Parish Staff

parish Staff

The Rev. Dominique Peridans Rector

fatherdominiqueasa@gmail.com

Father Dominique Peridans was born in Washington, DC and raised in neighboring Maryland. After receiving his undergraduate degree in Psychology, Father Dominique spent 3 years with the L’Arche community (for adults with mental disabilities) in Brussels, Belgium, and then joined the Congregation of St. Jean, a French Roman Catholic monastic community, with whom he spent 14 years. While with them, he was ordained to the priesthood. In 2013, Father Dominique received a Master of Science in Pastoral Counseling from Loyola University, Maryland, and was received as a priest in the Episcopal Church by The Right Reverend Eugene Sutton of Maryland. Of Belgian immigrant parents, Fr. Dominique is bilingual French-English.

THE REV. Mary McCue deacon

Mccuem@aol.com

Before being ordained in September, 2017, Mary and her four colleagues attended Deacons School created and sponsored by the Diocese. They studied New and Old Testament, Systematic Theology, Ethics, Church History, preaching and community organization, among other topics. Mary holds a Diploma in Theology from Virginia Theological Seminary, and a Bachelor of Science from Boston University. Before entering Deacons School, she was a frequent acolyte, senior warden and member of the Finance Committee at St. Monica and St. James, her home parish. While serving there, she had the honor of getting to know (and revere) the late Dr. Father Ronald Conner. Mary is thrilled to be at Ascension and St. Agnes, where she facilitates the Lay Eucharistic Visitors program, serves as a liturgical deacon and coordinates the intercessory prayer program.

Mr. Collin Power Director of Music Ministry

c.power@asa-dc.org

A multifaceted musician equally at home on the organ bench and the stage, Collin Power is an active organist, conductor, and singer in the Washington D.C. and Baltimore areas. In addition to ASA he is the staff accompanist at St. Alban's School and the National Cathedral School. He enjoys a rigorous performing and conducting schedule ranging from playing with the University of Maryland Symphony Orchestra and accompanying the D.C. based Lux Choir, to singing with such renowned groups as Opera Saratoga, the Seagle Music Colony and as a soloist with the New Dominion and Georgetown Chorales. A strong advocate for both early music and contemporary music, especially sacred works by living composers, Collin holds a deep belief in the pastoral role of music ministry to transform lives and bring people closer to God. He is an alumnus of the University of Maryland where he received his Bachelor’s and Master's degrees. Outside of his musical career, he enjoys obscure liturgical history, books about monks, long bike rides and big band music.

The Rev. Canon Stuart A. Kenworthy honorary assisting priest

The Reverend Canon Stuart A. Kenworthy is a retired priest of the Diocese of Washington, having served as rector of Christ Church, Georgetown for over twenty three years. Following that, he served as interim priest at three churches, including as Vicar of Washington National Cathedral.
During his time at Christ Church he also served thirteen years in the District of Columbia Army National Guard as a chaplain and deployed to Iraq in 2005-06. He is married to Frances Prescott and they have three grown children, Alison, Stuart, and Margaret Grace.

ms. MOLLY JANE "mj" LAYTON SEMINARIAN INTERN

Molly Jane Layton is a Middler in the M.Div. program at Virginia Theological Seminary and a Postulant for Holy Orders in the Episcopal Diocese of New York. Before entering seminary, she earned an M.A. in Classics at Cornell University and an M.Ed. in Private School Leadership from the Klingenstein Center at Teachers College, Columbia University and taught high school for twelve years.

Mark Cosenza Parish administrator

Our Parish Administrator, Mark Cosenza, was born in Connecticut, and moved with his family to the Midwest in 1983. He graduated from one of the last minor (high school) seminaries in the country and continued his studies with the Congregation of the Mission (Vincentians) attending St. Louis University in St. Louis, Missouri. Upon leaving religious life, Mark received degrees in Elementary Education and Educational Leadership. His ministry as a Catechist enabled him to be selected for a scholarship to continue theological studies at Washington Theological Union, which brought him to Washington. In 2012, he was ordained to the priesthood in the Old Catholic tradition at St. Mary Magdalene (Episcopal) Church in Aspen Hill, Maryland. His ministry has been primarily to bereaved families officiating at vigil and funeral services.

As an educator in mostly high-poverty communities, Mark has served as a teacher and a principal in both public and parochial schools. Known for his energy and enthusiastic spirit, Mark was the founding principal of a public charter school, named for Sister Thea Bowman, FSPA; a Franciscan sister (currently in the process for sainthood). He served as Minister for Children & Youth at Grace Episcopal Church in Silver Spring, Maryland, and Pastoral Associate at Mt. Calvary Catholic Church in Forestville, Maryland. Prior to coming to ASA, he served as Chief Operating Officer at Seabury Resources for Aging and Director of Finance & Operations at L’Arche of Greater Washington, DC. He is also a Licensed Massage Therapist.

Mark has become known in our parish for generously sharing his gifts. In addition to the management of church operations, he can frequently be seen completing such tasks as cutting the lawn or attending to the never-ending maintenance items that are a part of our historic church building. Also known for extending hospitality to others, his infectious energy has helped to organize luncheons, dinners and special events for both parishioners and community members and each year, he assists the Rector in preparing the Vestry’s Annual Retreat. In his leisure time, Mark enjoys being outdoors, cooking, sharing time with friends, and completing woodworking projects.