Mother Emily (She/Her) is the Rector of St. Mary's and Episcopal Chaplain to the University of Pennsylvania. She is deeply committed to making the Good News of Jesus Christ relevant to today's world, with particular emphasis on fostering partnerships between the church and the wider community. Her passions include racial and social justice, arts and faith, outreach to students, supporting those disconnected from the church, and creation care. Emily’s primary focuses are liturgy, preaching, Bible study facilitation, and guiding faith conversations with individuals and families. A pastoral presence and acompañamiento—walking alongside others in their faith journeys—are central to her approach as both a spiritual leader and a priest-scholar.

Emily holds theological degrees from Princeton Theological Seminary (M.Div.) and Sewanee School of Theology (STM). She is also a part-time doctoral student at the University of Aberdeen, where she is studying lived religion and practical theology. Additionally, Emily holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Old Dominion University and has taught at the college level. Her professional background includes work as an editor, writer, and researcher, and her writings have been featured in The Christian Century, Practical Theology, Anglican Theological Review, and other respected publications.

A wife and mother, Emily enjoys gardening, gluten-free baking, creative writing, playing with her daughter, and walking their dog, Maeve.

St. Mary's is thrilled to welcome Mother Emily as our new rector, particularly as we enter our bicentennial year. She embodies the spirit of our congregation: an inquisitive mentor, an open heart, a gentle soul, and—most importantly—a beloved friend.

 Deacon Beth (She/Her), originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, moved to Philadelphia in 2012 to pursue a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree at the University of Pennsylvania. She quickly found a church home at the Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral, where she worshipped for over ten years. Beth was officially welcomed to St. Mary’s on August 18, 2024, the Feast of Our Matron Saint, Saint Mary the Virgin.

As the daughter of a former Baptist minister, Beth was introduced to Jesus' teachings from an early age. After being part of the Baptist and UCC denominations, she found her spiritual home in the Episcopal Church while living in San Francisco. Over the years, Beth discerned God’s calling, and after joining the Cathedral, she felt called to the diaconate. Passionate about social justice and advocating for marginalized voices, the role of deacon resonated with her. She worked as a therapist in community mental health after graduating in 2014.

Beth entered formal discernment for the diaconate in 2018, became a postulant in 2020, and began her diaconal formation that same year. She completed a Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) residency at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in 2023. Currently, she works as a clinician at the Anti-Violence Partnership of Philadelphia, supporting victims and survivors of violence.

In her free time, Beth enjoys spending time with her cat, Ashley, reading, playing New York Times games, and painting watercolor. Ordained to the diaconate on June 3, 2023, she looks forward to exploring ministry with St. Mary’s.

Originally from Campinas, Brazil, Gabriel Rebolla has built a dynamic career as a piano soloist, piano professor, organist, music director, opera coach, and ballet pianist. He has performed and worked in numerous concert halls throughout Brazil, Italy, France, and the United States. Gabriel is currently based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he is a permanent resident.

Gabriel began working as a church organist at the age of 14, following a family tradition of musicians and pastors. Over the past 30 years, he has directed choirs, youth groups, and handbell choirs, in addition to his ongoing work as an organist and pianist in various congregations.
 
At the age of 27, Gabriel moved to the United States to pursue a master's degree in music at Georgia State University in Piano Performance and after that earned a second one at Temple University in Philadelphia in Opera Coaching.

Today, he serves as the lead accompanist at the Philadelphia Ballet School and is also a pianist at the Academy of Vocal Arts (AVA). Gabriel has collaborated with distinguished conductors including Karl Martin, Ted Murray, Paul Rardin, Lance Inouye, Peter Marshall, Carlos Fiorini, Vasti Atique, Hermes Coelho, and Eduardo Ostergren. He has performed with several prominent orchestras, such as the Campinas Symphony Orchestra (Brazil), ARS Musicalis Orchestra (São Paulo), Unicamp Symphonic Orchestra (Brazil), Camerata Pro-Musica (Brazil), and Temple University Orchestra.
 
As an opera and ballet pianist, Gabriel has worked with companies such as La Musica Lirica (Italy), FIO Américas (Brazil/Italy), Russian Opera Workshop (Philadelphia), La Bohème (New Jersey), Libera Opera (Philadelphia), Fringe Opera Festival (Philadelphia), Philadelphia Ballet Company, and ABAL – Associação Brasileira de Artistas Líricos (Brazil) to name a few.
 
When not making music, Gabriel enjoys spending time with his husband, Peter, and their beloved golden retriever, Diamond. He also has a passion for cooking, baking and long bike rides.

Biography to come.

Pat (He/Him) has served as the Sexton of St. Mary’s for over a decade, and during that time, he has become a beloved and integral member of our community. His deep commitment to caring for our historic, 200-year-old church and grounds has made him a true steward of our space, and his efforts extend to the local flora and fauna as well. This is especially evident in his work alongside our church's other “celebrity,” Sylvestra (pictured here), a cherished part of our natural world.

As a Sexton, Patrick embodies the ideal qualities for anyone entrusted with the care of a historic community gathering place. He is warm, welcoming, ingenious, and consistently proactive in ensuring our church is not only well-maintained but also a safe and inviting place for all who visit. His dedication goes beyond the practical, as he fosters an environment of hospitality and connection within the St. Mary’s community.



Patrick is not just a fixture at St. Mary’s—he is an ambassador for newcomers, always ready with a kind word or a smile. Whether you are a long-time member or a visitor, Patrick’s friendly presence makes you feel right at home.

We are incredibly fortunate to have Patrick, and his canine companion, Nando, as part of our St. Mary’s family!