Join us in the Sanctuary on Sunday, February 3 at 9 a.m. for the annual election for new Vestry members! All members are welcome to participate, and childcare will be available. This year’s vestry candidates are Susan Andersen, Diana Mattson, Satya Thanaseelan, and Jason Williams.
Diana Mattson
Diana and her husband, Ted, have attended St. Barnabas since 2002. While Diana and Ted were drawn to the welcoming atmosphere here at St. Barnabas, their daughters were impressed with the Panera pastries after every service. Eventually, everyone in their family found activities they enjoyed and ways to serve at St B. Diana currently teaches in the church school program and is a member of the Handbell Choir.
After growing up in New York, Diana came to the Midwest to attend Purdue University where she met her husband Ted. They now have three daughters—Alyssa (25), Ashley (24), and Nicole (14).
She has worked as an engineer and most recently as a middle school and high school science teacher.
Satya Thanaseelan
Satya and her family have attended St. Barnabas for a year and a half. Her husband, Rajasingh, is employed with Accenture. They have been married for 14 years, and they have two kids, Josiah who is in seventh grade, and Jeryl who is in first grade.
Originally from India, Satya and her family came to the USA four and a half years ago because of Rajasingh’s job. For the first three years, they lived in Plano, Texas, and then moved to Cincinnati a year and a half ago.
When they lived in India, the family attended the Church of South India. In Plano, they attended an Anglican church, so when the family moved to Cincinnati, Satya started looking for a church home here. She chose St. Barnabas because it was close to their home.
Satya and her family liked the way everyone welcomed them from the first day. They especially liked how their kids became involved in Godly Play, youth group, and youth choir.
Satya is also involved in the children's ministry. She loves doing that, as she was involved in a children's ministry in India too, after she completed her education. Both Satya’s and Rajasingh’s parents are involved in many church activities in India, where they brought up their children in the Christian faith. Satya and Rajasingh want to continue this tradition, and they believe St. Barnabas has helped them to fulfill that goal.
Jason Williams
Jason is originally from Youngtown, Ohio, but has called Cincinnati home since 1999. He was raised a Baptist, went to Catholic school from first grade through high school, and now has found a home in The Episcopal Church. He graduated from West Virginia University with a degree in sports management where he was a four-year letter winner on the football team and started for two years at middle linebacker.
“I have known my beautiful wife Stephanie for 20 years,” he said and they have been married to for almost seven. The couple has a five-year-old son, Jaxon, and a black lab named Champ, who is also five. Jason and Steph first met while working for the Cincinnati Bengals. They often joke, “The Bengals got at least one thing right!”
From the day they first walked through the doors almost five years ago, Jason and Steph have felt welcomed and part of the St. Barnabas family. They love every aspect of the church and are proud to tell others about “our church.” The Williams family is looking forward to playing a bigger role within the church and community.