Clergy & Staff | St. Matthews Cathedral

Fr. Victor Austin

Father Austin is Cathedral Theologian-in-residence as well as Theologian-in-residence for the Episcopal Diocese of Dallas. An Oklahoman, he went to college in Santa Fe and then seminary in New York, where he got stuck and served parishes in the Hudson Valley for nearly two decades. He was then Theologian-in-residence at Saint Thomas Fifth Avenue before finally returning to the Southwest and coming to Dallas in 2016. He has written about his late wife’s brain disease in Losing Susan. His theological interests concern how theology makes a difference to everyday life (he has written on friendship, for instance). He has two adult children and nine grandchildren.

Veronica Bobadilla

As the receptionist and administrative assistant at St. Matthew’s Cathedral, Veronica has the privilege of being the first to meet our visitors and the first to greet those who call our office. She delights in welcoming our parishioners and visitors, answering questions, and connecting them with our different ministries. Her goal is to ensure our cathedral office is always a helpful, organized, and welcoming place for our entire community.

Joseph Bobadilla

Joseph serves as our Sexton and takes great pride in working behind the scenes to manage the Cathedral facilities so that everyone who walks through our doors feels at home. Outside of his work at the church, Joseph enjoys working on vehicles and spending time with his family.

Erica Lasenyik

Erica spent over thirty years in the meetings and events industry, working for both independent meeting planning/meeting communications/production companies and in Convention Service/Catering operations in the hotel/convention center industry for twenty-plus of those years. She worked with Gaylord Hotels, Waldorf-Astoria and Fairmont Hotels, where she concluded her meetings career as Director of Conferences and Catering. She has been blessed to bring her experience and skills to serve the Episcopal Church at the Episcopal Diocese of Dallas, Church of the Incarnation, and St. Matthew’s Cathedral. Erica now serves St. Matthew’s Cathedral in church publications, social media, eNews and communication efforts that support the mission and ministry of St. Matthew’s.

Adele Ichilian

Adele coordinates St. Matthew’s and Diocesan events at St. Matthew’s after a fifty-year career in hospitality including Director of Catering at the Adolphus, Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center and the Meyerson Symphony Center (Culinaire). Adele has been a parishioner at the Cathedral for thirty-five years and has been a ministry leader for all of them; serving as a sub-deacon, with Cathedral Arts, and multiple times on the Vestry, among other ministries. She is an accomplished horsewoman and volunteers weekly at the Dallas Zoo as a caretaker in the Okapi habitat.

Paul Demer

Paul has been helping congregations sing together for over 10 years. He and his wife, Trisha, started leading music at the Cathedral in 2020 and helped to start the Agape Service. Paul also works as a singer-songwriter, record producer, and outreach musician. He has released several albums of original music, played over 1,500 concerts in hospitals and nursing homes in partnership with the local non-profit Texas Winds Musical Outreach, and regularly produces records for other artists.

Keith Franks

Keith Franks received his Bachelor’s Degree in Music and his Master’s Degree in Music at the University of North Texas in Denton. He sang in the St. Matthew’s Cathedral Choir from 1975 to 1976 and again in 1985. As a young adult, he sang alto in the Grace Cathedral Choir of Men and Boys in San Francisco. Upon returning to Texas, he sang in the St. Mark’s School of Texas Evensong Choir and participated in two residency tours with the St. Mark’s Choir in 1988 and 1990 to Westminster Abbey, Magdalen College, St. Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral in Edinburgh, and York Minster. He served as Assistant Organist at the Church of the Incarnation from 1996 to 2012 and accompanied the Incarnation Choir as organist on six residency tours in 1998, 2000, 2002, 2007, 2009, and 2011 at Westminster Abbey, Chichester Cathedral, Wells Cathedral, Lincoln Cathedral, Southwark Cathedral, St. Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral (Edinburgh), Lichfield Cathedral, Canterbury Cathedral, and St. George’s Chapel (Windsor) and for several CDs. Keith has served as Assistant Organist at St. Matthew’s since January 2014 and now serves as the Interim Director of Music and Organist of St. Matthew’s. He has previously taught class piano and choir in the Dallas Independent School District and currently enjoys teaching World History and Advanced Placement Macroeconomics at North Dallas High School.

Dcn. Pam Dunbar

Known throughout the Diocese of Dallas as “Deacon Pam,” The Rev. Canon Pam Dunbar retired from seventeen years service with the Diocese of Dallas as the Missioner for Christian Formation and Youth Ministries in 2017. She always considered the Cathedral her “home church” and has been assisting here for many years. She serves as Canon for Family Ministries and works with Children’s and Youth Ministries in a guidance capacity.

Dcn. Diana Luck

Deacon Diana joined the staff of the Cathedral in 1996 and was its heart of diaconal service for thirty years. She coordinated the liturgical assistants and ministered in multiple outreach ministries. Also, she served as the Archdeacon of the Diocese of Dallas for many years, coordinating the ministry of the deacons of the Diocese of Dallas. Deacon Diana attended the University of Texas at Arlington and is a graduate of the Anglican School of Theology. She was ordained as a Deacon of the Church in 1987.

Veronica Bobadilla

Veronica provides office management and administrative support, hospitality for visitors and assistance with general inquiries. She is in the office Monday through Friday from 9:00am to 1:00pm.

