poulton, Stewardship Chair for Vestry, and all of you, Hugh is delighted to serve Christ by helping us align our gifts with the mission of St. Anne’s.
He brings with him a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to service that will undoubtedly enrich our community. A lifelong Episcopalian hailing from Washington DC, Hugh's journey of service began at a young age. After attending St. Alban’s School on the Cathedral Close, he spent two formative years as a cathedral server under the mentorship of Dean Francis Sayre. It was during this time that Hugh's calling to a life of service became clear.
Following his education, Hugh attended the US Naval Academy and dedicated seven years of his life as a Surface Warfare Officer before returning to DC to embark on a career as a Real Estate entrepreneur.
Hugh's commitment to service extended far beyond his professional endeavors. He actively engaged in volunteer work, finding fulfillment in various roles within his home parish, All Saints’ Chevy Chase. From serving on the Vestry to participating in pastoral care ministries and chairing Stewardship efforts, Hugh's dedication to his faith and community was unwavering.
His altruistic spirit led him to serve on numerous boards and committees, including those focused on housing, elder care, and strategic planning within the Episcopal Church. Hugh's impact resonated deeply, from his tenure as President of Friendship Terrace to his founding and presidency of non-profit organizations dedicated to elder care and transportation services.
Family holds a special place in Hugh's life. Married to his high school sweetheart, Amy, for 44 years, their partnership is a testament to enduring love and shared values. Amy's contributions to the community, through her involvement in the flower guild and her volunteer work at Stanton Center, reflect the family's commitment to service. Their son Fitz, a graduate of Tufts University, embodies the family's dedication to education and excellence. Currently working in finance in Boston, Fitz continues to make his mark on the world, carrying forward the legacy of service instilled by his parents.
We welcome Hugh’s leadership, presence, and ministry among us.
Facilities and Properties
Mark Strandquist
Facilities and Properties Manager
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Mark Strandquist was born the second of eight children to Colonel John H. Strandquist USMC, Ret and Mary Gabrielle. Mark’s early years were spent traveling across the country to various Navy/Marine Corps bases every couple of years which initiated his ability to make new friends instantly, some of which turned into relationships for life.
His family ultimately settled in Annapolis in 1967 prior to his father’s deployment to Vietnam. After so much moving around Mark treasures his high school years in Annapolis where he attended Annapolis High School and St. Mary’s High School. During these years he worked in Annapolis at the Annapolis Sailing School, Annapolis Racquet Club and managed the men’s shop in the iconic Sign of the Whale store. While attending college Mark began working in the restaurant industry as one of the early employees at McGarvey’s. He eventually moved to Georgetown, where he bartended at various pubs including Clyde’s, The Third Edition, Garrett’s, The Sign of the Whale, ending at The Palm. These popular places were magnets for attracting political and social celebrities of the day which lent to growing Mark’s ability to connect and converse with nearly anyone he met. With these his natural extraversion and newly forming business development skills, he stepped into the commercial real estate development, design, and furnishings’ world, where he served for many years in multiple sectors from a VP level of leadership.
Mark is blessed with three sons and a daughter and in 2014 married Pam Frett Strandquist who merged her son and three daughters with his gang to create one mix bag of nonstop hilarious chaos. They are now empty nesters enjoying the magical peninsula of Arundel on the Bay in Annapolis.
Mark & Pam love to laugh, ride bikes, sail, hike, and listen to music (classical, Bossa nova, jazz, rock & roll, etc). They love to read and often read through books out loud together, the first one being The Princess Bride. They love diving into authors such as C.S. Lewis, Jemar Tisby, Thich Nhat Hanh, Marcus Aurelius, Eckhart Tolle, Don Miguel Ruiz, Rob Bell, Rachel Held Evans, and J.R.R. Tolkien. His current favorite is Will Guidara’s “Unreasonable Hospitality” which speaks of thinking creatively and serving all people beyond what would seem reasonable, leaving all you encounter feeling blessed and thankful by the experience.
Mark is filled with excitement for this precious opportunity to serve every one of you.
