Our Leadership

Father Jim Teets - Rector

The Rev. James Teets, or Father Jim as he is known to his parish, graduated with a Master of Divinity degree from the School of Theology at the University of the South, Sewanee in 2017. Shortly thereafter, he was ordained to the Sacred Order of Priests at Trinity Cathedral in Miami, Fl. He, his wife Sharon and their chocolate lab, Shamus, moved to Dade City in 2019 and are excited to be able to minister in this new mission field. Jim and Sharon have two grown sons, Casey (Boaz, AL) and Crawford (Mooresville, NC).

Jim and Sharon feel a calling by God to spread the Good News and model a Christ-centered life to their new church and surrounding community. They were drawn to the open, loving, and enthusiastic community of faith at St. Mary’s and look forward to continuing to help their new faith community make new and enduring disciples for Christ through worship, education, and local missional outreach.

Cheryl A. Smith

Music Director

Tony Carbone

Sexton

Laura Weeks

Custodian

Vestry Officers

Nancy Alfonso - Chancellor

Nancy Alfonso has been engaged in the practice of law since 1990. She was certified by the Florida Supreme Court as an expert in the area of Education Law and represented the District School Board of Pasco County and the Hernando County School Board as general counsel handling real estate acquisitions, bid and contract review, exceptional student education matters and charter school approval and oversight. In addition to acting as general counsel to the Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller, Nancy practices in the area of estate planning, probate, guardianship and adoptions and has litigation experience in State trial, administrative and appellate Courts as well as in Federal trial courts.

Nancy was appointed to membership on the Florida Board of Bar Examiners by the Florida Supreme Court in 2013. She served on the 2nd District Court of Appeals Judicial Nominating Commission from 1999 until 2007. She has been a member of the Florida School Board Attorneys Association since 1992, and served as its President in 2014. Nancy was elected as a City Commissioner for the City of Dade City in 1992 and served two terms through 1998.

A native of Dade City, Nancy continues to be active in the community. In addition to her activities with St. Mary’s, Nancy is a member of the AdventHealth Zephyrhills/Dade City Foundation and the Hollyhock Circle of the Dade City Garden Club.

Danielle Hicks - Vestry Clerk

Danielle has been an active member of St. Mary's for 44 years. Over the years, Danielle has served as the church treasurer, a Sunday school instructor, a choir and bells choir member, a member of the altar guild, and served as the vestry secretary for four years. Danielle has been happily married to Lonnie Hicks for 34 years and has two beautiful children, Adam and Kaeleigh Hicks. Danielle has worked for Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative, Inc. in customer service for 14 years and enjoys giving back to her community, family bonding, cooking, canning, gardening, and outdoor activities in her spare time.

John Harrison - Treasurer

Our Treasurer, John Harrison, earned a BS in Accounting and a Master’s degree in Personnel Management. John has served as the Bursar at Ithaca College and Comptroller at Lynchburg College. He has also served as the Assistant Treasurer at Genessee Community College, Treasurer at Worcester State College and Dean of Business at Pasco Hernando Community College.

Our Vestry

Mike Avadikian- Sr. Warden

Mike Avadikian was born and raised in an Episcopalian family. He is married to Teena Avadikian, and together they have two adult sons, Mike II and Marc. The couple has been devoted members of St. Mary’s since their marriage at the church in 1989. St. Mary’s is also where both of their sons were baptized. Mike currently serves as a Lay Reader and has previously served as a high school Sunday school teacher. St. Mary’s has played a significant role in their lives. Professionally, Mike leads an eight-person Wealth Management team with Merrill Lynch, based in Tampa, FL. In their personal time, Mike and Teena enjoy various outdoor activities such as skiing, running 5Ks, participating in triathlons, and taking walks together.

Greg Gude- Jr. Warden

Greg Gude is a long-time member of St. Mary’s and attends regularly with his wife Fanchone and grandchildren Kinlee Rose, Andy and Caden. He has served prior terms on the Vestry and is excited about returning to that leadership position. Greg is the President of Kumquat Growers and is very active in the Dade City community. He looks forward to offering his many skills to help continue the growth of St. Mary’s into the future.

Elizabeth “Liz” Mitchell- Christian Formation

I am a Christian.  I am a wife, a mother and a teacher.  I have been attending St. Mary’s since the early 1990s. I have raised my three adult children (Correen, Thomas, and Alexander) in this church and I have lived in Dade City with my husband Michael for over 37 years. Two years ago I retired from teaching after working for Pasco County Schools for 30 years most all of it right here in Dade City at Pasco Elementary school. I would be happy to use my experience and talents to help St. Mary’s children education continue to expand and grow!

Karen Zummo- Inreach

My earliest church experience was teaching Sunday School at Reformation Lutheran Church in Eastlake, OH, and St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in San Antonio.I was a regular Acolyte at Reformation Lutheran and Atonement Lutheran in Wesley Chapel, FL. I was also part of the choir at these churches and at Victorious Life in Wesley Chapel. At Atonement, I worked at the Helping Hands Food Bank. I did many tasks, especially registering people. At St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Zephyrhills, I was part of the Altar Guild, where, in addition to our normal duties, we cleaned and polished the pews and took care of linens. As a prayer minister since 2015, I participate in an international prayer line where we do phone and text prayer requests. I have also served as a Eucharist minister in the church and given home communion while at Atonement. I plan to continue this ministry through the DOK chapter at St. Mary’s. In 2012, I was part of a small group of 5 women who reactivated the Daughters of the King chapter at St. Mary’s. I was also part of a prayer group called the Prayer Warriors while at Atonement Lutheran. We would meet once a week to pray for all the prayer requests that we received. We would choose a group of 5 to pray over and post in the weekly bulletin under Circle of Prayer. While at atonement, I was instrumental in starting a drive-thru prayer ministry that was held on Fridays from 1:30-3:00. It was disbanded due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2012, I was ordained as a Deacon at Atonement Lutheran Church. As part of my ministry, I introduced Stephen Ministries to the church council which resulted in their participation. As a returning member of St. Mary’s, I am active in DOK and our weekly Thursday Bible study. I am looking forward to continuing my ministry while on Vestry.

Kenneth White- Church Life

My parents came to St. Mary’s in the 90’s and were received into the church. I began attending St. Mary’s regularly in 2012. I was married in the church in 2013. I was received into the church in 2018. I have always felt that St. Mary’s is an inviting place to worship and more times than I can count have felt that I came out better for having attended. Recently, I have felt compelled to be more involved in the church and was encouraged by my father to pursue candidacy for the vestry. I have 2 focuses for outreach to community and additions that I think all of our members would appreciate. I am very much interested in using the Locke house property as a community garden as well as a permanent labyrinth prayer garden.

Mike Menard- Outreach

My wife, Karen and I, were married, by Fr. Tanno, at St. Mary’s.  We have been regularly attending members ever since.  Mike and I have 2 sons, Mike II and Marc, they were also both baptized at St. Mary’s.  As we wanted to become more connected to St. Mary’s, I started helping with Childrens Chapel and then became a Sunday School teacher. I am excited by Fr. Teets leadership and looking forward to seeing St. Mary’s s continue to grow. St. Mary’s is home for our family.

Melinda Helms- Communications

Melinda Helms was born and raised in Dade City, Florida, and is a Wife and Mother to two beautiful daughters. After becoming a member of St. Mary’s in 2020, she fell in love with worship and helping wherever possible. Melinda is excited to be a part of both the Vestry and St. Mary’s family!