Clergy & Staff

He is the Christ, the "Anointed One," or the "Messiah." The name "Jesus" is derived from the Hebrew-Aramaic word "Yeshua," meaning "Yahweh [the Lord] is salvation." The name "Christ" is actually a title for Jesus. It comes from the Greek word "Christos," meaning "the Anointed One," or "Messiah" in Hebrew. Jesus is the central figure in Christianity. His life, message and ministry are chronicled in the four Gospels of the New Testament. Jesus was a Jewish teacher from Galilee who performed many miracles of healing and deliverance. Jesus Christ was crucified in Jerusalem by order of Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, for claiming to be the King of the Jews. He resurrected three days after his death, appeared to his disciples, and then ascended into heaven. His life and death provided the atoning sacrifice for the sins of the world.

The Rev. Hannah E. Atkins became Trinity's fifteenth rector in September of 2007. To prepare herself as a third generation Episcopal priest, the Reverend Atkins earned a bachelor of arts degree in history at Douglass College, Rutgers University and a masters degree in divinity at the General Theological Seminary in New York in May 1996, with additional studies in theology at Universidad Centroamericana Jose Simeon Canas in El Salvador. The Reverend Atkins previously served as Senior Assistant Rector at St. John's Church, Lafayette Square, Washington, D.C. Before joining St. John's Church, she served as Director of Theological and Christian Education in the Diocese of the Episcopal/Anglican Church of El Salvador, Associate Priest at St. John the Evangelist San Salvador, Priest-in-Charge at Holy Trinity Church Santa Teresa in San Martin, and as Interim Priest-in-Charge at St. Andrew's Church in Amatepec, Soyapango. The Reverend Atkins is married to Elmer Romero and they have four children (and Paco, the dog).

Rich Houser began his service in August of 2014. Rich served as a Staff Chaplain at C.H.I. St. Luke’s/ Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center in 2013-2014. Prior to that, he completed a year-long residency as a Chaplain Resident at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center following a year spent as Bishop’s Fellow at St. Luke’s. He is a Provisional Board Certified Chaplain through the Association of Professional Chaplains. Rich began his ordained ministry in the Diocese of Texas at St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church in Cypress, TX serving as the Associate Vicar in charge of Youth, College, and Young Adult Ministries. Rich Houser graduated from the University of the South, School of Theology receiving a Master of Divinity in May of 2009. Before seminary, Father Rich served two congregations as Youth Minister at Grace Episcopal Church, Alvin and St. Cyprian’s Episcopal Church, Lufkin. Rich grew up in Corpus Christi, Texas. Rich attended Texas A&M University, College Station, graduating in 2001 with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Minor in Business. Rich was ordained Priest in January of 2010. Rich married Trish Muras in October of 2006. Patricia is a College Counselor at Episcopal High School in Houston. Rich and Trish have a daughter.

The Reverend Canon Dr. Henry Atkins, Jr. is a retired priest canonically resident in the Diocese of New Jersey. Canon Atkins is an honorary Canon of the Diocese of Costa Rica, a graduate of Randolph Macon College, The Virginia Theological Seminary and holds a doctorate from The Graduate Theological Foundation in Notre Dame, Indiana. In addition, he has done post graduate work at The Mexican American Cultural Center, Boston College and Oxford University.

Canon Atkins has served parishes in Costa Rica, Virginia, Indianapolis, the Dominican Republic, New Hampshire and Los Angeles. He has also worked on the staff of the Washington Cathedral and served as a member of the staff of the Bishop of Rochester, NY. Canon Atkins has also served as chaplain to the University of North Carolina, Greensboro, Rutgers University and Dartmouth College. He has served as a member of the faculty at the University of North Carolina, Rutgers University, the General Theological Seminary and El Instituto Pastoral Hispano.

Canon Atkins has also served as a Theologian in Residence at St. Paul’s School in Concord, NH and as a Martin Luther King Lecturer at Dartmouth College.

Canon Atkins served for 6 years as the chairperson of the Episcopal Church’s National Commission on Racism and for 8 years as vice-president of the Anglican/Episcopal Theological Education Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean. In 2010 Canon Atkins was presented the Hugh White Award for outstanding work in the field of economic justice by the Episcopal Church’s National Commission on Economic Justice. He has published many articles in various journals and books including The Witness Magazine, Sojourners, and The International Review of Mission.

Canon Atkins was a founding member of the Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation in Washington, D.C. and worked for over 20 years as a facilitator and spiritual advisor for the Order of St. Helena. Canon Atkins also holds a Black Belt in kickboxing in the Kempo-International School of Martial Arts.

