Clergy & Staff

The Rev. Noah H. Evans

The Reverend Noah H. Evans, our Rector and pastor, has been with St. Paul's since March 2017. Ordained in 2004, previously, Noah served as the Rector of Grace Episcopal Church, Medford, Massachusetts and as the Associate Rector of St. Anne's in the Fields Episcopal Church in Lincoln Massachusetts. Noah was born and raised in Lansing, Michigan. He is a graduate of Washington University in Saint Louis and The General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church. Noah lives in Mt. Lebanon, with his wife, the Reverend Sara Irwin, an Episcopal Priest, who serves as the Pastor of St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church in Carnegie. Their daughter Adah was born in 2009 and their son Isaiah was born in 2007. They have a Golden Retriever (Blue) and two chickens (Noise and Buckbeak). Noah loves cooking, smoking meat, local foods, current events and politics, the intersection of church and society, movies and television and teaching the bible. He was the co-founder of Life Together: the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts Young Adult Internship Program and has served on the boards of a number social-justice non-profits. In 2016, Noah received the first Wallace H. Kountze Community Service Award by the Mystic Valley NAACP for his work on multicultural issues. Currently, Noah is the Chair of the Mt. Lebanon Municipality Community Relations Board and serves on the Acting Committee of the Clergy Assurance Fund. You can find him on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/nhevans827.

The Rev. Laura Di Panfilo

Laura started at St. Paul's in July 2019. She grew up in Massachusetts and is a graduate of Emory University where she completed a BA in Women’s Studies and Religious Studies. She earned her Master of Divinity at Princeton Theological Seminary and her Master of Arts in Ministry from General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church in New York City. She was ordained a transitional Deacon in June in New Jersey, and was ordained to the Priesthood at St. Paul’s in December 2019.

Laura worked as a chaplain at a trauma hospital in Trenton, New Jersey prior to her time at St. Paul's. Laura is also a certified Kripalu yoga instructor and has taught classes in both yoga studios and churches. She lives with her husband Luke who is also a priest in the diocese, her pug and infant. At St. Paul's she coordinates Newcommers Ministries and also support the ministry of the Pastoral Care Commission and the Spiritual Growth Commission.

The Rev. Erin Morey

Erin was ordained to the priesthood at St. Paul's in December 2022. She graduated from the M.Div. program at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary in May 2022. In addition to sharing in the pastoral and sacramental leadership of the parish, she supports the ministry of the Social Justice and Anti-Racism and Outreach Commissions, and is developing St. Paul’s Sustainability and Creation Care ministries.

Erin previously served as a lay staff member at St. Paul’s before she began seminary. She also has a B.A. from Rutgers University and a J.D. from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, and previously served as an Assistant Public Defender in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, and an Advocate at Women’s Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh. She lives in Mt. Lebanon with her son, Max, and husband, Jesse. Erin grew up in New Jersey, and loves pizza and the beach - though now that several of her family members have moved to East Tennessee, she also loves biscuits and the mountains.

The Rev. Ted Babcock

After 26 years in the business world he attended and graduated from The General Theological Seminary in 2001. In 2009 He received his ThD from the Graduate Theological Foundation/Oxford University for his work in liturgy and history. In 2013 he was named an Oxford Foundation Fellow and continued his study of Baptism in the early church (40-200CE) at Oxford University in Oxford, UK.

The Rev. Deacon Jean Chess

Jean began assisting Laura with the 'No Contact' Eucharistic Visitor program in the Spring of 2020 and now serves as a deacon supporting ministries related to pastoral care. She grew up in Mt. Lebanon attending St. Paul's and after college moved to the East End of Pittsburgh for her work as a computer engineer. Jean joined Calvary Church where ministry as a Lay Eucharistic Visitor led her to discern a call to the vocational diaconate. Upon completion of the diocesan training program and an internship at Canterbury Place, she was ordained deacon in June of 2000.In December of 2001. Jean was assigned to St. Andrew's in Highland Park where she was the parish deacon until February of 2020.

She has served as a volunteer chaplain in hospital, hospice and nursing home settings and especially enjoyed a ministry where a monthly Godly Play based service was offered to residents of a Memory Care unit. Jean moved back to the South Hills in 2012 and was elected to the board of Old St. Luke's in 2019.

