Staff
A dedicated staff serves the St. Paul's community, along with a host of parish volunteers.
Jeanne Finan, Dean and Rector
The Very Reverend Jeanne Finan began her tenure as the Dean and Rector of the Cathedral Church of St. Paul in Burlington, Vermont in March 2014. An almost native North Carolinian (she was born in Tokyo, Japan), Jeanne grew up drinking sweet tea, playing in red clay and listening to Appalachian fiddle music. She went on to graduate from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Virginia Episcopal Seminary. Believing that one can never have too much education, she also did post-graduate studies in Celtic Christianity at the University of Wales in Lampeter. Prior to coming to the Cathedral she served churches in Blowing Rock and Asheville, NC. She is married to Tom Eshelman and they have two adult children and five grandchildren. Jeanne likes to mix with wise elders and young wonderers, with the wealthy who are trying to get through the eye of the needle and the poor who are struggling to maintain their dignity, and with both people of faith and people of doubt.
Jeanne can be reached at jfinan@stpaulscathedralvt.org.
Jeanne can be reached at jfinan@stpaulscathedralvt.org.
Mark Howe, Director of Music and Canon Precentor
Mark Howe has served as Director of Music and Canon Precentor of St. Paul’s Cathedral since 1999. He began singing in a choir of men and boys at the age of 8, and he holds degrees from Westminster Choir College (B. Mus. in Organ and Church Music), Yale University (M. Mus. in Organ, with diplomas in Anglican Studies from Berkeley Divinity School and in Sacred Music from the Institute of Sacred Music), and New York University (Ph.D. in Musicology). Mark has taught at Seabury-Western Theological Seminary, Yale Divinity School, and McGill University. At St. Paul’s, he is responsible for overseeing the musical life of the Cathedral, playing the organ, training and directing the choirs, and consulting on liturgical matters. He has served as Editor of the Journal of the Association of Anglican Musicians, and as a member of the staff of the Royal School of Church Music's Newport (R.I.) Summer Training Course.
Mark says: “I keep a small icon of the Transfiguration on the organ, because I think that music helps draw us into the cloud of God’s presence, just as Peter, James, and John were taken beyond their own time and space on the Mount of Transfiguration. So a central part of my work is to help transfiguration occur at St. Paul’s Cathedral, by the immense power of music – whether we’re singing, playing, or hearing it.”
Mark can be reached at mhowe@stpaulscathedralvt.org.
Mark says: “I keep a small icon of the Transfiguration on the organ, because I think that music helps draw us into the cloud of God’s presence, just as Peter, James, and John were taken beyond their own time and space on the Mount of Transfiguration. So a central part of my work is to help transfiguration occur at St. Paul’s Cathedral, by the immense power of music – whether we’re singing, playing, or hearing it.”
Mark can be reached at mhowe@stpaulscathedralvt.org.
J. Stannard Baker, Deacon
I began my journey at the Cathedral in 1999. This was when my husband, Peter, and I were plaintiffs in the Freedom to Marry lawsuit and, after attending one service here, we knew it was the right place for us – we felt supported and surrounded by friends. I was ordained as a deacon in 2009 and assigned by Bishop Ely to the Cathedral after serving internships at Christ Church Montpelier and Calvary Underhill as well as chaplain training at Fletcher Allen hospital. As Cathedral Deacon my responsibility is to connect our faith to the needs of the world. I love reading the Gospel each Sunday but this diaconal role would be incomplete without attending to the needs all around us in our community. My major focuses are on the Social Justice and outreach activities at the Cathedral and on formation. I am proud that we are a designated Jubilee Center and look forward to continued involvement and growth through SASH, JUMP and VIA.
I grew up as a Quaker. Silent worship, with its direct connection to the Holy Spirit, helped me form my early relationship to God, but my spiritual home is here in the liturgy and deep and powerful sacramental worship of the Episcopal Church. My “day job” is as Clinical Director for Howard Center Developmental Services. I have a background in child development and am a child and family therapist as well as Registered Play Therapist – Supervisor. I play the cello and guitar and love music of all kinds. I love to read, take long walks and be by the water. I collect nativities, fountain pens, and books. My husband, Peter Harrigan, is a Professor of Theatre and Chair of the Fine Arts Department at St. Michael’s College. We have a beloved Schnoodle, Daisy, who lives a very fine life.
Stan can be reached at sbaker@stpaulscathedralvt.org.
I grew up as a Quaker. Silent worship, with its direct connection to the Holy Spirit, helped me form my early relationship to God, but my spiritual home is here in the liturgy and deep and powerful sacramental worship of the Episcopal Church. My “day job” is as Clinical Director for Howard Center Developmental Services. I have a background in child development and am a child and family therapist as well as Registered Play Therapist – Supervisor. I play the cello and guitar and love music of all kinds. I love to read, take long walks and be by the water. I collect nativities, fountain pens, and books. My husband, Peter Harrigan, is a Professor of Theatre and Chair of the Fine Arts Department at St. Michael’s College. We have a beloved Schnoodle, Daisy, who lives a very fine life.
Stan can be reached at sbaker@stpaulscathedralvt.org.
Jennifer Sumner, Office Administrator
I am so thrilled to be part of the staff here at St Paul’s Cathedral after a few years of searching for a position that would be fulfilling, make a positive difference in my community, and enable me to be present for my very busy family including myself, my husband and our three daughters.
I graduated from Emory University in Atlanta and have held a variety of positions, most recently as an Administrative Assistant in the Burlington School District. I am active in the Burlington Schools as a parent, and enjoy swimming, reading, music, and the fantastic community we’ve come to know here in Burlington.
Jennifer can be reached at (802) 864-0471 or at admin@stpaulscathedralvt.org.
I graduated from Emory University in Atlanta and have held a variety of positions, most recently as an Administrative Assistant in the Burlington School District. I am active in the Burlington Schools as a parent, and enjoy swimming, reading, music, and the fantastic community we’ve come to know here in Burlington.
Jennifer can be reached at (802) 864-0471 or at admin@stpaulscathedralvt.org.
Barbara Comeau, Financial Administrator
I became a member of St. Paul's in 2009 when we moved from Atlanta back to Vermont with our three girls in tow. The girls' grandparents, aunt and uncle, and cousins were already members of the Cathedral and we quickly adopted St. Paul's as our church home. The girls joined the choir, and as a family we jumped right into parish life: hosting start up Sunday, working on the Wreath Project and performing the annual audit.
I graduated from Stonehill College with a degree in accounting and worked for 10 years with IDX Healthcare, managing their revenue budget and sales forecasting process. For the last 14 years, I have worked as a Research Director for KLAS Enterprises conducting healthcare IT research.
Based on my experience with the annual audit and financial background, it was a natural fit to join the Cathedral staff in supporting their financial processes and reporting.
Barbara can be reached at bcomeau@stpaulscathedralvt.org.
I graduated from Stonehill College with a degree in accounting and worked for 10 years with IDX Healthcare, managing their revenue budget and sales forecasting process. For the last 14 years, I have worked as a Research Director for KLAS Enterprises conducting healthcare IT research.
Based on my experience with the annual audit and financial background, it was a natural fit to join the Cathedral staff in supporting their financial processes and reporting.
Barbara can be reached at bcomeau@stpaulscathedralvt.org.