Collin Boothby is an organist, conductor and musicologist, currently resides in Houston, TX. He is pursuing a Master’s Degree in Organ Performance at Rice University where he studies with Ken Cowan. Collin graduated summa cum laude from Texas Christian University in 2016 with a degree in Church Music and distinction as an Honors Laureate through the John V. Roach Honors College. At TCU, Collin studied organ and harpsichord with H. Joseph Butler and was named the Presser Scholar-the outstanding senior music major, as voted on by the entire music faculty. When he is not practicing or studying, Collin enjoys spending time with his family, friends, and his dog, Sport. He is an avid runner and is currently training for his first marathon. Although he enjoys living in Texas, Collin loves returning to the waters of Puget Sound and hiking in the Olympic Mountains when visiting home, near Seattle, Washington.

Grew up in a home filled with classical, jazz, blues, R&B and gospel. The youngest of five children, she soon discovered that she had been blessed with her Grandmother's and Mother's gift of song. Her first musical teeth were cut while a member of the family's singing group. Her love of music began to grow even more with her first trip to the Houston Grand Opera. The beautiful lyric, spinto and dramatic soprano voices and gorgeous costumes were heavily embedded in her being. After graduating from Galena Park High School, she matriculated to Texas Southern University further developing her craft. While at TSU, she would become the student of Ruth Stewart and blossomed as a member of the University Opera Workshop and Concert Choir. Both of the aforementioned organizations highly required hours upon hours of study, rehearsals and travel.

Mike Owen has been a staple of the Houston Jazz scene for many years as a multi-instrumentalist specializing in piano, guitar, bass and banjo. He has performed and recorded with many notable musicians in Houston and from around the country such as: Bernadette Peters, Tommy Tune, Wayne Brady, Charlotte Church, Debbie Reynolds, The Houston Symphony, TUTS, Houston Grand Opera ( The Passenger, Othello, Show Boat). Education: Certificate from Berklee. Piano studies at HCC. And private studies with Joe Locascio, Bobby Lyle and Paul English. He is an in demand performer, composer and arranger, his compositions having been placed in Hollywood films and played on Houston radio. He has recorded and produced over 15 recordings.

Born and raised in Spain, Pelayo came to Houston in 1995 as a music student. In 2001 he graduated from the University of Houston Moores School of Music with a B.A. in music theory. In 2005 he graduated from the University of North Texas with a M.M. in Jazz studies.

Pelayo has been an active pianist in the Houston scene since the late 90s, working solo and with a variety of bands and styles, mostly in the Jazz and the Latin scene.

Since 2005 Pelayo has also been working as an accompanist for dance classes. Currently he is on staff in the University of Houston Dance Department and in the Houston Ballet academy.

Marcia was born and raised in Houston, Texas from Salvadorian decent. She is currently working on finishing her Associate Degree at HCC and plans to obtain her Bachelor's in Psychology at Houston Baptist University (HBU). She has an 8 year old daughter, Jaylah. Marcia is a cradle Episcopalian and attends San Mateo in Bellaire, Texas where she is also the Youth Director.

Clarinetist, saxophonist and composer, Ernesto Vega is a graduate of the Higher Institute of Art in Havana, Cuba. At the age of seventeen, Down Beat Magazine recognized his interpretative style on the clarinet recalling the legendary jazz clarinetist, Artie Shaw. In 2003, Vega won the first prize at the international jazz competition Jojazz in Havana. He performed with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra and Wynton Marsalis on their visit to Cuba. Ernesto has collaborated with Cuban legends: Frank Emilio, Chucho Valdés, Bobby Carcasses, Ernan Lopez Nussa, Jorge Reyes, and Changuito among others. Ernesto has been a part of several projects involving Arturo O'Farrill & Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra, Joe Sample Orchestra, Havana Jazz Collective, Carlos Maza Quintet, Maria Del Mar Bonet, Yuri Buenaventura and Alejandro Vargas Quartet.Ernesto Vegas' first album "Venir al Mundo," won the Cubadisco Award as the Best Jazz Album of 2009. He has performed at numerous international festivals including Jazz in Marciac (France), North Sea Jazz Festival (Holland), Lausanne Jazz Festival, Jazz on the Green (Trinidad and Tobago) and Jazz Plaza Havana, Cuba. Ernesto Vega is considered one of the leading musicians of his generation and one of the finest clarinetist from the Island of Cuba.