Jean holds an undergraduate degree in Computer Science and Education and a Master's degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering. She retired from her full-time career as an engineer in 2017 and in her spare time enjoys playing golf and being a member of Steel City Ukuleles.

​The Rev. Charles L Fischer III

The Rev. Charles L Fischer III, a native of New Jersey, grew up in an Episcopal family.

The Fischer family has recently relocated to Pittsburgh for his wife, Rhonda, to assume the position of COO at the Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon University. Rev. Fischer currently serves as the VP for Seminary Advancement at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.

Rev. Fischer’s parish ministry has been focused on the Christian formation of the children and youth of the parish as well as global and local outreach in areas of: feeding, clothing, and education.

Rev. Fischer received his undergraduate degree in finance from Morehouse College. After several years of working in New York City, he returned to his beloved alma mater, serving as the Associate Director of Alumni Relations and Annual Giving Programs.

He continued his studies at the Virginia Theological Seminary (VTS) in Alexandria, VA, where he earned a Master of Divinity degree. During his course of study he was deeply committed to the life of the community, holding many leadership positions including Student Body President. Also during this time, he was a Canterbury Scholar at the Canterbury Cathedral in Canterbury, England.

Rev. Fischer is a fellow of the Black Theology and Leadership Institute at Princeton Theological Seminary. He has also studied at Wesley Theological Seminary, Howard University Divinity School, Columbia Theological Seminary, Princeton Theological Seminary, Bexley Seabury, and the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University. Annually, Rev. Fischer returns to the Princeton Theological Seminary, serving as a Theologian in Residence with the Black Theology and Leadership Institute.

Rev. Fischer has served parishes in the Diocese of Atlanta (St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Atlanta and St. Catherine’s Episcopal Church, Marietta), the Diocese of Maryland (St. James Episcopal Church at Lafayette Square, Baltimore),and the Diocese of Washington (St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, DC).

He also served as the Associate Vice President of Institutional Advancement and Development & Special Assistant to the President at Saint Augustine’s University in Raleigh, NC. Rev. Fischer’s work and ministry was focused on reestablishing and strengthening the relationship between the University and the Episcopal Church.

Rev. Fischer was proudly inducted into the Martin Luther King, Jr. International College of Ministers and Laity at Morehouse College in April 2012. He is also an inaugural member of The Martin Luther King Jr. International College of Pastoral Leadership. Rev. Fischer has served on the Board of Trustees for the Holy Innocents Episcopal School in Atlanta, GA, WellStar Atlanta Medical Center Regional Health Board, as well as the Alumni Association Executive Committee for the Virginia Theological Seminary, Alexandria, VA.

Rev. Fischer is blessed to share his ministry with his lovely wife, Mrs. Rhonda D. Fischer. They are the proud parents of two sons, Charles IV and Cameron.

The Rev. Catherine Munz

I was born in Detroit, and raised in Livonia MI. I am the daughter of a theatrical scenic artist and a stay at home mother. Following High School, I was an exchange student in a remote village in Finland for a year. Received my BS from Northern Michigan University, and my MDiv. from the General Theological Seminary.

I have been married to Bill Phelps for 41 years and we have two sons, Clifton, married to Alicia, and father to two of the most adorable grand daughters God has ever created; And our other son Devon.
In my youth I was basically unchurched, but somehow knew from a very young age that I was called to serve God. I worked in the travel industry for several years before attending seminary. I really enjoyed my travel work, the skills I acquired have served me well in my life and in the priest hood. When the boys were young we heard a life changing sermon based on Matt 19:21, to sell what we had to follow Jesus. My travel benefits allowed me to visit several seminaries to find a good fit. We left our jobs, sold our home and cars, and moved to NYC so that I could attend seminary.

After seminary graduation, I served a parish in Royal Oak, MI., for 4+ years. We left Royal Oak to come to Pittsburgh where I was the rector of St. Brendan’s in the North Hills. After 10+ years in the Diocese of Pittsburgh, I was called to Northampton, MA. to be the rector of St. John’s. Last February after 10.5 years, I officially retired from full time parish ministry. We moved back to Pittsburgh to be near our kids and those adorable grandchildren. Now days my time is taken up starting my own travel company called Free Goose, taking care of the “adorables”, traveling, and genealogy.