St. Anne’s Administration
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Nancy Pollack is honored and excited to be joining St. Anne’s Parish as the Parish Administrator. She is a graduate of University of Southern California with a degree in Finance. Nancy has been an active member of Preschool of the Arts at St. Anne’s since 2015 where she was most recently the lead teacher of a five day three’s program. In addition to serving at PASA, Nancy has been the assistant Finance Director at St. Martins in the Field School in Severna Park for the past 2 years and is an active member in St. Mary’s Parish.
Nancy was born and raised in Central Ohio. After graduating from USC, Nancy worked at an accounting firm in Los Angeles for 2 years. Nancy moved into banking and worked at Union Bank in LA and First National Bank of MD in Baltimore as a commercial lender. In 1997, Nancy was relocated to Amsterdam where she lived for three years. Nancy’s daughter, Brooke was born in Amsterdam. Upon return to Annapolis, Nancy dedicated her life to raising Brooke and then John, who was born in 2002. Both children attended PASA.
Nancy resides in Annapolis and loves to walk, read, ski and travel. She is blessed and humbled by the opportunity to serve the members of St. Anne’s parish with all the operational aspects of the church. She is excited to meet the members and volunteers and provide assistance as needed.
Nancy Pollack
Parish Administrator
Claire Miller
Ministry Associate, Communications and Engagement
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Claire Miller is a marketing and communications professional who supported the launch of two medications and two vaccines for Pfizer and Wyeth. Sailors for 21 years, she and her husband Rich relocated from the Philadelphia suburbs to the Annapolis peninsula in 2016 for his work and to be closer to the water they both enjoy. Since moving to Annapolis, Claire has applied her communications talents to build support for environmental advocacy non-profits and faith ministries, including the Racial Reconciliation Collaborative and St. Luke’s Restoration of Nature. She completed the Education for Ministry Program in 2024 and serves on the Vestry at St. Luke’s Eastport, her home parish, and sings in the choir. In her free time, Claire enjoys experiencing cultures through cooking and music, visiting her favorite pocket parks in Eastport and Annapolis, and sailing on the Chesapeake. She has alopecia and through her faith, she found the courage to walk authentically in the world.
Linday Espinosa
Program Coordinator
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410-267-9333
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Lindsay Espinosa joined the St. Anne’s community in the fall of 2016 when she became a member of the choir. Her role expanded shortly after to become one of the section leaders and soloists for the music ministry. In the fall of 2020, Ms. Espinosa became the Music and Movement teacher at PASA. She has been teaching with the preschool for 6 years with duties that include creating a curriculum, engaging with students, and planning and leading two music concerts a year for her young students. Her role with St. Anne’s has grown again to include more administrative tasks as she accepts the position of program coordinator where her main duties will include creating bulletins for worship services and scheduling and coordinating events for the many wonderful ministries at St. Anne’s Church.
Preschool for the Arts at St. Anne’s, PASA
Krissy Harrison
Business Manager, Preschool for the Arts at St. Anne’s (PASA)
Amy Luca
Director, Preschool for the Arts at St. Anne’s (PASA)
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St. Anne’s is delighted to welcome its new Preschool Director, Amy Luca. Amy brings deep passion and experience to PASA. A longtime member of the PASA community, she was first drawn to the school as a parent of three children, quickly becoming an active participant in its vibrant environment. Her involvement began as an Executive Member of the PTO Board before transitioning into a Lead Teacher role, where she has spent the past four years fostering young learners. She believes wholeheartedly in PASA’s mission to nurture the whole child, crediting its success to the dedicated educators and engaged families who make the school a truly special place.
Her faith journey began early as the daughter of an Episcopal priest, with Sunday worship and church holidays as an integral part of her upbringing. What started as a family routine evolved into a personal sense of belonging and hope within the church community. She was an active member of her youth group and spent transformative summers at an Episcopal camp in Pittsburgh. Her spiritual journey also took her to Taizé, France, where she experienced prayer, meditation, and international dialogue—experiences that continue to shape her beliefs and character.
She earned her undergraduate degree in English and Leadership from the University of Richmond before beginning her professional career in public relations. However, she soon discovered her true calling in education and spent several fulfilling years teaching English at Severn School. During that time, she also pursued a Master’s Degree in Education at Johns Hopkins University, earning certificates in Leadership for School, Family, and Community Collaboration, as well as Leadership in Independent Schools. After taking time to raise her children, she felt drawn back to the classroom—this time with a younger age group—leading to her teaching career at PASA.