New Faces in Western New York

Diocesan News, Front Page • September 21st, 2016

Three new clergy faces have arrived in Western New York over the summer.

The Rev. Wayne Knockel was installed as rector of St. Peter’s in Eggertsville in July.  Wayne is originally from Dubuque, IA which is where they filmed the movie “Field of Dreams.’  Before being ordained, he worked for the Illinois Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities working with people who were dear, blind, and mentally handicapped.  Some of his friends have described him as having OCD – Obsessive Christmas Disorder,  He and his husband, Jim Lynch will celebrate their fifth anniversary this January.  They have a daughter, son-in-law, and grandson who live in Knoxville, TN.

The Rev. Julian Eibin started as interim rector of St. Mark’s, Orchard Park on August 1^st.  Julian was born in England into a Polish refugee family and raised in Maryland. (If you listen closely, you will detect the accent). A priest for over 33 years he has served the church in Utah, Connecticut, Maryland, Arkansas, Central Pennsylvania, Ohio and New Jersey. For the past 7 years, he served as rector of St. John’s, Ramsey in the New York Metro area. While there he served on the Committee of the Priesthood of the Commission of Ministry, as convener of District 10 and on the Board of Newark ACTS, an Episcopal Service Corps program. He looks forward to our legendary snow and Buffalo Bills home game traffic in Orchard Park

The Rev. Randi Hicks Rowe’s first Sunday as rector at St. Andrews, Burt and St. John’s Wilson was September 11. Randi comes from the diocese of Virginia. She is a graduate of Virginia Theological Seminary, the College of William and Mary and Virginia Commonwealth University. She is married and has a grown stepdaughter. Randi lives in Lockport.