Christine Mains

Christine joined St. Paul’s Nursery School as Director of the program in June 2022. She is a Pittsburgh native who obtained a Bachelor of Science in Business Logistics from Penn State University. After working for 12 years in business and having three daughters, she began volunteering and teaching in early childhood education. It was then that she realized her passion for working with young children.

For the last eight years, Christine has taught preschool and kindergarten children. She believes that all children have the right to play, imagine, and learn in an environment full of diverse materials with educators who believe in their competency, capability, and potential. Helping children recognize their strengths and develop confidence in themselves brings her joy.

When not at work, Christine enjoys spending time with her partner and their children, cooking, hiking, biking, and traveling.

Bob Melvin

Bob joined the St. Paul’s staff in August 2021, bringing a deep love of both music and community to his roles, and having spent most of his adult life in the neighborhoods where those streets intersect. He has a degree in journalism from Penn State University–where he met his future wife when she arrived for graduate school and he, after graduation, had decided to stay and start a band–and has spent time as a writer, musician, and stay-at-home dad.

Bob lives in Dormont with his wife Karen and his sons Elijah and Jack, and they have joyfully attended St. Paul’s since 2014.

Rebecca Oreto

Rebecca has lived in Dormont for many years- she raised her family there and loves the South Hills and its strong communities. She lived in Poland for 5 years, and enjoyed it immensely, but eventually moved back home to Pittsburgh. She started working at St. Paul's in May 2021, and immediately felt at home. Rebecca has a master degree in history, and spent much of her career running a language and cultural center for international graduate students. She loves music and singing, artwork and drawing, and listening to history podcasts.

Douglas P. Starr, DMA

Douglas Starr, D.M.A., is Director of Music and Arts. He supervises musical ministry and artistic outreach. Doug conducts the Chancel Choir and oversees the Friends of Music Guild Concert Series. He is an organ recitalist, a bass soloist, a voice teacher, and an active composer of sacred and secular choral music published with Beckenhorst, Lawson-Gould, and G.I.A. Along with his wife Annette, many of his compositions can be found on their website, TierneyStarrmusic.com. Recently, St. Paul’s was the site for the premiere of his “All Saints Requiem” for choir, soloists, and organ.

Having served in Episcopal Church Music since 1974, twenty-nine of those years have been with Saint Paul's: Mt. Vernon, Ohio (74-78); Louisville, KY (87-92); and here in Pittsburgh since 1993. "Perhaps this poetically represents the fact that St. Paul is my favorite apostle," he notes, "but more to the fact that these parishes are blessed with rich musical traditions, and I have had the honor to further those parish traditions."

On a personal note, “My musical life is a synergetic blend of and affection for 19th century and early 20th century American gospel hymnody (that no church really sings any longer) and the treasure of sacred music from Bach to Ives.”

A graduate of The Ohio State University with degrees in vocal performance and theory/composition, Douglas also currently teaches part-time at Penn State University and has taught at Westminster College, Kenyon College and Central Michigan University and served as director of choral activities at Bellarmine College in Louisville, Kentucky. He was a University Fellow while at Ohio State, a Mellon Fellow at Vanderbilt University in 1983 and an American Council on Education Fellow in 1988.

Watch Doug play “Sarabande for the Morning of Easter” by Herbert Howells

Matthew Wachtler

My name is Matthew Wachtler, and I am thirty-seven years old. I am married, with three children. I was raised in PA, and have lived here all my life. I currently live in my childhood home. I studied graphic design at I.A.D.T. of Pittsburgh. I enjoy art, music, and woodworking. I coach my son’s basketball team. We like to spend time as a family, going on vacations, and showing the kids new things. My family, and friends are a true blessing in my life, and I enjoy nothing more than spending time with them. My wife and I also feel it is important to give back to our community. We are involved with the Alzheimer's association, our local library, and for many years I was a member of the fourth of July committee. I also enjoy fellowship with others, and my son and I are in a church dart ball league.