Sarah Nolan

Sarah comes to St. Matthew’s with fifteen years of corporate accounting experience, twenty years of accounting experience. She earned her degree from UNT. She maintains, tracks and analyzes our financials, ensuring accurate and timely reporting. She manages our budget and audit processes, along with the daily accounting of the Cathedral.

Sarah and her husband, Patrick, have three sons. She loves to read, hang out with her family, and play pickleball.

Elizabeth Dunbar

Elizabeth Dunbar is the friendly face you will see every Sunday at the serving window in the Great Hall. She is responsible for preparing and serving the coffee and treats we all enjoy at coffee hour in between services. She also helps with receptions for Cathedral Arts and other social events. Elizabeth has worked as a professional chef for 30 plus years at hotels and other venues and currently is the Chef at local bakery Hippos and Hashbrowns. Elizabeth is up for any conversation about football or hockey. She is a lifelong Cowboys and Stars fan. Stop by on Sunday and say, “Hi!”

Erin Sullivan

Erin Sullivan directs the Cathedral Kids ministries, serving children from birth through fifth grade. She attended Texas A&M University and Dallas Theological Seminary, from which she received her master’s degree in counseling. Prior to joining the staff of St. Matthew’s, Erin worked as a licensed professional counselor. She is passionate about teaching the stories of our Christian faith to children and generating fellowship opportunities for families of the Cathedral. Born and raised in San Antonio, Erin is devoted to The Spurs, H-E-B, and properly made flour tortillas.

Sarah Shafer

I am a passionate Montessori Mom of three beautiful children, gifts from God, and have been entrusted with the great honor of being the Director at Cathedral Montessori School. I strive for excellence while gently giving myself permission to be human. I love people and their stories. I love serving our families and I believe that the Montessori-Method with its innate spirituality provides an enriching way to love and care for our children well.

Dcn. Mark Hall

Deacon Mark coordinates the Cathedral’s pastoral care ministries and is involved in various outreach ministries. He received a BA in Political Science from Drake University, a JD from the Georgetown University Law Center, and a Diploma in Ministry from the Stanton Center for Ministry Formation. He was ordained as a Deacon of the Church and came on staff at the Cathedral in June 2014.

Mtr. Kate Smith

Mother Kate spent her childhood in Canada and Israel, where her parents were church planters. At Saint Paul’s in Prosper, she has served as an Associate Priest since 2021. During her time there, she has been involved in pastoral care, women’s ministry, small group ministry, youth ministry, and spiritual direction. She also teaches a number of spiritual direction classes at the Stanton Institute as well as being a spiritual director for postulants in the discernment process. Prior to serving at Saint Paul’s, she served as a hospital chaplain and was the Fellows Director at Church of the Incarnation for four years. She was a member of the bishop’s search committee and also currently serves on Executive Council.

She has degrees in education from the University of Toronto and a master in theology from Wycliffe College. While living in Canada, Kate taught High School literature, served various churches, and even lay-pastored an English-speaking Chinese congregation for a time. Kate and Tom have three children, Kathryn (21), Simeon (18), and Cameron (17).

Fr. Tom Smith

Father Tom is not from Texas, but he got here as fast as he could. Born and raised in Irish South Buffalo, he grew up Roman Catholic and also spent a number of years in Baptist/Non-Denominational circles. He has served as rector of Saint Paul’s in Prosper from 2016-2026.

He did his undergraduate degree at Moody Bible in Chicago. Then he continued studying Greek and Hebrew at Gordon-Conwell in Boston taking an MA in New Testament and an MA in Old Testament. At the University of Toronto, he completed his Ph.D. in Old Testament studying how the Bible was used during the Civil War.

In Toronto, he served as an assistant priest and youth minister until he came to Prosper where he and his amazing team helped grow the church and preschool. He is excited to begin life at St. Matthew’s and is looking forward to working with all the fantastic and loyal people of the cathedral.

(He remains an ever-suffering always-loyal Buffalo Bills fan.)

Food Pantry Stocking

Care Callers

Lay Eucharistic & Pastoral Visits

Bethesda Ministry

Cathedral Kids

Tech Team

Altar Servers

Altar Guild

Ushers

Clergy

The Very Rev. Dr. Tom Smith

The Rev. Kate Smith

The Rev. Canon Victor Lee Austin, Ph.D.

The Rev. Mark Hall

Program & Administrative Staff

Sarah Shafer

Keith Franks

Paul Demer

Erin Sullivan

Adele Ichilian

Sarah Nolan

Veronica Bobadilla

Joseph Bobadilla

Elizabeth Dunbar

Erica Lasenyik

Retired Clergy

The Rev. Canon Diana Luck

The Rev. Canon Pam Dunbar

Fr. Victor Austin

Veronica Bobadilla

Joseph Bobadilla

Erica Lasenyik

Adele Ichilian

Paul Demer

Keith Franks

Dcn. Pam Dunbar

Dcn. Diana Luck

Veronica Bobadilla

Sarah Nolan

Elizabeth Dunbar

Erin Sullivan

Sarah Shafer

Dcn. Mark Hall

Mtr. Kate Smith

Fr. Tom Smith