Fr. Jonathan returns to Naples, after spending the last four years in Sarasota. He began his career working as a psychotherapist with adolescents in mental health settings. He had a concurrent call of working with children in impoverished countries as a missionary. In his late 20’s, he heeded the call and served through a ministry with street children in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 2000-2001. During his year in mission, he discerned a call to ordained ministry. At the time, he was a Presbyterian and soon married his wife, Barbara, who was and is an avid Episcopalian. After several years of taking her to the Episcopal Church on his free Sundays away from the Presbyterian Church, the beauty of the liturgy, the reverence, and the mystery pulled him into the Episcopal Church. In 2015, he became an Episcopalian at St. Monica’s and then served as a Transitional Deacon with us until becoming an Associate Rector at St. Boniface in Siesta Key.
In his ministry at St. Boniface for the past four years, Fr. Jonathan was instrumental in establishing the Center for Spiritual Transformation (centerforspiritualtransformation.org), a Deaf worshipping community, and the Boniface Migration Ministry Workgroup (which has educated hundreds on matters of immigration, has helped immigrant families with legal fees, and now sponsors asylum seekers).
Since returning to St. Monica’s, he has opened the church more to community groups and ministries and renewed the ministry with children. In February, he is starting a service for Spanish speakers.
Fr. Jonathan and Barbara have two children, Luca (11) and Vittoria (7). Fr. Jonathan loves spending time at the beach with his family, cooking, and enjoying anything outdoors – cycling, paddle boarding, fishing, boating, mountain biking, and hiking.