CLERGY AND STAFF
The Rev. Carrie Guerra
Rector
The Rev. Carrie Guerra is the Rector of St. Francis Episcopal Church. She began serving at St. Francis on June 22, 2020. Before coming to St. Francis, Carrie served as the Curate then Associate Rector at Trinity Episcopal Church in Victoria, Texas from 2017-2020 and as the Lay Associate for Youth and Family Ministries at St. John’s Episcopal Church in McAllen, Texas from 2003-2017. Carrie graduated from Fuller Theological Seminary with a Master of Arts in Theology and Ministry. Prior to working for the church, Carrie worked as a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor at a nonprofit center offering individual and group counseling.
Carrie lives in San Antonio with her husband, Jody and they have two adult daughters who also live in San Antonio with their families. If you have not had the opportunity to meet our new Rector, please call the church office or send her an email to arrange a visit.
Anita Briggs,
Parish Administrator
Anita is a recent graduate of The Seattle School of Theology and Psychology with a Master's in Theology and Culture, and she is trained in Levels I and II of Narrative Focused Trauma Care at The Allender Center. Her studies centered on the care of nervous systems in the church context. Her bachelor's degree is in Mechanical Engineering, and she spent five years working in the engineering field. For the past ten years, Anita has taught beginner piano lessons. She lives in Helotes with her spouse, Tom, and two rescue dogs. She is a parent to three young adult children, one remaining at home.
Steve Casanova,
House and Grounds
Brenda Aguilar, Sexton
Steve is a 7th generation Canary Islander and a direct descendent of Antonio Peres Casanova one of the 56 settlers that established the first organized civil government in Texas (Presidio of San Antonio de Bexar) in 1731.
Besides having deep roots in San Antonio, Steve is a retired broadcaster having put in 40 plus years at radio stations like KONO, Y100, KKYX, KBUC and many others outside of the Alamo City.
Steve enjoys boating, fishing, hunting, cooking and of course spending time with his family
Creighton & Denise Brown, Directors of Music
Creighton and Denise Brown, Directors of Music at St. Francis, have between them over 40 years of experience in Church music, and have participated in everything from schola and chant to contemporary Christian rock services. Both began their involvement in liturgical music as teenagers, and have been actively involved since.
Creighton holds a Bachelors of Music in Music Education from Texas State University and brings in his choral experience and rhythm guitar speciality to program contemporary music that is spiritual, relevant, and liturgical. He spends his week working for HEB at the Babcock/Huebner location just down the road from the church; you might stop by and see him there during the week! He currently sings with Opera San Antonio, and has run children’s music and theater camps in the past. His other hobbies include composing original choral works.
Denise holds a Bachelors of Music in Music Education from Howard Payne University, and a Masters of Music in Vocal Pedagogy and Performance from UTSA. Her days are spent working at Palo Alto College as an Adjunct Instructor, where she arranges music for various ensembles, and teaches private voice. She delights in resurrecting old pieces of sacred music and bringing them back to life, and focuses her skills on the traditional side of worship. Denise also sings with Opera San Antonio, and performs at least one recital every year.
What do they love about being Episcopalian? The Church’s strong emphasis on Liturgy and social responsibility. (Anglican Chant might have also played a part!) Creighton and Denise have both served as section leaders for other Episcopal churches in San Antonio, and fell in love while singing together. Together, they bring their love for music (and each other) into creating a meaningful worship experience at St. Francis Episcopal Church.
Matthew Little, Organist
Matthew Little is an organist from Prince George, Virginia. He has worked as both an organist and as a music director in the areas of Richmond, Virginia and Modesto, California. Alongside being able to play the organ, Matthew is also a clarinetist and holds both a bachelor's and master's degree in music performance for the clarinet. His undergraduate studies were done at Longwood University, while his graduate studies were done at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tennessee. He studied organ during the second year of his master's program under Dr. Edie Johnson. When not at the organ console, Matthew enjoys spending his time with his wife, Kristen in addition to writing music, mountain biking, and reading.